Matthew 14
The death of John the Baptist
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 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.
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 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. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Herod Antipas hears about Jesus and fears he is John the Baptist raised from the dead. Matthew explains: Herod had imprisoned John for condemning his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife. At Herod's birthday feast, Herodias's daughter dances and Herod rashly promises her anything; prompted by her mother, she asks for John's head, and Herod has him beheaded.
What does this mean?
A 'tetrarch' ruled part of a divided kingdom; Matthew also calls him 'king', as people commonly did. A 'charger' (KJV) is a large platter.
Historical context
Josephus also records that Antipas executed John, at the fortress of Machaerus, though he gives Herod's fear of John's popular influence as the motive. Marrying a brother's wife while he was alive was forbidden by the Law (Leviticus 18:16). Josephus calls Herodias's first husband simply Herod, and names her daughter Salome; the Gospel does not name her.
Editorial notes, not scripture.
Told in three Gospels
Mark 6:14–29
The death of John the Baptist
How Mark tells it
Mark's account is much fuller than Matthew's. Mark calls Herod 'king' throughout and says Herodias wanted John dead, while Herod protected him and heard him gladly; in Matthew, Herod wants to kill John but fears the crowds. Only Mark has the oath of 'half of my kingdom', the guest list and the girl asking her mother.
Continue reading in Mark →Luke 9:7–9
Herod wonders who Jesus is
How Luke tells it
Luke has only Herod's perplexity at what people are saying, not the story of John's death, which he never tells; he mentions John's imprisonment at 3:19–20. Unlike in Matthew and Mark, Herod does not conclude that John has risen: "John have I beheaded: but who is this?" He wants to see Jesus.
Continue reading in Luke →How Matthew tells it
Matthew's version is shorter than Mark's. In Matthew it is Herod who wants John dead but fears the crowds, who regard John as a prophet; in Mark it is Herodias who wants him dead, while Herod protects John and likes to hear him. Only Matthew says John's disciples told Jesus, which leads into Jesus' withdrawal.