Matthew 14:3-4

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 14:3

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

For Herodias' sake - This infamous woman was the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grand-daughter of Herod the Great. Her first marriage was with Herod Philip, her uncle, by whom she had Salome: some time after, she left her husband, and lived publicly with Herod Antipas, her brother-in-law, who had been before married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea. As soon as Aretas understood that Herod had determined to put away his daughter, he prepared to make war on him: the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:4

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. - Here is an instance of zeal, fidelity, and courage, highly worthy of imitation. Plainness, mildness, and modesty, are qualifications necessary to be observed when we reprove the great. The best service a subject can render his prince is to lay before him, in the plainest but most respectful manner, what the law of God requires of him, and what it forbids. How unutterable must the punishment of those be who are chaplains to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

Verse 3 This narrative is at present omitted by Luke, because he had explained it on a former occasion; and for my own part, as I am unwilling to annoy my readers by writing the same thing twice, I shall handle this passage with greater brevity (354) The Evangelists relate that John was seized, because he had openly condemned Herod for carrying off Herodias, and for his incestuous marriage with her. Josephus assigns a different reason, namely, that Herod, dreading on his own account a change of... 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

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