DUNCAN/Herod and the murder of John the Baptist

In verses 1-5, we have recounted for us how Herod came to hear of the ministry of Jesus Christ and what his response to that ministry was. In this passage we learn the importance and the power of conscience. Herod's conscience is nagging him. It’s not nagging him in a saving way. He’s guilty of things and he’s bothered by those things in his heart even if he doesn’t admit them openly. In verse 1 we see that word of Jesus’ ministry had reached even into the courts of Herod. This is important because we need to understand that though Jesus often did His ministry in the wilderness, it was known all over Israel – even in the courts of the kings. It is in this context that Herod responds to this news of Jesus’ ministry with fear. He was superstitious, and so he feared that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead to continue to hound him and he was worried about this. We learn in verses 3-12 why Herod responded to Jesus’ ministry in this way. In verses 3-12 we learn that John had openly denounced Herod for his lifestyle. Herod was not only living in an adulterous relationship, he was living in an incestuous relationship and John had apparently confronted him to his face about it. Let me recount for you this bizarre relationship which obtained in Herod’s own family and the effect that it had on his offspring. Herodias, Herod’s wife, (the Herod of this passage) had married her half-uncle, a man named Herod Philip who is just called Philip in this passage, and had born him a daughter. The daughter is the one who is dancing in this passage. Josephus tells us her name, Salome.  Now, this daughter, the daughter of Herodias would herself later marry her half-uncle thus becoming her mother’s sister-in-law and aunt. Now, you can see how the bizarre lifestyle of Herod and Herodias has its effect on the next generation?  Herod on a visit to his brother, Herod Philip, had met Herod Philip’s wife, Herodias. He became infatuated with her. She became infatuated with him. Herod divorced his wife. Herodias divorced her husband and they married. And so, Herod was not only involved in an adulterous affair, but he was also involved in an incestuous affair having married his living brother’s wife. Herod, we are told in this passage, hated John for having brought that to his attention.

And that is so often the response of people who are already in the grip of sin. When someone for their good speaks to them about their sin desiring only their best interest, the response is to hate them. And that’s exactly what Herod did. In fact, we’re told in this passage that what Herod wanted to do was kill John immediately. Now Herod’s nagging conscience and the hardness of his conscience before the word of John is a reminder to us to look at our own consciences. Are our consciences tender under God’s Word? Do we harden them when God’s word pricks them? That is a great marker as to what the work of the Holy Spirit has been in our hearts. 

II. Christians Should Not Expect Reward in This Life, but Our Hope Is in the Life to Come

In verses 6-12, though, we see a different thing. There we have the account of John’s murder. And we learn in that passage that Christians must not expect our reward in this life, but we must put our hope in things to come. Matthew now recounts exactly for us how Herod came to murder John the Baptist. It all began with a birthday party. Now, there is nothing wrong with birthday parties, but this was a very out of control affair. This party becomes an occasion for great evil and sin. The party itself was not the problem. The attitude of those who were involved was the problem. The things that went on there were inappropriate and so Herodias’ daughter comes out and dances for the party even though women were not present at such occasions usually. And she extracts from Herod an oath promising to her the head of John the Baptist. And so John is finally executed as a result of a fleeting promise made by a drunken monarch to a dancing girl. What an ignominious end for a faithful prophet of God. If ever there was a case of godliness unrewarded in this life, it is John’s case. Here’s a man who deserved, if anyone deserved, the reward of a faithful servant and yet, here his life ends in such a way. 

Even in this event we learn that our hope must be placed on the city which has foundations. That’s where John’s hope was. And though surely this must have been the most disappointing of ways to end the ministry. I can imagine not so much the martyrdom but the imprisonment in the last months of his life when John would have been wanting to be useful in God’s service. It must have been terribly frustrating for that man. He would have wanted to be preaching repentance and preaching and preparing the way for Christ and here he is confined and then finally executed. And yet God’s plan is perfect. And John had put his hope on those things to come. It is a season of probation. We are still at school. We are learning patience, long suffering, gentleness, meekness which we could hardly learn if we had all our good things now. But there is an eternal holiday yet to begin.  For this, let us wait quietly. It will make amends for all. Paul says that our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding and eternal way to glory. Many of you may be facing those kinds of trials or afflictions. The message of this passage is that our hope must be on those eternal things. We remember that our Lord also suffered a death which He did not deserve and yet it was the stratagem of God for our good and for His glory. Let us believe that, trusting Him in all the providences of life. He is in control, and He is good, and He is wise, and He will make it right in the end. 

The Rev. Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III is Chancellor and CEO of Reformed Theological Seminary.  He can be reached at 601-923-1600 or by email at jhyde@rts.edu.