Matthew 14:1-12 [Herod the Tetrarch Who Abused His Position]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. The passage above deals with the death of John the Baptist, who was the last prophet of the Law. John the Baptist was put to death by the order of Herod the tetrarch. In fact, at one time Herod knew that John was a just and holy man, and tried to protect him. Also, when he heard John, he was deeply troubled, yet he heard him gladly (Mark 6:20). Then what caused Herod to command that John the Baptist be killed?

Mark 6:19-20 "19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: 20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly."

2. Herod committed the sin of taking his brother's wife, Herodias, and he was rebuked for this sin by John the Baptist (verses 3-4). However, Herod and Herodias did not repent of this. Instead, they sought to kill John the Baptist. Through this, we should think about what kind of heart we ought to have when someone points out our wrongdoing through the Bible.

Also, Herod swore an oath to the daughter of Herodias, who had pleased him, promising to give her whatever she asked. Such an "oath made in a moment of emotion" eventually brought about an irreversible result. In the same way, we must also think carefully about making oaths carelessly.

3. Through Herod the tetrarch, we are shown that the position, pride, and desire to save face that we possess can actually be used to kill the truth. If we regard our own pride and reputation as more important than the words of Jesus, then when we are rebuked for our wrongdoing, we will not humbly repent before the word. Instead, we may feel shame, hate the person who speaks the truth to us, regard that person as an enemy (Mark 6:19), and in severe cases, even harbor a desire to kill.

Luke 11:44-54 "44Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. 45Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also... 53And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: 54Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him."

Acts 7:53-58 "53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul."

[Decision and Application]

Therefore, when we desire to believe in and follow Jesus, we must not consider our rank or status in this world, and we must lay down our pride and reputation. Before the words of Jesus, who I was in the past and what kind of person I am now are not important at all. If we begin to think about such things, then we too, like Herod and Herodias, will be unable to repent before the words of Jesus, and instead our hearts will become hardened (Hebrews 3:15-16). Therefore, if anyone helps us realize our wrongdoing through the words of Jesus, we must not put forward our position, pride, or reputation before that word. Rather, we must humbly examine ourselves through that word and repent in the name of Jesus (Luke 24:47). Then Jesus will forgive our sins with His everlasting mercy and compassion.

Proverbs 28:13 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Psalm 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah."

Also, we must not make oaths carelessly. Because of an oath made in a moment of emotion, Herod, though he was sorry in his heart to kill John the Baptist, eventually caused John to be put to death because of the oath he had made (verse 9). Therefore, we must not open our mouths carelessly or speak hastily with our hearts. Since God in heaven hears all the words we speak, we must remember that at any time we may be condemned, or judged, because of the words we have spoken.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-7 "2Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few... 6Neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? 7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God."

Matthew 12:35-37 "35A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Amen.