Matthew 14:2
And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
When Herod first heard of Jesus and the mighty works done by Him, he said in terror to his servants that this was John the Baptist whom he had beheaded, risen from the dead, and that his rising explained the mighty powers at work in Him. John had faithfully rebuked Herod for his unlawful marriage to Herodias and was put in prison through her influence, then while debased with wine at his birthday revelry Herod was entrapped by the daughter's dance into promising whatever she asked and ordering John's death. His guilty conscience left a stain he could not shut from his vision, keeping him in fear that John had returned with greater power to condemn him when he heard of these works. He had listened to John gladly and feared him as a just and holy man, nearly becoming his disciple and knowing he was a true prophet, yet at decision chose evil at Herodias's request, and though at first trembling with horror and remorse, continued sin and a dulled conscience degraded his perceptions until the crime seemed trivial. Though terrified by the thought that Jesus was John risen, he later long desired to see Jesus and was pleased when He was brought a prisoner, hoping to gratify curiosity, banish the memory of the bloody head, and force a miracle as the price of release.
Setting and Meaning
John had preached in the territory of Herod Antipas, and Herod had listened to him, feared him as a just and holy man, and heard him gladly. John faithfully rebuked Herod for his unlawful marriage to Herodias, and through Herodias's influence Herod put John in prison.
While his senses were debased with wine in revelry at his birthday feast, Herod was entrapped by the captivating dance of Herodias's daughter into promising her anything she asked and gave the order for John's death. When the bleeding head was brought in before his guests they felt horror, and Herod could not shut the painful sight from his vision. After a year had passed with time to consider his own life and character, he was still with his unlawful wife Herodias, going through formal ceremonies as a Jew observing the annual Passover.
While John remained in prison, reports of Jesus' works were brought as news to John's disciples, and John struggled to understand why Jesus did not use kingly power to deliver him. Herod's mistaken identification implies he had not previously heard of Jesus or known about him, despite living in Galilee for years while Jesus preached there, pointing to the religious ignorance and disregard of people in high rank. He had never met Jesus before, and his fear of revolution helps explain his alarm at news of Jesus' preaching and work.
When Herod first heard of Jesus and the mighty works wrought by him, he said in terror to his servants that Jesus was John the Baptist whom he had beheaded, risen from the dead. That being risen explained, in his mind, why mighty works showed forth themselves in him.
Guilt and Later Response
Herod's declaration that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead was driven by fear that John had come back with greater power to condemn him for putting John to death. The murder had left a stain on his conscience that kept him in fear, and reports of Jesus' mighty works troubled that guilty conscience and stirred his dread. He had very nearly become John's disciple and knew John was a true prophet, yet at the very point of decision he chose evil and had John beheaded at Herodias's request.
At first he trembled with horror at the demand for John's head and felt keen remorse, but continued sin and a licentious life dulled his conscience and degraded his moral perceptions until his crime seemed trivial. His course shows that those once convicted by the Spirit of truth who turn away from light into darkness become capable of the worst crimes.
Though terrified by the thought that Jesus was John risen, Herod afterward long desired to see Jesus and was pleased when Jesus was brought to him as a prisoner. He hoped to witness marvelous power and see a miracle done, to gratify his curiosity, and to banish forever from his mind the memory of the bloody head brought to him in a charger. He made no doubt he could force Jesus to work a miracle as the condition of saving His life, thinking that if Christ were given any prospect of release He would do anything asked of Him. The martyrdom behind Herod's fear was helped on by intemperance among those in authority, and stands as a warning about the consequences of drunkenness and unchecked pleasure.