Beheading of John the Baptist
Introduction: Stepping into the Story
Well, good evening, Midweek! How are we doing? It is so good to be with you guys tonight. You’ve got some great energy in the room, and I love it.
My name is Mike. If you’re new to The Well Community Church, I’ve been around here for a long time. I serve as one of the teaching pastors and the equipping pastor here. Tonight, I get the great privilege of opening the next part of our series in the Gospel of Matthew. I want to invite you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 14. We are going to look at an incredibly sobering—and yet deeply encouraging—story tonight, and we are going to find some powerful redemptive truths in it.
If you haven’t been with us, let me bring you up to speed. For those who have been tracking along, this is just a quick reminder of where we’ve been. Matthew, one of the twelve disciples, wrote this gospel to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah, the King of kings. We’ve seen Jesus’ genealogy and birth in chapters 1 and 2. We walked through the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7—His greatest sermon. In chapters 8 and 9, we witnessed the miracles that demonstrated His divine authority to inaugurate the Kingdom of God. Then, through chapters 9 to 12, we explored this “already-and-not-yet” reality of God’s rule and reign on the earth.
Right before our break, we looked at Matthew 13, where Jesus began teaching in parables—truths thrown alongside everyday life. Brad walked us through those stories: the sower, the wheat and the tares, the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet. In every parable, there was a common thread: the great treasure of the Kingdom is received by some, but rejected by others. At the end of chapter 13, we even saw Jesus return to His hometown of Nazareth, only to be rejected by the very people who watched Him grow up.
Tonight, in Matthew 14, we enter a section we are calling Made Ready. Jesus is beginning to shift His focus toward preparing the Twelve for what is coming. The shadow of the cross is looming in the distance. He knows His earthly days are drawing closer to their culmination, and He must prepare these men who will carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
To begin this section, Matthew tells a story that reads almost like a soap opera. It takes me back to high school during summer break, when my girlfriend convinced me to start watching Days of Our Lives. You’ve got powerful and influential people, sensuality, drunken promises, political deception, backstabbing, and murder. You read it and wonder, Why in the world is this in the Bible?
Let’s read Matthew 14, verses 1 through 12.
Matthew 14:1-12 (NASB)
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before [them] and pleased Herod, so [much] that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Having been prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ Although he was grieved, the king commanded [it] to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.
When we put the teaching calendar together, I didn’t necessarily plan on having my name next to the beheading of John the Baptist! But this is where God has us, and there is profound truth here for our lives. Let’s walk through it together.
Setting the Stage: The Herodian Dynasty
Matthew opens in verse 1 by stating that news about Jesus reached the ears of Herod the tetrarch.
Now, if you read the New Testament, you know there are several men named Herod, and it can get confusing quickly. The first Herod we meet in the Gospels is this man’s father: Herod the Great. We met him back in Matthew chapter 2. He was the paranoid ruler who ordered the slaughter of all the male babies in Bethlehem when he heard rumors of a newborn King of the Jews.
Herod the Great was brilliant, politically ruthless, and completely unhinged. He was not ethnically Jewish—he was an Edomite—and he was fiercely loyal to Rome. Rome loved him because he collected taxes efficiently and kept the Jewish populace in check. He was a master builder, expanding the magnificent Temple Mount in Jerusalem, building the fortress of Masada, and constructing the coastal city of Caesarea Maritima. But he was also a murderous tyrant. Between his ten wives and fifteen children, he was so consumed with paranoia about mutiny that he had several of his own family members—including two of his sons—executed.
When Herod the Great died, Rome divided his kingdom among three of his surviving sons and his sister. That is why the Herod in Matthew 14 is called a “tetrarch”—which literally means a ruler over a fourth of a kingdom. This is Herod Antipas. Like his father, he was ambitious, loved luxury, and was morally bankrupt. Jesus would later refer to this Herod as “that fox.”
A Confrontation of Truth and Power
When Herod Antipas begins hearing about the miracles and teachings of Jesus, his guilty conscience starts speaking. He thinks, This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead!
Matthew then uses a flashback to explain what had happened to John. The last time we saw John the Baptist was in Matthew 11, where he was sitting in prison. While in chains, John sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?” Jesus lovingly reassured John of His identity and kingdom.
Now Matthew tells us why John was locked up in the first place:
Matthew 14:3-4 (NASB)
For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had been saying to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’
Here is where the scandal unfolds. Herod Antipas went to Rome, visited his half-brother Philip, and seduced Philip’s wife, Herodias. Both Herod and Herodias divorced their respective spouses so they could marry each other.
John the Baptist, being the fearless prophet of God, looked at the ruler of the land and said, “That is not lawful. You cannot have her.”
John called this relationship what it was: unrepentant sin. Biblically, John was standing on clear scripture. Jesus upheld the sanctity of marriage against unlawful divorce in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:32 (NASB)
but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for [the] reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Furthermore, the Mosaic Law in Leviticus explicitly forbade taking your brother’s wife, classifying it as an abhorrent and incestuous act.
Leviticus 18:16 (NASB)
’You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 20:21 (NASB)
’If [there is] a man who takes his brother’s wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They will be childless.
