Scripture Daily

Context No. 3888 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 14:9-13: in context

9The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother. 12His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

Herod had made a rash oath before his dinner guests, and now, though grieved, he will not go back on it; caught between his conscience and his pride before those at the table, he chooses to save face and orders John the Baptist beheaded. It is a study in moral cowardice: Herod knew the deed was wrong, he was even sorry, yet he did it anyway rather than lose face before his guests.

There is a searching warning here. Herod did a terrible thing not out of conviction but out of weakness, because he cared more about how he would look to the people watching than about doing what was right. The fear of others' opinions, the refusal to break a foolish commitment, the desire to save face, these led him to a grave wrong he inwardly regretted. And the passage ends with Jesus, hearing of his cousin's death, withdrawing to a lonely place, a glimpse of his human grief. When we let the fear of others' opinion, or an unwise commitment made in pride, pressure us into doing what we know is wrong, we walk in Herod's steps. It is better to lose face than to do a wrong we will regret.

Am I ever pressured, like Herod, into doing what I know is wrong by the fear of others' opinion or an unwise commitment, and will I choose to lose face rather than commit a wrong I will inwardly regret?

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