Matthew 14:1-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

We have here the story of John's martyrdom. Observe, I. The occasion of relating this story here, Matt. 14:1, 2. Here is, 1. The account brought to Herod of the miracles which Christ wrought. Herod the tetrarch or chief governor of Galilee heard of the fame of Jesus. At that time, when his countrymen slighted him, upon the account of his meanness and obscurity, he began to be famous at court. Note, God will honour those that are despised for his sake. And the gospel, like the sea, gets in one... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

14:1-12 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He has been raised from the dead, and because of this, these deeds of power work in him." For Herod had seized John the Baptizer, and had bound him and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John insisted to him: "It is not right for you to have her." So he wished to kill him, but he was afraid of the crowd, for they regarded him as a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

(iv) There is Herod himself. He is called the tetrarch. Tetrarch literally means the ruler of a fourth part; but it came to be used quite generally, as here, of any subordinate ruler of a section of a country. Herod the Great had many sons. When he died, he divided his territory into three, and, with the consent of the Romans, willed it to three of them. To Archelaus he left Judaea and Samaria; to Philip he left the northern territory of Trachonitis and Ituraea; to Herod Antipas--the Herod of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:1

f3 At that time Herod the tetrarch,.... Not Herod the Great, in whose reign Christ was born, and who slew the infants of Bethlehem, but his son; this was, as the Jewish chronologer F3 David Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 25. 2. and so in Juchasin, fol. 142. 2. rightly observes, "Herod Antipater, whom they call טיתרקי , "the tetrarch"; the son of Herod the First, and brother of Archelaus, and the third king of the family of Herod.' And though he is here called a "tetrarch", he is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:2

And said unto his servants ,.... Those of his household, his courtiers, with whom he more familiarly conversed; to these he expressed his fears, that it might be true what was suggested by the people, and he was ready to believe it himself; this is John the Baptist : some copies add, "whom I have beheaded", as in Mark 6:16 the guilt of which action rose in his mind, lay heavy on him, and filled him with horror and a thousand fears: he is risen from the dead ; which if he was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John ,.... By his servants, whom he sent to apprehend him: and bound him ; laid him in chains, as if he was a malefactor; and put him in prison , in the castle of Machaerus F4 Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 7. , for Herodias's sake ; who was angry with him, had a bitter quarrel against him, and by whose instigation all this was done; who was his brother Philip's wife . This Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son to Herod the Great F5 Ib.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:4

For John said unto him ,.... John having heard of this incestuous marriage, went to Herod, and reproved him to his face for it; and, as Luke says, "for all the evils he had done", Luke 3:19 for he was a very wicked man, and guilty of many flagitious crimes: John, in so doing, showed his zeal for holiness, his hatred of sin, his courage and faithfulness in reproving thus freely so great a man; and made it manifest, that he came in the spirit of Elijah: what he said to him was, it is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:5

And when he would have put him to death ,.... As soon as he apprehended him, and put him into prison; being provoked by his reproving him, and being stirred up by Herodias, who was greatly incensed and enraged, and would have killed him herself, but could not, being hindered by Herod: who, though he had a good will and strong inclination to take away his life, yet what with fearing the terror of his own conscience, and the reverence and respect he had for John, as a good man; and especially... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:6

But when Herod's birthday was kept ,.... The birthdays of princes, both of their coming into the world, and accession to the throne of government, were kept by the Gentiles; as by the Egyptians, Genesis 40:20 and by the F14 Herodot. l. 1. c. 133. & 9. c. 109. Persians, and Romans F15 Plin. Ep. 1. 10. ep. 61. , and other nations, but not by the Jews; who reckon these among the feasts of idolaters. "These (say they F16 Misn. Avoda Zara, c. 1. sect. 3. ) are the feasts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:7

Whereupon he promised with an oath ,.... On account of her fine dancing, and being extremely pleased with it himself; and the more, that it gave such pleasure to the whole court: he first promised her, to give her whatsoever she would ask ; and then repeating it, he confirmed it with an oath; adding, as Mark says, that he would give it her, even "to the half of his kingdom": a way of speaking used by princes, when they give full power to persons to ask what they will of them; and to... read more

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