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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1

At that time; season (Revised Version); Matthew 11:25 , note. Herod the tetrarch; i.e. Antipas, youngest son of Herod the Great, and by one of his father's wills named his successor on the throne, but by the last will appointed only tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea. Though not legally king, he sometimes received the title by courtesy. "In point of character, Antipas was a genuine son of old Herod—sly, ambitious, and luxurious, only not so able as his father." He was deposed by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-2

Herod's hypothesis. Men's minds were much perplexed about the wonderful life of the new Prophet, and various theories were started to explain it. Here we have the king's hypothesis. This has something in common with the other suggestions, and also a peculiar aptness in regard to Herod himself. I. IT IS NOT EASY TO ACCOUNT FOR JESUS CHRIST . The very variety of the theories shows that the problem was not solved at a glance. It was evident to his contemporaries that our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

Herod ' s opinion of Jesus, and a parenthetical account of his murder of John the Baptist. Parallel passages: Mark 6:14-29 ; Luke 9:7-9 ; Luke 3:19 , Luke 3:20 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

The death of John the Baptist. I. HEROD THE TETRARCH . 1 . He heard of the fame of Jesus. Herod Antipas was a weak, cruel, voluptuous tyrant; he resembled his father in his vices, not in his capacity and energy of character. He heard of Christ's miracles; it seems strange if, as the words appear to imply, he now heard of Christ for the first time. For Christ had long been preaching in Galilee; about a year, perhaps more. Great multitudes had flocked to hear him; his mighty works... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

The ruin of reckless rashness. Note, in introduction, that in an historic point of view this stretch of verses, numbering twelve in our Gospel and seventeen in St. Mark's Gospel, is remarkable for the way in which it gives the information with which it is charged. The same way is identically followed in the parallel of St. Mark; and one not dissimilar in its leading feature in that of St. Luke. As regards the two former, the narrative, starting from tile fact that Herod is startled by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

John's death. Herod Antipas is a character not quite easy to understand, but possibly on that account all the more worth understanding. Weak men are always difficult to understand, no principle you can calculate on guiding their conduct. Herod was not a bloody man like his father, but, like Ahab, his irresolution was used by the resolution of his wife. Before his doubly unlawful marriage much hope might have been entertained for him, with men like the apostles among his peasantry, not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

The morals of a tragedy. Here we have a tragedy in which the principal actors are, on the one side Jesus and John the Baptist, and on the other Herod, Herodias, and Salome. We propose to bring out some of its lessons. Learn, then— I. THAT THE HAUGHTIEST DESPOT IS HIMSELF RULED BY THE MEANEST THINGS . 1 . What is meaner than vile passion? 2 . What is meaner than the pander of vile passion? II. THAT THE DIVERSIONS OF THE WORLD ARE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-36

CHRIST 'S POWER TO SUPPLY AND PROTECT AND HEAL , PREFACED BY A STATEMENT OF HEROD 'S RELATION TO HIM . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:2

And said unto his servants. According to Luke, the following assertion was brought forward by some, but was, it would seem, summarily rejected by Herod ( Luke 9:7 , Luke 9:9 ); according to Mark ( ἔλεγον , Westcott and Hort, text ) it was common talk, and agreed to by Herod. If a reconciliation of so unimportant a verbal disagreement be sought for, it may perhaps lie in Luke representing Herod's first exclamation, and Matthew, with Mark, his settled belief. Clearly Herod did not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him. Although had simplifies the meaning to the English reader, as definitely marking what must have been the case, that John's imprisonment began some time before, yet in the Greek only the aorist is used to commence a vivid narrative. And put him in prison; "put him away in prison ( ἐν φυλακῇ ἀπέθετο ) . " So of Micaiah by Ahab ( 2 Chronicles 18:26 , LXX ., but not Lucian's text). Probably here in allusion to the distance of... read more

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