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. (Matthew 14:1-12 KJV)
The Death of John the Baptist
The account begins with Herod the tetrarch hearing about Jesus’ fame. Christ had been preaching and performing miracles for over two years, yet Herod only now heard about Him. This shows how the powerful often live far removed from the truth that could save them. Christ’s disciples had been sent out to preach and perform miracles in His name, which increased His fame even more, hinting at how the gospel would continue to spread after Jesus’s ascension (cf. Matthew 10:1; Mt 10:7-8).
Herod believed Jesus must be John the Baptist risen from the dead. Herod believed John’s return from the dead explained the miraculous power now at work. Though John never performed miracles during his life (John 10:41), Herod assumed that being raised from the dead had given him new powers.
Herod was disappointed in trying to silence John by executing him. He thought that killing John would allow him to continue in sin without interruption. But Jesus and His disciples kept proclaiming the same message John did—now with miracles added. Ministers may be silenced or killed, but God’s word continues. Faithful preachers rise in place of those who are cut down (cf. 2 Timothy 2:9).
Herod also suffered from intense guilt, which filled him with fear. Even with all this, Herod remained hardened. Though he believed John was a prophet and recognized his godliness (Mark 6:20), he never showed any remorse for killing him. Like demons who believe and tremble but never repent (James 2:19), Herod was convicted but unconverted.
John had boldly rebuked Herod for marrying his brother Philip’s wife—while Philip was still alive. This wasn’t just unlawful; it was adultery and incest (Leviticus 18:16; Le 20:21). John didn’t suggest Herod’s actions were merely improper or unwise—he called them unlawful. Sin, as a violation of God’s law, is always serious.
What’s wrong for ordinary people is equally wrong for rulers. Kings are not above God’s law. And if rulers break God’s law, they should be corrected. Ministers, acting as God’s messengers, must tell them plainly when they’ve sinned (cf. 2 Samuel 12:7; Ezekiel 3:17-19).
For this, Herod arrested John. He did it partly for himself and partly to please Herodias, who was especially angry at John (Mark 6:17-19). Faithful reproofs often provoke anger when they don’t bring change. If people won’t accept correction, they’ll lash out at the one giving it. Faithful ministers have often suffered for doing what’s right. John likely didn’t regret his words—his clear conscience would’ve strengthened him in prison.
Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, who saw John as a prophet (Matthew 14:5). He didn’t fear God or even John anymore—his lusts had overruled his earlier respect—but he feared a public uprising. Rulers who live to be feared often end up being afraid themselves. And many are kept from sin not by reverence for God but by fear of losing comfort, reputation, or power.
On Herod’s birthday, Herodias’s daughter danced for the guests and pleased Herod (Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21-22). As royalty, this was something she rarely did. Times of partying often become opportunities for sin. The girl’s dance delighted Herod, feeding his pride and vanity. In his excitement, Herod made a foolish vow to give her whatever she asked (Mark 6:23). Such rash vows are dangerous and often come from pride and passion rather than wisdom (Ecclesiastes 5:2-6).
Prompted by her mother, the girl asked for John the Baptist’s head on a platter (Matthew 14:8). Herodias may have feared that Herod would eventually leave her and use John’s rebuke as an excuse. So, she pushed for John’s execution to secure her position. And not just death—his head must be served up like a dish at the feast, a gruesome and theatrical display.
The girl brought the head in triumph to her mother, as a trophy of the victories of her malice and revenge (Matthew 14:11). Jerome relates that when Herodias had John the Baptist’s head brought to her, she took the barbaric pleasure of pricking the tongue with a needle, as Fulvia did with Cicero’s. Note: Cruel minds are pleased with cruel sights, which those with tender hearts shrink from and tremble at. Both Herod and Herodias were guilty of John’s death; though it was Herodias who masterminded John’s death, Herod Antipas gave the order for his execution (Mark 6:26-28).
The disciples of John had fasted often while their master was in prison. They had free access to him in prison, which was a comfort to them, but they hoped to see him released so he could preach to others. But now, suddenly, all their hopes are shattered because of his death. Disciples weep and lament when the world rejoices (cf. John 16:20).
The disciples of John the Baptist buried John the Baptist’s body. Note: There is respect owed to the servants of Christ not only while they live but also in their bodies and memories when they are dead. Concerning the first two New Testament martyrs, it is specifically noted that they were buried with honor—John the Baptist by his disciples (Matthew 14:12), and Stephen by devout men (Acts 8:2). Yet there was no enshrining of their bones or relics, a superstition that came much later. Overdoing it in honoring the bodies of the saints leads to misguidance; though they are not to be dishonored, they are not to be worshiped.
They brought the news in tears to our Lord Jesus, not so much for him to escape (he surely heard it from others, as the whole region talked about it), but so they might receive comfort from him and be accepted among his disciples. Note:
First, when anything troubles us, it is our duty and privilege to bring it to Christ. It helps to ease our heavy hearts to pour ourselves out to a friend we can trust. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one or a disappointment, go and tell Jesus, who already knows but wants us to share our burdens with him (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).
Second, we must be careful that our faith doesn’t die with our spiritual leaders. When John died, they didn’t return to their old lives but stayed faithful. When the shepherds are struck, the sheep don’t have to scatter as long as they turn to the Great Shepherd, who never changes (Hebrews 13:8,20). The loss of ministers should draw us closer to Christ, into a more personal relationship with him.
Third, sometimes, the comforts we greatly value are taken away because they compete with our devotion to Christ. John had already pointed his disciples to Jesus (John 1:35-37), but they clung to their old master as long as he lived. So he was taken from them so they would follow Jesus, even though they had once envied him because of John (John 3:26-30). It’s better to be drawn to Christ by loss than not to come to him at all. If our leaders are taken from us, we can find comfort in the fact that we have a Master in heaven, who himself is our Head (Colossians 1:18).
Josephus mentions this story of John the Baptist’s death (Antiquities, Book 18, Chapter 7) and adds that a devastating defeat of Herod’s army in his war with Aretas, king of Petrea (whose daughter Herod divorced to marry Herodias), was widely seen by the Jews as divine judgment for putting John to death.
Herod, influenced by Herodias, offended the emperor and lost his position, and both he and Herodias were banished to Lyons in France. Josephus says this was his just punishment for giving in to her demands. Lastly, it is said that Herodias’s daughter, while crossing a frozen river, fell through the ice up to her neck, and the sharp ice cut through her throat—God requiring her head, said Dr. Whitby, for that of the Baptist; which, if true, was a remarkable act of divine justice.