Bible Reading: Matthew 14:1-12
Key Verse: Verse 3 - “For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.”
Key Words: for Herodias’ sake
Herodias was both ambitious and wicked. She would be the Jezebel of the New Testament. She was the daughter of Aristobulus and sister to Herod Antipas, and the granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was married to her uncle, Herod Philip. This is a perfect picture of a dysfunctional family.
Passion and pride prompted Herodias to leave her husband, Herod Philip, and live in an adulterous relationship with Herod Antipas. Yes, she lived in an ungodly, wicked, immoral relationship with – of all people – her brother.
Herodias was not only wicked, she was vile, full of poisonous venom. It was Herodias who called for the head of John the Baptist.
But yet still, in today’s society she would be known as a party girl, fun, popular. Oh, how we must grieve God! People must see the seriousness of sin.
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. “Dr. Howard,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.” The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, “You see that label? It says strychnine—and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘Poison!’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ‘Essence of Peppermint’; don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label; the more dangerous you make your poison!”
Herodias was not a fun-loving party girl; she was a vile, wicked sinner. Just ask John the Baptist!
What to do:
✞ We must not let society define sin for us when God has already defined it.
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