Knowing The Word in Matthew 14:1-12

The Death of John the Baptist

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch [the official ruler of Galilee and son of Herod the Great] 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.” [This is a bizarre comment but illustrates the link between the two ministries and the effect it had in the Galilee.] 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.” [Not only did Herod unjustly divorced his first wife, the daughter of the King of Petra, which was not politically smart, as the king waged war against Herod, but then he married his half-brother’s wife, which again broke the law (Leviticus 18:16).] 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 [Salome] 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 [the people were not happy with this action and he broke the law—no trial and a beheading], 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 [a teenager of marriageable age], 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. [This evidences the continuing close link between the two ministries and foreshadows the end of Jesus’ ministry.]