John wasn’t afraid to confront the ruler of Galilee. He didn’t care that Herod was surrounded by yes-men and political power. John stood on the truth of God’s Word. And the text indicates that John didn’t just mention this once; he kept continually saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
We often picture John the Baptist as an eccentric wild man living in the wilderness, wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey. But make no mistake: John was a man of iron conviction, immense courage, and godly character.
A Tale of Two Kingdoms and Two Fears
Herod and Herodias did not take kindly to John’s rebukes. Mark’s Gospel tells us that Herodias held a deep, festering grudge against John and wanted him dead.
Mark 6:19 (NASB)
Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not [do so];
Herod wanted to kill John as well, but Matthew 14:5 tells us why he didn’t do it right away: he feared the crowd, because the people regarded John as a prophet.
Look at the contrast between these two men. It is a tale of two kingdoms and two different kinds of fear.
John the Baptist feared God. Because he feared God above all else, he didn’t fear the king, he didn’t fear prison, and he didn’t fear death. He spoke the truth without compromise.
Herod, on the other hand, feared man. He was terrified of losing his position, his popularity, and his power. He was obsessed with public opinion and the praise of people. When you fear man rather than God, you will inevitably compromise your integrity and make foolish, destructive decisions.
A Drunken Oath and a Grim Request
That brings us to the birthday banquet. Herod throws a lavish, self-indulgent party for his courtiers, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. Wine is flowing freely, and inhibitions are long gone.
In the middle of this drunken gathering, Herodias’ daughter—likely a teenager—comes in and performs a suggestive dance before the crowd. Herod is so captivated and intoxicated that he makes a rash, arrogant promise with an oath: “Ask me for whatever you want, up to half my kingdom, and I will give it to you.”
Of course, Herod didn’t even own a kingdom; he was just a puppet governor under Roman authority. His pride and lust wrote a check his authority couldn’t cash.
Tragically, the young girl is prompted by her bitter mother. She returns to Herod and makes a horrific demand: “Give me the head of John the Baptist right here on a platter.”
Matthew 14:9 (NASB)
Although he was grieved, the king commanded [it] to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests.
Herod was grieved. His conscience convicted him. Yet because of his pride, because of his rash oath, and because he feared losing face in front of his dinner guests, he gave the order. John was beheaded in the dungeon, his head was brought out on a platter, and it was handed to the girl, who took it to her mother.
John’s disciples came, took his body, buried him, and then went and reported it to Jesus. When Jesus heard the news, He withdrew privately by boat to a secluded place to grieve.
Why Is This Story Here?
As we study this tragic passage, we have to ask the pastoral question: Why did Matthew include this story in his Gospel?
I want to suggest three reasons why the Holy Spirit preserved this account for us.
1. A Shadow of Christ’s Coming Suffering
First, John’s death foreshadows what will happen to Jesus. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, the lives of John the Baptist and Jesus are closely intertwined. John is the forerunner in life, and he is the forerunner in suffering.
Just as the corrupt religious and political authorities rejected and murdered John, they will ultimately reject and crucify Jesus. Jesus knew that John’s death was a clear pointer to the cup of suffering He Himself would drink on our behalf.
2. A Warning to the Disciples
Second, John’s martyrdom was a wake-up call to the disciples about the cost of following Christ.
Jesus never promised an easy road. In Matthew 8, when an eager scribe promised to follow Him anywhere, Jesus warned him:
Matthew 8:20 (NASB)
Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air [have] nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’
Following Jesus is not a path paved with rose petals. Church history records that eleven of the twelve apostles were martyred for their faith, while John was exiled to the island of Patmos. The death of John the Baptist served as an undeniable reminder that following King Jesus demands our entire lives.
3. A Pattern for How We Are to Live
Third—and most practically for us—John’s life gives us a model of how to live with uncompromising conviction in a compromised world.
Most of us will probably never stand before a literal monarch risking physical beheading on a Monday morning. But all of us face daily pressures to compromise God’s Word. Our culture continually tries to trim the sails of Scripture, claiming that God’s design for marriage, sexuality, gender, the sanctity of life, and personal holiness is outdated and irrelevant.
John shows us what it looks like to speak the truth with courage. Yet notice how he spoke. Mark tells us an incredible detail about the relationship between Herod and John:
Mark 6:20 (NASB)
for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.
Even though John called out Herod’s sin directly, Herod respected John. He recognized John’s holiness and enjoyed listening to him. John wasn’t being belligerent, crude, or malicious. He spoke the truth in love. He stood firm on God’s Word with grace and gravity.
Imagine how our homes, our workplaces, and our city would be transformed if we lived like John the Baptist—people of deep conviction who love God enough to speak His truth, and love our neighbors enough to share it with humility and grace.
Conclusion and Prayer
Ultimately, John points us to Jesus—the true and better King who stood before corrupt earthly rulers, laid down His life on a cross, and rose victorious over sin and death.
As believers, let’s be encouraged by John’s example. Let’s make up our minds today about which kingdom we are living for. Let’s not bow our knees to the fleeting praise of this world, but stand firm in devotion to the King of kings.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank You for the powerful witness of John the Baptist. We thank You for his courage, his steadfast faith, and his willingness to honor You no matter the personal cost.
Living for Your Kingdom is always better, even when it is difficult. Give us the courage to stand firmly on Your Word with hearts full of grace and love. Keep us from the fear of man, and teach us to walk in the reverent fear of the Lord. May we represent King Jesus faithfully in every neighborhood and relationship You have given us. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.