Matthew 14:1-12, The Death of John the Baptist

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Comments

Herod the tetrarch, one of the son of Herod the Great, ruled Galilee. His bizarre comment about Jesus being the resurrected John illustrates the link between the two ministries and the effect it had in the Galilee. Herod had unjustly divorced his first wife, the daughter of the King of Petra, which led to the king waging war against Herod. Then he married his half-brother’s wife, which again broke God’s law. Having John beheaded without a proper trial was yet another breaking of the law, causing unhappiness among the people. This event evidences the continuing close link between Jesus’ and John’s ministries and foreshadows the end of Jesus’ ministry and life.

Prayer

Merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Resurrection and the Life: Raise us, we humbly pray, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; that when we depart this life we may rest in him, and at the resurrection receive that blessing which your well-beloved Son shall then pronounce: "Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." Grant this, O merciful Father, through Jesus Christ, our Mediator and Redeemer. Amen.

(BCP, p. 505)