Mat 14:1-12 | PNT | STEP | The Miracles Beyond and Upon the Sea of Galilee SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 14: Herod's Opinion of Christ. The Death of John the Baptist. Jesus Crosses the Sea. The Vast Multitude That Follows. The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes. The Multitude Wishing to Make Jesus a King Is Dismissed. The Disciples Sent Upon the Sea While Jesus Retires to Pray. The Storm on the Sea. Christ on the Waters. The Failure of Peter's Faith. Herod the tetrarch . Compare . Herod Antipas, one of the sons of "Herod the King". See PNT for information on the Herods. Called the "tetrarch", or ruler of a fourth part, because he inherited one-fourth of the kingdom of his father. Heard of the fame of Jesus . Absent much of the time from Galilee in campaigns against Areta, king of Arabia, he probably did not hear much until his return home.

Matthew 14:1-12

The Miracles Beyond and Upon the Sea of Galilee SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 14: Herod's Opinion of Christ. The Death of John the Baptist. Jesus Crosses the Sea. The Vast Multitude That Follows. The Miracle of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes. The Multitude Wishing to Make Jesus a King Is Dismissed. The Disciples Sent Upon the Sea While Jesus Retires to Pray. The Storm on the Sea. Christ on the Waters. The Failure of Peter's Faith.

Herod the tetrarch. Compare Mr 6:14-29 Lu 9:7-9. Herod Antipas, one of the sons of "Herod the King".

See PNT Mt 2:1 for information on the Herods. Called the "tetrarch", or ruler of a fourth part, because he inherited one-fourth of the kingdom of his father.

Heard of the fame of Jesus. Absent much of the time from Galilee in campaigns against Areta, king of Arabia, he probably did not hear much until his return home. This is John the Baptist. Herod claimed to be a Sadducee, and hence held that there was no life whatever after death, but under the terrors of a guilty conscience his creed undergoes a change. Hence his first thought when he hears of the deeds of Jesus is that the murdered John has risen from the dead.

Therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. During his life John wrought no miracles (Joh 10:41). Herod supposed that his resurrection had clothed him with new power. This opinion was shared by others (Mt 16:14 Mr 8:28). For Herod had laid hold on John. This arrest of John the Baptist had taken place a year previous, shortly before our Lord's second visit to Galilee (Mt 4:12 Mr 1:14), the events of which are given by John (Joh 4:43-54). The prison was the castle of Machaerus.

See PNT Mt 11:2.

For the Herodias' sake. Antipas had been, while at Rome, the guest of his brother Herod Philip. Here he became entangled by the snares of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and he repaid the hospitality he had received by carrying her off. He had himself long been married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. This Herodias was the granddaughter of "Herod the King", and, hence, the niece of both her lawful husband and of Herod Antipas, who now had her. It is not lawful for thee to have her. The marriage was unlawful for these three reasons: (1) The former husband of Herodias (Philip) was still living. (2) The former wife of Antipas was still living. (3) Besides, the Jewish law did not permit a man to marry his niece. He feared the multitude. Mark says he feared John also (Mr 6:20). He no doubt feared John's influence with the multitude. When Herod's birthday was kept. In imitation of the Roman emperors, the Herodian princes kept their birthdays with feasting and revelry and magnificent banquets. We learn from Mark that he made a supper, or banquet feast.

The daughter of Herodias. Her name, according to Josephus, was Salome, a daughter by Philip, Herod's brother. She was afterwards married to her uncle Philip, the tetrarch of Iturea (Lu 3:1).

Danced. It was not customary for the ladies of high rank to dance beyond the limit of the harem. The Oriental dance of a libertine character. But her wicked mother induced her own daughter thus to degrade herself in order to accomplish her revengeful purpose. He promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. Herod confirms his promise by an oath. It was a common custom to reward a dancer or actor, on a great occasion like this, who pleased, and to ask what they wished. Herod knew that Salome danced because she had a request to make. Give me John the Baptist's head. Mark tells us that she went to consult her mother before she made her request (Mr 6:24). That vile woman was prepared with an answer. Indeed, she had manipulated the whole affair so as to secure Herod's consent to the murder of John.

In a charger. An old English word for a large dish, so called from the load it sustained. The king was sorry. The Greek word "lupeo", thus translated is very strong, and denotes a very great grief, and sorrow.

For the oath's sake, and them which sat eating with him. It was not so much his regard for the oath which he had taken, but his shrinking from the taunt of the guests, if they should see him draw back from his plighted word. He sent, and beheaded John in the prison. The executioner did his work in the dark dungeon; the wicked Herodias had triumphed. She brought [it] to her mother. The first Elijah had his Jezebel, who sought his life; the second Elijah had his Jezebel, the not less inhuman Herodias, who obtained his life. His disciples. John's.