At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

Two Herods

Herod the Great

Two Herods Herod the Great He is the Herod mentioned in the birth narratives.

Two Herods Herod the Great He is the Herod mentioned in the birth narratives. Herod Antipas

Two Herods Herod the Great He is the Herod mentioned in the birth narratives. Herod Antipas He is the Herod who deals with John the Baptist and with Jesus in the crucifixion narrative.

Both Herods had a problem with their Jewish subjects.

Rome had chosen to rule its empire through vassal states.

Both Herods had a problem with their Jewish subjects. Rome had chosen to rule its empire through vassal states. Rome had chosen the Herodian dynasty to rule the Jews. The Roman Senate had elected Herod the Great, “King of the Jews.”

Both Herods had a problem with their Jewish subjects. Rome had chosen to rule its empire through vassal states. Rome had chosen the Herodian dynasty to rule the Jews. The Roman Senate had elected Herod the Great, “King of the Jews.” Ironically, neither Herod was Jewish.

Both Herods had a problem with their Jewish subjects. Rome had chosen to rule its empire through vassal states. Rome had chosen the Herodian dynasty to rule the Jews. The Roman Senate had elected Herod the Great, “King of the Jews.” Ironically, neither Herod was Jewish. Herod would retain power as long as he kept the Jews under control.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.Matthew 14:1-12 (NIV)

Herod is afraid, but not enough to actually draw the correct conclusion from this.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. Matthew 14:13 (NIV)

But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies. Luke 23:5-12 (NIV)

Herod ridicules and mocks Jesus because he assumes that Jesus’ claim to be “King of the Jews” is simply false.

Herod assumes that he has nothing more to fear from Jesus.

Herod ridicules and mocks Jesus because he assumes that Jesus’ claim to be “King of the Jews” is simply false. Herod assumes that he has nothing more to fear from Jesus. Herod’s outlook is a pagan one. He assumes that God will get him immediately for what he has done. If that is not the case, then he has nothing about which to worry.

Herod ridicules and mocks Jesus because he assumes that Jesus’ claim to be “King of the Jews” is simply false. Herod assumes that he has nothing more to fear from Jesus. Herod’s outlook is a pagan one. He assumes that God will get him immediately for what he has done. If that is not the case, then he has nothing about which to worry. Thus Herod participates in the process that would culminate in Christ’s cruxifiction.

What does the story of Herod tell us about God?

Both Herods are exceptionally evil men.

What does the story of Herod tell us about God? Both Herods are exceptionally evil men. Yet, God does not directly intervene to stop either.

What does the story of Herod tell us about God? Both Herods are exceptionally evil men. Yet, God does not directly intervene to stop either. God intervenes in history by a slow process of changing evil into good.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God... All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. Hebrews 11:8-10, 13 (NIV)