Mar 6:18-19 | TNotes | STEP | 6:18 Mark gives the moral-religious reason for the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. Josephus refers to the political reason (fear that John’s great popularity might start a revolution; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). Similarly, the religious reasons for Jesus’ condemnation (Mark 14:63-64 ) became political when he was brought before Pontius Pilate (15:2 ; Luke 23:2-3 ). • It is against God’s law: Not only was the relationship adulterous (Lev 20:10 ), but it violated the further law against marrying a brother’s wife (Lev 18:16 ; 20:21 ).

a6:18►

bMark 14:63-64►

c15:2►

dLuke 23:2-3►

eLev 20:10►

fLev 18:16►

g20:21►

h6:19-28►

i1 Kgs 19:1-2►

jMark 6:26-28►

k6:20►

l25-28►

m15:6-15►

‏ Mark 6:18-19

6:18 ^a Mark gives the moral-religious reason for the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. Josephus refers to the political reason (fear that John’s great popularity might start a revolution; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). Similarly, the religious reasons for Jesus’ condemnation (Mark 14:63-64 ^b) became political when he was brought before Pontius Pilate (15:2 ^c; Luke 23:2-3 ^d).

• It is against God’s law: Not only was the relationship adulterous (Lev 20:10 ^e), but it violated the further law against marrying a brother’s wife (Lev 18:16 ^f; 20:21 ^g).
Summary for Mark 6:19-28: 6:19-28 ^h Herodias’s role in the murder of John the Baptist recalls the story of Jezebel (1 Kgs 19:1-2 ⁱ). Herod succumbed to pressure (Mark 6:26-28 ^j), which foreshadows the later story of Pontius Pilate, who put Jesus to death against his better judgment (cp. 6:20 ^k, 25-28 ^l with 15:6-15 ^m).