Chapter # 6 Paragraph # 3 Study # 3
November 16, 2021
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis:   Mark's explanation for Herod's murder of John centers upon Herod's extreme vacillations of purpose.

Introduction:   In our last two studies we considered the reality of Herod's "reprobate mind" by looking at both the total irrationality of Herod's insistence that Jesus was a resurrected John in light of the fact that the alternative "identities" of Jesus were far more likely. The reality of Herod's rejection of "biblical alternatives" makes his murder of John even more of a complexity for one reason: Herodias knew Herod well and could not have been threatened by John's decree of the illegality of her marriage to Herod. She knew her husband was not influenced by what "the law" of Moses said. So, what did she know that generated her hatred (fear) of John?

In a word, she knew the reality of James 1:6-8; that Herod was "unstable" in terms of having a firm anchor to hold him to a principled value system. She also knew how to manipulate that reality.

This evening we are going to look into Mark's presentation of Herodias as the root cause of John's death.

• I. A Theological Caveat.
  • A. On the one hand, Herod was "unprincipled" at a serious level.
    • 1. Mark tells us plainly that the reason for Herod's imprisonment was his plan to "keep John safe" (6:20).
      • a. Herod knew of his "wife's" "grudge".
        • 1) The word translated "grudge" (NASB) is a word only found in three New Testament texts.
        • 2) Paul's use in Galatians 5:1 is the most illuminating: there it has the concept of being "enslaved to" an ideology, or attitude, that completely dominates one's "thought-life" (akin to our concept these days of someone "living rent free in another's head"; i.e., a person not being able to get free of obsessive thoughts regarding another).
      • b. He also knew of her on-going desire to put John to death.
        • 1) This may be rooted in a feeling of being humiliated by John's declaration that Herod was doing an "unlawful" thing by retaining her as "wife".
        • 2) It could also/instead be rooted in a fear of being put aside by Herod because of John's declaration.
        • 3) But in any case she was persistently "wishing" to kill John.
    • 2. But he also tells us that Herod "feared" John and "enjoyed" listening to John.
      • a. What John had to say "perplexed" Herod.
        • 1) His "perplexity" arose partly out of his persuasion that John was "a righteous man".
          • a) His was not a New Testament concept of a man declared righteous by faith, nor even a man whose "message" (repentance unto forgiveness) was being lived out by John.
          • b) His was the typical concept of a man whose behavior was impeccable, free of legal guilt.
        • 2) And his "perplexity" arose out of his persuasion that John was "a holy man".
          • a) Again, his was not the technical New Testament concept of a man whose "holiness" was a matter of divine decision.
          • b) His was the typical concept of a man who gave every evidence that his life was being guided by Mosaic Law.
        • 3) But Herod, because he was neither, could not "get" what John was saying.
      • b. But Herod's perplexity did not make him hostile to John; rather, he "enjoyed" listening to him.
  • B. On the other hand, Herod did have a "bottom line" in his system of values.
    • 1. Mark's record is of the fact that Herod was not terribly influenced by his new "wife" (he made it impossible for her to carry out her on-going wish to kill John).
    • 2. But Mark's record was also of the fact that He was enormously influenced by how he was, or would be, viewed publicly at any given particular time (he would yield a "lesser" value for this greater one if the circumstances called for it).
    • 3. This was his "bottom line": highly "principled" as a matter of commitment (but not as a matter of right/wrong).
• II. What Herodias Knew.
  • A. First, that John's appeal to "Law" in his description of Herod's behavior would not matter to Herod at the level of personal, "controlling", conviction (uninfluenced by circumstances).
  • B. Second, that John's denunciation of Herod's adultery would only matter if Herod thought that John's denunciation would have a significant effect on his public reputation.
    • 1. But Herod, apparently, did not think John's message would mean anything to the masses.
    • 2. He knew he had no "reputation" for being concerned for the teachings of the Law of Moses.
  • C. Third, that Herod would be moved to contradict lesser "values" if he was in danger of being publicly humiliated.
  • D. Fourth, that Herod's promise to his step-daughter was the opportunity she was looking for in forcing Herod's hand in regard to her desire to kill John.
    • 1. The setting was a "birthday banquet" for Herod to which all the big wigs had been invited.
    • 2. The setting was "potent" because Herod's wish to be seen as "worthy of honor" was "on the line"
• III. Mark's "Point".
  • A. Herod was "forced" by his "values" to act as he did.
  • B. That all men will be driven by their most critical values.
  • C. That "disciples" can not afford any "most critical value" that can undermine their "faith" as it affects their loyalty to God.

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This is article #260.
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