AM January 20th Matthew 14

January 20^th Matthew 14

Herod hears of Christ

1: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2: And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3: For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4: For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5: And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6: But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7: Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8: And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9: And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10: And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11: And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12: And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Herod heard of Christ’s ministry he just assumed that John had been raised from the dead. Yet John had never performed any miracles. Herod had been rebuked by John because of the relationship that Herod had with his brother Philips wife. Herod was tricked into executing John by his lover Herodias. Herod would rather not loose face and honour than execute someone to whom he seemed to have respect. After John’s death, his disciples came and buried him and then they went to tell Christ.

• Why do you think that Herod thinks that Jesus is John?
• Why had Herod imprisoned John?
• What did Johns disciples do after Johns death?