Luk 9:7-8 | KingComments | STEP | When Herod hears everything the disciples do, he doesn’t know what to think about it. There’s all kinds of rumors going around (cf. ). His conscience is appealed to, for some say that John had risen from the dead. Actually, dead has been raised. That rumor will also have been penetrated everywhere. But if people don’t know the details, they let themselves be carried away by their own imaginations formed by a deformed conscience. In addition to the name of John, the name of Elijah is mentioned, of whom he is said to have appeared. Still others speak of one of the old prophets had risen again. Fantasy has free rein when people just are led by rumors. Only when we are in connection with the Lord and His Word we are preserved for expressing or believing such uncontrolled opinions. When Herod hears the name of John, he thinks for a moment about the possibility that he might have risen ( ). He also rejects that possibility, for after all he has beheaded John. What Herod hears are rumors about what the disciples do, but he rightly concludes that it all comes from the Lord Jesus. He wonders Who He is. It is, however, only natural interest, a wondering about the supernatural, without sincere desire for the truth. His desire to see Him will be fulfilled, but different than he imagined ( ).

‏ Luke 9:7-8

Herod Is Greatly Perplexed

When Herod hears everything the disciples do, he doesn’t know what to think about it. There’s all kinds of rumors going around (cf. Lk 9:18-19). His conscience is appealed to, for some say that John had risen from the dead. Actually, dead has been raised. That rumor will also have been penetrated everywhere. But if people don’t know the details, they let themselves be carried away by their own imaginations formed by a deformed conscience.

In addition to the name of John, the name of Elijah is mentioned, of whom he is said to have appeared. Still others speak of one of the old prophets had risen again. Fantasy has free rein when people just are led by rumors. Only when we are in connection with the Lord and His Word we are preserved for expressing or believing such uncontrolled opinions.

When Herod hears the name of John, he thinks for a moment about the possibility that he might have risen (Mt 14:2). He also rejects that possibility, for after all he has beheaded John. What Herod hears are rumors about what the disciples do, but he rightly concludes that it all comes from the Lord Jesus. He wonders Who He is. It is, however, only natural interest, a wondering about the supernatural, without sincere desire for the truth. His desire to see Him will be fulfilled, but different than he imagined (Lk 23:8-11).