What is the meaning of Matthew 14:5? Although Herod wanted to kill John • Herod Antipas had arrested John because John boldly confronted his immoral union with Herodias (Matthew 14:3-4; Mark 6:18-19). • The king’s desire was not for justice but for self-preservation of his sinful lifestyle—echoing Ahab’s hostility toward Elijah in 1 Kings 18:17. • Scripture consistently shows that when confronted by truth, hardened hearts often seek to silence the messenger (Acts 7:52). he was afraid of the people • Political calculation overruled Herod’s murderous intent. He feared an uprising, since John had wide popular support—much like the leaders who hesitated to seize Jesus because “they were afraid of the people” (Luke 20:19). • Proverbs 29:25 warns, “The fear of man lays a snare,” illustrating Herod’s dilemma: his fear bound him, preventing decisive action. • Fear of the crowd, rather than fear of God, exposes the shallowness of Herod’s authority (compare John 12:42-43). because they regarded John as a prophet • The crowds recognized John’s divine commission, fulfilling Malachi 3:1’s promise of a forerunner. Jesus affirmed this view, calling John “more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:9-11). • John’s prophetic role carried weight similar to Elijah (Luke 1:17), so harming him risked popular revolt. • Even after John’s death, the people’s esteem endured; when Jesus later challenged the chief priests regarding John’s baptism, they evaded answering “for they feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet” (Mark 11:32). summary Herod Antipas longed to eliminate the voice that exposed his sin, yet political fear restrained him. The people’s conviction that John was a genuine prophet safeguarded John’s life for a season, underscoring how God can use public reverence to hinder evil plans. Matthew 14:5 therefore highlights the clash between sinful power and prophetic truth, revealing a ruler governed by human fear rather than repentance and reminding readers that God’s messengers remain under His ultimate protection until their mission is complete. |
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