Mark 6:14-29
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Exegesis:
- King Herod (v. 14): Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Herod was not “king” in any official sense, though he had coveted the title. His ambition coupled with his incompetencies made him a stench, and he was deposed by Caligula and replaced with his nephew Agrippa in AD 39.
- Jesus’ name had become well known (v. 14): By sending the twelve out to preach and drive out demons (6:7-13), Jesus’ name and reputation spread. This is a picture of effective evangelism.
- “He is a prophet” (v. 15): Malachi, the last prophet to speak for Yahweh before a 400 year cessation of prophecy, foretold a messenger, one like Elijah, would come before the Day of the Lord (Malachi 3:1; 4:5). Both John and Jesus’ indicated to the people that either could be that Messenger and that the Lord’s coming was imminent (cf. Matthew 16:15-17).
- “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” (v. 16): Herod’s guilty conscience caused him to believe and spread the notion that Jesus was a resurrected John the Baptist.
- “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (v. 18): Herod and Herodias’ marriage was unlawful on several accounts. One, he divorced his former wife, the daughter of King Aretas IV of Nabatea, in order to marry her. Two, she divorced Herod’s half-brother, Philip, to marry him (in violation of Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). Three, Herodias is Herod’s niece. John the Baptist boldly preached against this wicked conduct by a ruler of the Jews, and is an example of how Christians may speak to their governing authorities.
- Herodias nursed a grudge (v. 19): Rather than be remorseful and repent at John’s preaching, Herodias hardened her heart and harbored a murderous rage towards him. Like Jezebel before her, who had Naboth put to death (1 Kings 21:6-16) and who viciously opposed Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2), Herodias used her cunning and seductive charm to enact her own evil whims. Though men are typically more prone to violence and aggression, women are just as capable of malice and harm. Jamieson, Fauset and Brown comment regarding Herodias, “Abandoned women are more shameless and heartless than men.”
- A righteous and holy man (v. 20): A scene we see maddeningly replayed over and over again throughout history and to this day. A weak and morally compromised man sitting in judgment over a righteous and holy man (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17). In a world gone right, it would be the other way around. In a spite of the backwards power dynamic, Mark records that “Herod feared John,” and John feared not Herod.
- He liked to listen to him (v. 20): Herod liked to listen to John, but not to heed him. Many are like Herod, who take the preaching of the Word of God as a topic of interest and speculation, but fail to obey it (Ezekiel 33:30-32). The fact that Herod was “greatly puzzled” at John’s preaching shows is a sign of low intelligence and low character. The governor Felix had a similar relationship with Paul, who discoursed with him about “righteousness, self control and the judgment to come,” subjects which Felix could really stand to learn about (Acts 24:25). Whether on trial or at banquet, how should Christians speak to governing authorities when given the chance?
- Herod gave a banquet (v. 21): A scene of debauchery and foolish among Herod’s officials. It remains true that some of the most powerful people are also the most depraved.
- The daughter of Herodias came in and danced (v. 22): Salome’s sensual dance so pleased (perhaps aroused) her stepfather that he promised her whatever she’d ask. No doubt many of Herod’s officials were “pleased” with the dance also.
- The king was greatly distressed (v. 26): Because he was rash and cowardly, Herod was going to add murder to his long list of iniquities. Men who cannot say “no” to their own lusts often find themselves powerless to resist pressure to do evil from without. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit, Is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28).
- Head on a platter (v. 28): To drunkenness, add lewdness, to lewdness add murder, to murder add this shameful and blasphemous display. I wonder aloud if anyone in attendance began to think this party has gone “too far”? Does anyone fear God?. Will God overlook this highhanded rebellion?
- John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb (v. 29): Having spent the last twelve months of his life in a gloomy dungeon, John met a shameful and unceremonious end. This was hardly fitting for the one of whom Jesus said, “among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). But John lived on in the uneasy conscience of Herod, and his legacy lives on as his simple message of repentance is preached around the world.
God Sees the Wicked and Takes Their Deeds Into Account
Psalm 12:7-8
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Psalm 54:2-4
2 God looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
Proverbs 30:11-14
11 “There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth
and the needy from among mankind.
Psalm 73
A psalm of Asaph.
1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
11 They say, “How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?”
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.