Harmony of the gospels
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9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. The king was sorry upon many accounts; partly on account of John, whom, notwithstanding his freedom in criticising him, he had a respect; and partly on his own account as his conscience recognised that this was an evil action. In addition the general populace had a high respect of John which could lead to insurrection. Finally it was condemned because of a tradition where it was reckoned an ill omen by the Romans to take away life and hence have executions on their own birthdays. Nevertheless because he had given an oath's he decided to commit murder rather than perjury although going back on a rash promise was well within his rights as the Tetrarch. For saving of face he immediately went ahead with the execution and had John the Baptist beheaded. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. The executioner decapitated John the Baptist whilst Herod and his guests were at the banqueting table. This indicates that the prison was very near and it is therefore probable, that it was the castle of Machaerus that Herod gave his birthday party. Jerome says because she could not bear truth, Herodias plucked out the tongue which spoke truth and pierced it through and through with a needle. But this triumph over John the Baptist did not last long; for quickly after this, Herod Antipas and Herodias were stripped of their honours and riches, and deprived of the kingdom, and banished to Lyons in France, where they died The disciples of John the Baptist came to the prison where his body was left, took up the body and buried it. Theophylact says that the his body was buried in Baste Caesarea, while his head was first interred in Emesesa. They then went and told Jesus that their master was dead, what kind of death he suffered, by what means it was brought about and how that they had interred him. They also said what Herod had said about Jesus, that He was John risen from the dead. MARK 6: 21-29 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. KEY WORDS
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; The question as to whether this day that was kept was the day of Herod's birth or some other anniversary which might be in doubt using Matthew’s account alone is answered here in verse 21 which states it was his birthday. It is classified as a convenient day, convenient for the designs of Herodias on the life of John the Baptist. She had long waited for an opportunity to rid the world of this man who had rightly accused Herod of an illegal union with Herodias. Herod did not celebrate Passover, Pentecost, or the Feast of Tabernacles but his own birthday, which he kept as a festival, in eating, and drinking, and dancing; and so was a very opportune time for Herodias to take the advantage of Herod, when in a good humour, amidst his nobles to ask for the death of the Baptist. 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. Salome is stated to be the daughter of Herodias not of Herod being the daughter of Philip the brother of Herod Antipas making her his niece. She pleased him greatly with her dancing. In Mark’s version it tells that she not only pleased Herod but also his lords, captains, and principal men who were in the banqueting hall. The pleasure of the king is shown in his words to Salome where he told her “ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee” He reinforced his offer with an oath adding that he was willing to give her up to half his kingdom, an offer which is only given in Mark. The giving of "to the half of his kingdom" was a way of speaking used by princes when they give full power to persons to ask what they will of them; and to express their great generosity and liberality. In essence they were saying let it be ever so great, or cost what it will, though as much as half a kingdom comes to, it shall be granted cf Esther 5:3. It was a very foolish promise. It was ironic that if Herod swore by his head, which was a common form of swearing with the Jews she answered him; as you have swore by your head, give me John Baptist's head. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. In these verses Mark amplifies the action of Salome seeking guidance from her mother about what she should ask for as a reward for her dancing saying “what shall I ask. The reply from Herodias was instantaneous, she wanted the head of John the Baptist. Salome turned on her heel and immediately returned to the banqueting hall to where the king and nobles were. She asked, saying, “I will that thou give me by and by in a charger, the head of John the Baptist” “The charger” was a large platter on which food is placed. It was customary for princes to require the heads of persons ordered for execution to be brought to them. For this there were two reasons: 1. To satisfy their resentment - to feast their eyes on the proof that their enemy was dead; and, 2. To confirm the fact that the sentence had been executed. There is a similar instance in Roman history of a woman requiring the head of an enemy to be brought to her. The account says that “Agrippina, the mother of Nero, who was afterward emperor, sent an officer to put to death Lollia Paulina, who had been her rival for the imperial dignity. When Lollia’s head was brought to her, not knowing it at first, she examined it with her own hands until she perceived some particular feature by which the lady was distinguished.
2. It is not unreasonable to suppose that in their sorrow they came to him for consolation. 3. Their master had been slain by a cruel king. Jesus was engaged in the same cause, and they probably supposed that he was in danger. They therefore came to warn him of it, and Jesus now sought a place of safety. Matthew 14:13
a) Physical death - is the separation of the soul from the body (Genesis 35:18). b) Spiritual death - is separation from God, having no relationship with God (Ephesians 2:1, 12, Genesis 2:17, 3:8) c) The second death - this is the Great White Throne judgement followed by the lake of fire for unbelievers - separation from the presence of God, punished forever (revelation 20:12-15, 21:8) d) Positional death - Christians are identified with Jesus Christ in His death (separation from sin) and in His resurrection (living in righteousness) Romans 6:3-14 Colossians 2:12-14 e) Sexual death - inability to procreate (Romans 4:17-21, Hebrews 11:11-12) f) Operational death - faith without works is non operational (James 2:26) g) Temporal death - a carnal believer, out of fellowship with God (Romans 8:6-8,13, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:6, James 1:15, Revelation 3:1) 3. Reasons for death: a) The work is finished. (John 19:30 cf Luke 23:46, 2 Timothy 4:7) b) For the glory of God - martyrdom (John 21:19, Acts 7:55-60) c) The sin unto death - extreme discipline for believers with hardened hearts against God (1 John 5:16) d) Suicide - superimposing your will over God's will for your life (1 Samuel 31:4, Matthew 27:5 e) The unique death of Christ - committing His own spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46) HOLY SPIRIT: MINISTRY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not indwell all believers, since Christ was not yet glorified (John 7:39). Instead, He only came upon some Old Testament saints to perform special functions. a) JOSEPH, a believer who was a prime minister. (Genesis 41:38) b) Believers who were artisans occupied in the construction of the Tabernacle. (Exodus 28:3, 31:3) c) Believers involved in administration. (Numbers 11:17, 25) d) A believer who was both a political and military leader - JOSHUA (Numbers 27:18) e) Certain Judges: OTHNIEL (Judges 3:9, 10) GIDEON (Judges 6:34) JEPHTHAH (Judges 11:29) SAMSON (Judges 13:24, 25, 14:5-6, 15:14) f) Kings of Israel (1 Samuel 10:9, 10, 16:13) g) DANIEL (Daniel 4:8, 5:11, 6:3) h) Post exilic rulers (Zechariah 4:3, 12-14)
a) SAUL (1 Samuel 16:14) b) DAVID (Psalm 51:11)
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