“You shall not commit adultery." (Leviticus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18) If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing. He has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be childless. (Leviticus 20:21)
Up to this point in our study, we've been learning alot from Jesus about how we should and should not behave, through His explainations of the commandments, through parables, and through His teaching about true wisdom, believing and obeying the Word of God. John the Baptist also taught these same things, as he prepared the way of the Lord's coming, by telling the people what the Holy Spirit of God told Him to say. (Luke 1:13-17; see THE GOSPEL: John the Baptiser; THE GOSPEL: John & John Teach The Truth) After Jesus began His ministry, John the Baptist continued his ministry also, as a complement to Jesus. (see THE GOSPEL: One Teacher, Many Ministers)
"Herod Antipas was the son of the Jewish king Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was appointed tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea (the east bank of the Jordan). Herod Antipas...liked to pose as a Jewish leader. For example, he is known to have celebrated Passover and Sukkoth in Jerusalem. Unfortunately, his subjects were not convinced by their leader's piety. Jesus of Nazareth compared him to a fox, an animal that was ritually unclean (Luke 13:31-33). He was first married to Phasaelis, a daughter of Aretas IV, an Arabian leader. Later, he divorced her in order to marry Herodias. She had been the wife of Herod Antipas' half-brother (who was also called Herod). Marriage to the ex-wife of one's brother was not uncommon, but Herodias was also the daughter of another half-brother, Aristobulus. Marriage to one's niece was also permitted, but marriage to a woman who was both one's sister-in-law and one's niece was unusual." (read The House of Herod: Herod Antipas)
At some point, John had occasion to discuss with Herod Antipas an awful mistake he had made; For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man [he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet*], and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. (Mark 6:17-20; Matthew 14:3-5*) When we do wrong, and it's made known to us that we've done wrong, we have one of two choices: either accept the correction - The ear that hears the rebukes of life Will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility. (Proverbs 15:31-32)
Or our second choice is to reject the correction and hold a grudge, or even plan to get the messenger back, instead of taking heed of the message - The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them. (Proverbs 29:10 NLT) Herod accepted John's rebuke and protected him, but Herodias hated John: Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” (Mark 6:21-25; Matthew 14:6-8)
We learn two important truths from this experience: don't be seduced by the temptations of this world, that will cause us to sin - My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways. For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among men. (Proverbs 23:26-28); and don't ever think that the devil will stop trying to find a way to bring us down, for he is always waiting for an opportune time - Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him [Jesus] until an opportune time. (Luke 4:13) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8)
And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:9-11) Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:12) Well, let this be a lesson to all of us to be cafeful of the promises we make! Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37; see THE GOSPEL: Watch Our Mouth, and Responses)
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus... (Matthew 14:1) Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him. (Luke 9:7-9; Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14-16) Eventhough Herod made a grave mistake, by killing John the Baptist, whom Jesus described as ...born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist... (Luke 7:28), he was smart enough to realize that he needed to find out exactly who Jesus is, and he will have his opportunity very soon...
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