Mark 6:17-28
17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
Herod knew that John the Baptist was a righteous man, and did not want to harm him (verse 20). Yet he ended up beheading John because of the dance of the daughter of Herodias. I am speculating here, but I suspect that she danced a rather sexual dance for Herod. A simple innocent dance would probably not create much reaction, but this dance got Herod so excited he promised "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you" (verse 22). Unfortunately our reason tends to depart us when we get caught up in lust for a woman. We can end up doing something that we had previously thought we would never do. In this case Herod is brought back to reality by the sobering fact that the daughter was manipulating him, and he was forced to kill John the Baptist. We likewise may grieve after returning to our senses, and seeing what evil we have committed, but we can't undo the past. We can only beware of being caught up in the exciting feelings of lust.
Lord, help me to keep Your perspective when I am faced with temptation.
17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
Herod knew that John the Baptist was a righteous man, and did not want to harm him (verse 20). Yet he ended up beheading John because of the dance of the daughter of Herodias. I am speculating here, but I suspect that she danced a rather sexual dance for Herod. A simple innocent dance would probably not create much reaction, but this dance got Herod so excited he promised "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you" (verse 22). Unfortunately our reason tends to depart us when we get caught up in lust for a woman. We can end up doing something that we had previously thought we would never do. In this case Herod is brought back to reality by the sobering fact that the daughter was manipulating him, and he was forced to kill John the Baptist. We likewise may grieve after returning to our senses, and seeing what evil we have committed, but we can't undo the past. We can only beware of being caught up in the exciting feelings of lust.
Lord, help me to keep Your perspective when I am faced with temptation.