For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
Herod Antipas seized John the Baptist, bound him and shut him in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife while her husband was still living. The union was unlawful and in transgression of God's law, and John fearlessly faced Herod with that fact and told him he could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom unless he broke from it and obeyed God's commandments with his whole heart. Herodias, who had gained Herod's affections and sway over his mind, conceived intense hatred for the reproof and clung to revenge until John was destroyed. Herod himself was convicted and troubled, honored John as a true prophet, reformed in many things and nearly became his disciple and intended to release him. Yet he was weak and vacillating and would not give up his attachment and intemperance, but yielded to the pleasures of sin rather than submit to God's law, and John's imprisonment ended in his beheading to gratify Herodias's revenge.
Imprisonment and Its Causes
Herod Antipas himself laid hold on John the Baptist, bound him, and put him in prison, and he did it for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. The arrest was the direct result of John's condemnation of that union, and Herodias induced Herod to imprison him even while Herod himself was troubled by the call to repentance and would not free himself from his attachment to her.
The union John condemned was unlawful, for Herod had taken his brother's wife while her husband was still living, in transgression of the law of God. John plainly and faithfully told Herod to his face that living with Herodias was unlawful, fearlessly denouncing sin even though it was found in a ruler's household. His testimony was straight and proving, pointed and fearless, imperiling his own life, yet he remained faithful even when speaking the truth cost him imprisonment and death.
Herodias conceived intense hatred for daring reproof of their crime and determined to be revenged, and she clung to her grievance and would not release her hold until John was destroyed. She was exceedingly angry and could not rest, fearing that John's repeated remonstrances might persuade Herod and turn him against her. She was a woman of vile passions, ambitious for power and authority, who had gained Herod's affections and controlled his mind. After Herod opened his mind to John and told her he could not marry her in defiance of the law of God, she would not be thwarted but re-established herself in his favor, held her influence over him, and by that regained influence persuaded and influenced him to imprison John.
John had brought Herod face to face with God's law, proclaiming practical truth and setting forth the future punishment of the guilty, and told him he could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom unless he broke away from his brother's wife and with his whole heart obeyed the commandments of God. Herod was convicted and trembled at the exposure of his sins, was troubled, honored and feared John as a true prophet of God, and reformed his dissolute life in many things. He was inclined to act on John's counsel and heed him, greatly desired to break the chain of lust that held him, told Herodias he could not marry her in defiance of God's law, intended to release John, and had nearly become his disciple. Yet Herod was weak in principle and vacillating, would not give up his attachment and intemperance, and yielded to the pleasures of sin rather than submit to the restrictions of the law of God. Under his wife's influence he seized John and held him in prison though he still intended to release him, choosing sinful pleasure over obedience.
Aftermath and Faithful Witness
John's imprisonment ended in his beheading to gratify Herodias's revenge, ordered during a drunken revel to please her. At the point of decision Herod turned from the truth and light into darkness, falling into Satan's snare though he knew John was a true prophet and had nearly become his disciple. He trembled with horror at the request for John's head, yet gave the order.
The execution came at Herod's birthday feast, an occasion of gluttony and intoxication chosen by strategy to throw him off guard when intelligence would otherwise have controlled him. Intemperance among men in authority impaired judgment and sense of right and wrong, and with senses debased with wine Herod was entrapped by the captivating dance of Herodias's daughter into promising her anything she might ask. Herodias sought revenge because John had rebuked her and feared his repeated remonstrances might persuade Herod, and she clung to her grievance and would not release her hold until John was destroyed. Herod wrongly treated his rash oath as binding him to fulfill even this murderous demand, choosing actual murder over the appearance of breaking his oath. When the bleeding head was brought in before the guests they felt horror at the sight, and Herod could not endure it or close his vision to the painful sight.
Afterward Herod was tormented by guilt and remorse, and after hearing of Jesus' works he feared that John had risen to condemn him and bring punishment. He continued in sin with Herodias until his moral perceptions were degraded, his licentious life making his sins appear but trifles and his conscience far less sensitive. After a year had passed, with time to consider his own life and character, he was still with his unlawful wife witnessing and going through the formal ceremonies as a Jew observing the annual Passover. He later boasted to Jesus of the punishment he had inflicted on the prophet who had reproved him.
While confined John could not hear Jesus in person, but his disciples told him about Jesus' mighty works and comforted him with what they had seen and heard. Jesus possessed power to save His forerunner but allowed him to be left to violent death without asserting His authority as king. This became a trial that led some who had accepted Christ through John's preaching to doubt John's mission and whether Jesus was the Messiah. It grieved the disciples and made them fear that Jesus, opposed by the scribes and Pharisees, might meet a similarly inglorious fate, feeding disappointment, impatience, unbelief and spiritual darkness. Jesus knew the storm gathering over John and withdrew to Galilee for a time to keep division between His disciples and John's from harming their work.
John's pointed, straight testimony exposing wrongdoing shows that speaking the truth may imperil life and bring death. Those who reprove sin are hated, and the plain testimony cuts the fleshly heart even to the joints and marrow as a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Yet such a message must still be given whether men will hear or refuse to hear, so that people are not deceived. God's work will go forward without the refusers and will triumph with all who voice it with heart and soul.
