Matthew 14:5

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 14:3-12

The murder of John the Baptist. This is introduced quite incidentally to account for the superstitious terror of Herod; but the story is so graphic that we seem to be carried into the midst of the scene of dissipation and crime. It is a hideous picture, and its chief lessons are of warning, and yet its gloom is not utterly unrelieved, for the portrait of the Baptist stands out in grand contrast to its vicious surroundings. I. THE PROPHET 'S FIDELITY . John the Baptist was a prophet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:5

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude (cf. Luke 20:6 ). Mark has, "And Herodias set herself against him, and would have put him to death ; and she could not; for Herod feared John." The more detailed account in Mark is doubtless the more exact. Perhaps the facts of the case were that, in the first heat of his resentment, Herod wished to kill John, but feared the anger of the people, and that afterwards, when he him in his power and Herodias still urged... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 14:3-5

For Herod had laid hold on John ... - See Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:19-20. This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stopped at his brother’s; fell in love with his wife; agreed to put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, King of Petraea; and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 14:3-7

Matthew 14:3-7. For Herod had laid hold on John Had formerly seized him; and put him in prison for Herodias’s sake On account of the reproof which John gave him for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife Who was still living. For John said to him Probably in some private conference he had with him, It is not lawful for thee to have her Indeed it was not lawful for either of them to have her. For her father, Aristobulus, was their own brother. John’s words were rough, like his... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

64. Death of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9)By this time John the Baptist had been executed. When Herod heard the news of Jesus’ miracles, he feared that Jesus was really John come back to life and that supernatural powers were working in him (Matthew 14:1-2; Mark 6:14-16). (The Herod referred to here was Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great; see earlier section, ‘The New Testament World’.)Having mentioned John’s death, the writers go back to record the events... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 14:5

when he would have put him to death. = wishing ( App-102 .) to kill him. counted = held. Compare Matthew 21:26 , Matthew 21:46 read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 14:5

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.This exposes Herod as equally guilty with Herodias for the murder of John. The purpose was already in his heart; and, had it not been for fear of the people, he would already have martyred John. He needed only the stimulation provided when Salome danced to give the order of execution. John's holy reputation was justly earned, and he surely deserved a better fate than to fall under the evil... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 14:1-12

The opposition of Herod and his friends 14:1-12 (cf. Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9) read more

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