Mark 6:17, commentary and pictures

Herod himself seized John and bound him in a dungeon cell in his fortress east of Jordan, exchanging the free air of the wilderness and the crowds who hung on his words for prison walls, so that he who first heralded Christ's kingdom was first to suffer for it. He had taken Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, while her husband was still living, in a marriage contrary to God's law. John faithfully confronted him with that law, condemning the union as unlawful and warning that Herod could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom unless he broke from it and obeyed God's commandments. The arrest was for Herodias' sake, at her instigation in revenge for the rebuke, for she feared his repeated appeals might persuade Herod and clung to her hatred without relenting until John was imprisoned. Herod himself was divided, for he honored and feared John as just and holy, heard him gladly and trembled under his call to repentance and at times sought to change, yet from lust and fear of displeasing Herodias he yielded to sin and let her induce him to cast John into prison.

Arrest and Its Causes

Herod himself laid hold upon John and bound him in a dungeon cell in his fortress in the territory east of Jordan where much of John's ministry had been spent. He who was first in heralding Christ's kingdom was thus also first in suffering for it, exchanging the free air of the wilderness and the vast throngs hung upon his words for prison walls.

Herod had married Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, while her husband was still living. That marriage was unlawful and contrary to God's law. John faithfully reproved the relationship, condemning the marriage as unlawful, bringing Herod face to face with God's law. He warned that Herod could not share in the Messiah's kingdom while remaining in it, but must break from it and obey God's commandments.

The arrest was for Herodias' sake and at her instigation and influence as revenge for John's rebuke. She wanted him destroyed and feared his repeated remonstrances might persuade Herod, clinging to her grievance without relenting until he was destroyed. Although Herod had first been inclined to follow John's counsel and had told her he could not marry her contrary to the law, her renewed influence and hatred led to John's imprisonment. Herod himself was divided, for he honored and feared John as just and holy and a true prophet. He listened to his preaching, trembled under the call to repentance, heard him gladly and did many things he said, was convicted and inclined to follow his counsel and intended to release him, and for a time feebly sought to break the chain of lust that bound him and to change. But he yielded to sin rather than obey, and from fear of displeasing Herodias allowed her to fasten him more firmly in her toils and induce him to cast John into prison.

His later belief that Jesus was John risen from the dead suggests he had not previously heard of Jesus or known of His work despite living in Galilee. This is explained by how little concern people of high rank often show for religion and how ignorant of it they can remain.

Guilt Death and Faithful Witness

The binding of John belongs to the history of Herod's sin and to the death that afterward tormented his conscience, for he feared punishment for what he had done and his guilty thoughts gave him no rest day or night. He had known John to be a true prophet and had nearly become his disciple, yet at the point of decision he refused to leave his sinful, licentious life and turned from the truth. His continued sin hardened his heart, and his licentious life dulled his conscience until his sin seemed small and his sins seemed trivial to him.

While imprisoned John later died at Herod's hand, put to death to please Herodias and to gratify her revenge. It followed the dance of Herodias's daughter and Herod's wine-dulled promise to grant her request, and the sight of John's severed head horrified the guests and was more than Herod could bear, though he had heard John preach. His rash oath did not truly require him to commit murder, but he chose the real guilt of killing John rather than risk being thought to break his oath. A year later Herod was with Herodias observing the formal ceremonies of the Jewish Passover.

John remained confined and received news of Jesus' works through his disciples, while Herod intended to release him. Inactivity and delay deepened his despondency and doubt, and the words of his disciples further troubled him, for they reported Jesus' works but questioned why He did not secure John's release. He expected the Messiah to claim David's throne, overthrow oppressive power, judge evil, and reveal Himself with fire, and he was perplexed by teaching and healing rather than an immediate display of kingly authority.

John was laid hold of, bound in prison, and left to die there at Herod's hand, and his violent death led the disciples to question why Jesus had not saved him, deepening their doubt and spiritual darkness. Tidings of his death reached Jesus and the disciples just after they had returned filled with joy over their success on their first missionary tour, and it brought bitter sorrow and disappointment. That Jesus knowingly left John to die in prison severely tested their faith. With pitying tenderness, with tears in His own eyes and voice, He looked on their sorrowful, tear-stained faces and called them to come apart into a desert place and rest awhile.

The course leading to the martyrdom shows the danger of intemperance among people in authority, for at Herod's birthday feast impaired judgment and dormant conscience helped bring about the death of an innocent prophet. The feast warns against pleasure without self-control and calls for Christian temperance. John's pointed message to Herod, becoming more and more pointed, led to his imprisonment and ultimately cost him his life. Speaking plainly against wrongdoing can bring severe consequences, but such pointed truth-telling keeps the people from being deceived. His imprisonment and death make him an example of God's servants who bear witness even when persecuted, whose enemies may harm their bodies but cannot take away their hope or eternal life.