Luke 3:19
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
John reproved Herod the tetrarch, Herod Antipas, for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, while her husband was still living, and for all the other evils he had done. He pointed not to human laws or to Roman law but to God's statutes. That union and marriage with Herodias violated God's law and was unlawful. He told Herod he could share in the Messiah's kingdom only by breaking that connection and obeying God's commandments wholeheartedly and with his whole heart. He warned Herod of future judgment, when God would judge each person according to their works.
Herod knew the reproof was true and was convicted, with his guilty conscience struck with terror until he trembled. He wanted to change and break free from sin but yielded to sin and its pleasures instead of obeying God's law. John reproved and exposed the king's wrongdoing openly, fearlessly and directly, even rebuking the proud, sin-hardened ruler in his palace and calling him to repentance. The rebuke was stern and direct with no elaborate arguments, part of his wilderness message, Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and he spoke the truth faithfully without hesitation though his life was in danger and imperiled.
John's rebuke of the king's wrongdoing led Herod to imprison him, driven by Herodias's hatred of John and her influence over Herod. John's faithful example shows that the message given in the last days must also plainly rebuke wrongdoing. The same faithful, direct rebuke is to be done in this age just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, to prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord.