Lessons from Matthew 14: Consequences
We have all suffered the consequences of doing something wrong. We made a bad decision or an uninformed decision and then suffered because of it, and understandably so!
But what about suffering when you’ve done everything right? Suffering not for what you’ve done wrong but rather suffering while you were in the right? Does this happen, you ask?
Yes it does!
In this lesson we will see that John the Baptist suffered not only an imprisonment but a senseless beheading because he did and said what was right. It was right in God’s sight and it cost him his life!
Would you be willing to suffer for doing right even if it cost you your life?
John the Baptist did and that is where this lesson starts in Matthew 14. Over the next couple of weeks, we will see his story in Matthew 14:1-12 and then we will visit the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) and last we will witness the faith Peter and the disciples declared after Jesus walked on the water and calmed the storm (Matthew 14:22-36).
And through it all we will see that Jesus keeps His own safe and secure in His care.
Herod’s Fear vs. John’s Faith
Out of fear–fear of what others might think and say–Herod ordered the beheading of John the Baptist.
Chapter 14 begins with Herod the tetrarch. Who was this man? How did he end up becoming such a fearful, people-pleasing, evil king? A king who refused the truth of God though he had heard it many times. Yet Herod chose to continue living a life full of sin. He thus suffered from a guilty conscience and fell prey to a horrible death.
So who was he? Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great. Herod the Great was a descendant of Esau, an Edomite, and though he was not a true Jew by birth, he and the others after him practiced the Jewish religion when it benefited them to do so. But for the most part, the Edomites remained hostile to the Jews.
Herod the Great is said to have had 9-10 wives and he thought nothing of having them (or anyone else, including a son) killed for getting in his way, or trying to change his plans, or if he became suspicious that someone was trying to take his throne.
The threat of losing his throne to newly born King Jesus back in Matthew 2 is what drove him to order the murder of all Hebrew male babies under the age of 2.
We know of four of his sons, one of which he had murdered because of his suspicious mind and thoughts that his son was trying to take his throne. Two of his sons are mentioned here in Matthew 14. The first is Herod Antipas, whose title was tetrarch, which actually meant ruler and not king! He ruled over the Transjordan, or the area of Galilee and Perea.
Herod Antipas had a half brother named Philip, and Philip lived in Rome with the Emperor of Rome. And it appears that Herod Antipas went to Rome and visited his brother there. While he was visiting he took a liking to his brother’s wife, Herodias. He seduced her and convinced her to leave her husband and come back with him. And she did! And they illegally got married!
Prior to this, John the Baptist had warned Herod that he should not do this and told him the truth about committing adultery. Though Herod heard the truth of God’s Word on this issue, he refused to heed it.
He was like many people who hate to have their sins pointed out, especially in public.
Herod had John the Baptist put in prison. He tried to silence John and keep him from exposing Herod’s sin any further. And though Herod wanted to kill John the Baptist he was afraid to.
Why?
Mark 6:20 tells us why! Because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. In fact, apparently Herod often liked to listen to John the Baptist preach the word of God even while imprisoned! But it left Herod feeling puzzled and perplexed.
Do you know of people like this?
They like to hear the word of God but they can’t quite make it out. They delight to listen but they refuse to follow. Why? Could it be that they really like where they are at more than they care to truly accept or receive the truths of God? Again, why? Because they love themselves and their lives more than they love God or the Word of God. Therefore they follow their vain ambition and selfish pursuits and continue in their destructive ways.
A life characterized by selfish ambition and vain conceit is usually characterized by self-destruction.
Does this describe you? If so, will you heed God’s instruction and depart from evil and the destruction of it? Will you seek God and His ways?
If you do, the paths of righteousness will be made clear to you!
Or maybe this describes someone you know.
How might you start, or continue, to speak the truth in love, standing on God’s firm ground of righteousness? And what will you do if you are falsely accused or receive opposition?
Scripture says to count it all joy!
Terri Hamman
Faith & Fitness Coach