Herod Antipas seized John the Baptist, bound him and shut him in prison to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife while her husband was still living. The union was unlawful and in transgression of God's law, and John fearlessly faced Herod with that fact and told him he could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom unless he broke from it and obeyed God's commandments with his whole heart. Herodias, who had gained Herod's affections and sway over his mind, conceived intense hatred for the reproof and clung to revenge until John was destroyed. Herod himself was convicted and troubled, honored John as a true prophet, reformed in many things and nearly became his disciple and intended to release him. Yet he was weak and vacillating and would not give up his attachment and intemperance, but yielded to the pleasures of sin rather than submit to God's law, and John's imprisonment ended in his beheading to gratify Herodias's revenge.
Imprisonment and Its Causes
Herod Antipas himself laid hold on John the Baptist, bound him, and put him in prison, and he did it for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. The arrest was the direct result of John's condemnation of that union, and Herodias induced Herod to imprison him even while Herod himself was troubled by the call to repentance and would not free himself from his attachment to her.
The union John condemned was unlawful, for Herod had taken his brother's wife while her husband was still living, in transgression of the law of God. John plainly and faithfully told Herod to his face that living with Herodias was unlawful, fearlessly denouncing sin even though it was found in a ruler's household. His testimony was straight and proving, pointed and fearless, imperiling his own life, yet he remained faithful even when speaking the truth cost him imprisonment and death.
Herodias conceived intense hatred for daring reproof of their crime and determined to be revenged, and she clung to her grievance and would not release her hold until John was destroyed. She was exceedingly angry and could not rest, fearing that John's repeated remonstrances might persuade Herod and turn him against her. She was a woman of vile passions, ambitious for power and authority, who had gained Herod's affections and controlled his mind. After Herod opened his mind to John and told her he could not marry her in defiance of the law of God, she would not be thwarted but re-established herself in his favor, held her influence over him, and by that regained influence persuaded and influenced him to imprison John.
John had brought Herod face to face with God's law, proclaiming practical truth and setting forth the future punishment of the guilty, and told him he could have no part in the Messiah's kingdom unless he broke away from his brother's wife and with his whole heart obeyed the commandments of God. Herod was convicted and trembled at the exposure of his sins, was troubled, honored and feared John as a true prophet of God, and reformed his dissolute life in many things. He was inclined to act on John's counsel and heed him, greatly desired to break the chain of lust that held him, told Herodias he could not marry her in defiance of God's law, intended to release John, and had nearly become his disciple. Yet Herod was weak in principle and vacillating, would not give up his attachment and intemperance, and yielded to the pleasures of sin rather than submit to the restrictions of the law of God. Under his wife's influence he seized John and held him in prison though he still intended to release him, choosing sinful pleasure over obedience.
Aftermath and Faithful Witness
John's imprisonment ended in his beheading to gratify Herodias's revenge, ordered during a drunken revel to please her. At the point of decision Herod turned from the truth and light into darkness, falling into Satan's snare though he knew John was a true prophet and had nearly become his disciple. He trembled with horror at the request for John's head, yet gave the order.
The execution came at Herod's birthday feast, an occasion of gluttony and intoxication chosen by strategy to throw him off guard when intelligence would otherwise have controlled him. Intemperance among men in authority impaired judgment and sense of right and wrong, and with senses debased with wine Herod was entrapped by the captivating dance of Herodias's daughter into promising her anything she might ask. Herodias sought revenge because John had rebuked her and feared his repeated remonstrances might persuade Herod, and she clung to her grievance and would not release her hold until John was destroyed. Herod wrongly treated his rash oath as binding him to fulfill even this murderous demand, choosing actual murder over the appearance of breaking his oath. When the bleeding head was brought in before the guests they felt horror at the sight, and Herod could not endure it or close his vision to the painful sight.
Afterward Herod was tormented by guilt and remorse, and after hearing of Jesus' works he feared that John had risen to condemn him and bring punishment. He continued in sin with Herodias until his moral perceptions were degraded, his licentious life making his sins appear but trifles and his conscience far less sensitive. After a year had passed, with time to consider his own life and character, he was still with his unlawful wife witnessing and going through the formal ceremonies as a Jew observing the annual Passover. He later boasted to Jesus of the punishment he had inflicted on the prophet who had reproved him.
While confined John could not hear Jesus in person, but his disciples told him about Jesus' mighty works and comforted him with what they had seen and heard. Jesus possessed power to save His forerunner but allowed him to be left to violent death without asserting His authority as king. This became a trial that led some who had accepted Christ through John's preaching to doubt John's mission and whether Jesus was the Messiah. It grieved the disciples and made them fear that Jesus, opposed by the scribes and Pharisees, might meet a similarly inglorious fate, feeding disappointment, impatience, unbelief and spiritual darkness. Jesus knew the storm gathering over John and withdrew to Galilee for a time to keep division between His disciples and John's from harming their work.
John's pointed, straight testimony exposing wrongdoing shows that speaking the truth may imperil life and bring death. Those who reprove sin are hated, and the plain testimony cuts the fleshly heart even to the joints and marrow as a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Yet such a message must still be given whether men will hear or refuse to hear, so that people are not deceived. God's work will go forward without the refusers and will triumph with all who voice it with heart and soul.