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95. The Guilty Fears of Herod
(Mt 14:1-2, Mk 6:14-16, Lk 9:7-9) |
Mt 14:1-2
1At
that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, 2and
said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead.
That is why these powers work in him.” |
Mk 6:14-16
14King
Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the
Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in
him.” 15But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a
prophet, or like one of the prophets.” 16But Herod, when he heard
this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
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Lk 9:7-9
7Now
Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very
perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of
the old prophets had risen again. 9Herod said, “John I beheaded,
but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.
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96. The Story of the Death of John the Baptist
(Mt 14:3-12, Mk 6:17-29, Lk 3:19-20) |
i. "It Is Not Lawful For Thee To Have Her" |
Mt 14:3-5
3For
Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for
the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4For John
said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5When he
would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they
counted him as a prophet. |
Mk 6:17-20
17For Herod himself had sent out and
arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his
brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18For John
said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him,
but she couldn’t, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he
was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he
did many things, and he heard him gladly. |
[Lk 3:19-20]
c
19but
Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s
wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done, 20added
this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
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ii. The "Covenient Day" d |
Mt 14:6-7
6But when Herod’s
birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased
Herod. 7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she should ask. |
Mk 6:21-23
21Then a convenient day came, that Herod
on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the
chief men of Galilee. 22When the daughter of Herodias herself
came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The
king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give
it to you.” 23He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me,
I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” |
iii. "The Head Of John The Baptist" |
Mt 14:8-9
8She, being
prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of
John the Baptizer.”
9The
king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at
the table with him, he commanded it to be given, |
Mk 6:24-26
24She went out, and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask?”
She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
25She came in immediately with haste to
the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John
the Baptizer on a platter.”
26The
king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his
dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. |
iv. His Death And Burial |
Mt 14:10-12
10and
he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11His head was
brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to
her mother. 12His disciples came, and took the body, and
buried it; and they went and told Jesus. |
Mk 6:27-29
27Immediately the king sent out a
soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went
and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a
platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to
her mother.
29When his disciples heard this, they
came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. |
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Footnotes
a) A fortress opposite the Dead Sea, in Perea.
Mentioned by Josephus as the place of John's imprisonment and death.
b) This is the conclusion
reached by eminent scholars. The date agrees with our chronology
c) Luke make an announcement of the
imprisonment of John in connection with his account of the ministry of John
the Baptist. Immediately following No. 25. Compare also No. 96.
d) We do not know the time
of Herod's birth. But if, as some think, his "birthday" celebration was
really the anniversary of Herod's accession to the throne, then this
festival would have been held in the Passover season, the time of his
father's death. |
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