The Gospel of Matthew

The death of John the Baptist

Chapter 14: 1-12

We have here an account of the interpretation made by Herod the tetrarch of Galilee of the miraculous signs and wonders that were being carried out by the Lord Jesus.

Antipas

This tetrarch (one of three rulers) was Antipas, ruler of the provinces of Galilee and Perea; he had two brothers, Philip who ruled over the East of the Jordan, and Archelaus ruler over Judea and Samaria. The three were sons of Herod the Great and all were known as "Herod", as well as other descendants who would later assume power. All were infamous, notorious for their cruelty.

Antipas was of Idumean Arabic origin on the part of his father, with a Samaritan mother. He had abandoned his wife and had been living in an adulterous, incestuous relationship with his sister-in-law Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John the Baptist rebuked him for this (Leviticus 20:21), and for all the bad things he had done, and thus raised the hatred of the couple and was put in prison. Herodias wanted him dead, but Herod feared John because he knew that he was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:20).

Herodias took advantage of a promise made lightly by Herod to Salome, daughter of Herodias and Herod's niece, to get him to order the beheading of John. This episode is reported below, and many more details are given in Mark 6:14 to 29.

Mistaken identity

Before we look at this, let us see the interpretation given by Herod to the events that came to his knowledge, concerning someone who was becoming notorious for the signs and wonders that he was doing. Some people claimed that John the Baptist had risen from the dead and it was he who did the miracles, others that he was the prophet Elijah (taken to heaven in a whirlwind, without dying - 2 Kings 2:11-12), and others that he was one of the old prophets of the Old Testament, risen from the dead (Luke 9:7-8). Of these three hypotheses, Herod took the view that the first was more likely (v. 2, Mark 6:14).

It is notable that neither Herod nor anyone of the people seems to have even suggested the identity of the Messiah Jesus, long awaited by Israel, perfectly manifested by the fulfilment of prophesies about Him, and of which He gave authentic signs, in plain sight of all. It seemed easier for them to believe that a man who had been beheaded, whose head was brought on a platter to be seen by all present, had been put together again and somehow brought back to life. Such is incredulous humanity, which accepts any explanation of what it cannot understand, no matter how absurd, instead of the divine revelation found in the Word of God, the Bible.

Starting with the theory of evolution, ridiculous yet taught in every school, passing by religions invented by men, with useless gods and statutes they have made for themselves, right on to the apostate Christianity of our days, empty of saving faith, all are substitutes of the reality revealed by God in the Bible, available to all who sincerely seek it.

Death of John the Baptist

Returning to the study of our text, we have details of the martyrdom of John the Baptist. He had denounced to Herod the sin of immorality he was committing by cohabitating with Herodias, his brother's wife. This woman was furious, full of hatred against John and wanted him dead because of this. Herod had to decide between repenting of what he was doing and separating from Herodias, or continuing what he did and suffering the growing opposition of the people following the accusation, or somehow silencing John.

Of the three options, influenced by Herodias Herod decided for the third. He hesitated to kill him, because he knew that John was a good man, just and holy, and respected by the people. He therefore just tied him up and placed him in prison.

How often someone else alerts us when we follow a bad path, and we can then change course but prefer to continue in our sin. How many sinners are alerted by the preaching of the Gospel, and, instead of converting they turn against the evangelist and the Gospel itself, becoming enemies of Christ. Doing this they think they will gain some pleasure in this life, but they lose eternal life, remaining in the condemnation of God forever.

It is sometimes difficult to leave a situation of sin we enjoy, to straighten our lives. That is what happened to Herod. He preferred to commit a great injustice, arresting John to appease Herodias and to stifle his own conscience.

From prison, John sent some of his disciples to ask the Lord Jesus if He was indeed he who was to come, or if they expected another (See chapter 11 and commentary).

This suffering, and even death, has also been an integral part of the experience of a large part of the servants of God, from the beginning of the church. The world hates Jesus Christ, and hates His disciples, who belong to His church, as He forecast was going to happen (John 17:14).

Herod's birthday was celebrated with a party (just read of another birthday party in the Bible, this celebrated by Pharaoh - Genesis 40:20). That is when he made another big mistake.

The daughter of Herodias, Herod's niece, danced at the party. Her name is not mentioned in the Bible, but historians inform us that it was Salome, who later married another uncle, Philip the Tetrarch of Ituraea (Lucas 3:1). She danced so well that she pleased Herod, and as a reward he promised, under oath, to give her anything she asked for, up to half his kingdom (Mark 6:23).

Salome asked her mother what it should be. Herod was powerful and very wealthy, so there was a lot of choice. However, Herodias was focused on one thing only: John the Baptist had to die. This was the opportunity to get what she wanted through her daughter. To the distress of Herod, instructed by her mother his niece demanded, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."

Herod had made an oath, and those at the table with him were witnesses, so he had to comply. No one would value the head of John the Baptist at that of half his kingdom except Herodias. John the Baptist was beheaded by order of Herod and his head displayed on a table for the satisfaction of Herodias.

Actually, it was not a sad ending for John the Baptist. According to the plan of God, he had fulfilled his mission brilliantly, and had now reached the hour when his disciples should gather together with the disciples of the Lord Jesus, to learn from Him. His death was quick and relatively painless. The death of the Messiah would be infinitely more painful.

The disciples of John the Baptist went to get his body and gave him a decent burial. Then they told everything to the Lord Jesus. Herod now carried a great weight on his conscience, and for him it might have been a relief to think that John the Baptist had risen from the dead.

R David Jones

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus

and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."

3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.

7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."

9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.
10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, verses 1 to 12