What is the meaning of Matthew 14:4? because - Matthew 14:4 explains Herod’s hostility toward John “because” John confronted him. Cause and effect are clear: John’s rebuke sparked Herod’s resentment. - Scripture often links moral confrontation with opposition: Elijah and Ahab in 1 Kings 21:20, Nathan and David in 2 Samuel 12:7. Truth spoken to power provokes reaction. John had been telling him - The imperfect verb tense in English (“had been telling”) shows John’s rebuke was ongoing, not a single outburst. - John consistently preached repentance (Matthew 3:1-2), so continual warning to Herod fits his calling. - Mark 6:18 parallels this, highlighting John’s unwavering courage. - Persistent prophetic witness appears in Jeremiah 26:2-3 and Amos 7:10-13; God’s messengers do not retreat when truth is at stake. It is not lawful for you - John appeals to God’s revealed law, not personal opinion. - Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21 explicitly forbid marrying a brother’s wife while the brother lives. - John applies Scripture directly to Herod, mirroring how Jesus cites Scripture against temptation (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). - The standard remains unchanged for rulers and commoners alike; Numbers 15:30-31 warns that high position does not exempt from God’s commands. to have her - “Have” points to Herod’s adulterous union with Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife (Matthew 14:3). - Adultery violates the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14) and Jesus later intensifies its seriousness (Matthew 5:27-28). - Herod’s public sin endangered the moral fabric of the nation; leaders’ actions influence people (2 Chronicles 33:9). - John’s stance underscores that covenant faithfulness transcends cultural norms and political alliances (Acts 5:29). summary John’s continual, Scripture-based rebuke of Herod—“It is not lawful for you to have her”—exposes sin, calls for repentance, and models fearless fidelity to God’s Word. The verse reminds believers to ground moral judgments in Scripture, speak truth patiently yet boldly, and recognize that divine standards apply to every person regardless of status. |
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