Matthew 14
First Reading Impressions:
Resurrection Beliefs
Why did Herod think Jesus was John raised from the dead? Was he serious? Were “raisings” so common or the belief in them common? It makes me wonder about Christ’s resurrection in terms of people just throwing those terms around.Clarke: "He is risen from the dead - From this we may observe:
1. That the resurrection of the dead was a common opinion among the Jews; and
2. That the materiality of the soul made no part of Herod’s creed."
What exactly did the Jews commonly believe about resurrection?
*Sad
that such evil is rampant in the world.
John is killed because of a young woman’s wish! It is in many ways as evil as a shooting
spree if not more premeditated, yet the severity of the injustice of this crime fails to register with me because it’s such a
familiar story. John was a great man—what a petty reason to take a life!
*Jesus
seems to want to get away by himself after learning about John. He seeks solitude yet the people press in. However, he maintains his compassion despite this, feeding them, healing them, and still seeking out time with God.
*Touching the fringe of his garment seems like such a superstitious thing to do---but for once, this superstition is more than a desperate hope.
Herod: "This was Herod Antipas, who ruled over a fourth of Palestine (hence the title the tetrarch), including Galilee and Perea. He ruled from 4 b.c. to a.d. 39. His father Herod the Great had killed the Bethlehem babies (Mat_2:16). Herod Antipas judged Jesus when He was on trial (Luk_23:7-12). (See the chart on the Herods at Luk_1:5.)"-BKC
"As for Herod, his crime was finished but the memory lingered on. When he heard of Jesus' activities, the entire episode returned to haunt him." -BBC
Commentary:
Herod
Herod: "This was Herod Antipas, who ruled over a fourth of Palestine (hence the title the tetrarch), including Galilee and Perea. He ruled from 4 b.c. to a.d. 39. His father Herod the Great had killed the Bethlehem babies (Mat_2:16). Herod Antipas judged Jesus when He was on trial (Luk_23:7-12). (See the chart on the Herods at Luk_1:5.)"-BKC
"As for Herod, his crime was finished but the memory lingered on. When he heard of Jesus' activities, the entire episode returned to haunt him." -BBC
Ahh...how the past has a voice!
"She so delighted Herod that he foolishly promised her anything she wanted. Her request, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist, was not her idea, for she was prompted by her mother Herodias. Though this request greatly distressed (lypētheis means to be grieved or sad to the point of distress; cf. Mat_18:31; Mat_19:22) Herod, he was caught in a trap for his oath was at stake (Mat_14:9). So he granted the wish and John was beheaded."-BKC
Interesting that Herod is so pulled and manipulated by the opinions of others that he is willing to choose wrong actions even to the point where it causes him distress. A ruler who is not a ruler of his better passions!
"She so delighted Herod that he foolishly promised her anything she wanted. Her request, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist, was not her idea, for she was prompted by her mother Herodias. Though this request greatly distressed (lypētheis means to be grieved or sad to the point of distress; cf. Mat_18:31; Mat_19:22) Herod, he was caught in a trap for his oath was at stake (Mat_14:9). So he granted the wish and John was beheaded."-BKC
Interesting that Herod is so pulled and manipulated by the opinions of others that he is willing to choose wrong actions even to the point where it causes him distress. A ruler who is not a ruler of his better passions!
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