A wise person once said, “The best thing you can learn about history is to LEARN from history so you do not repeat it.” Today we are going to learn about four sinful choices that King Herod made which led to a sin that haunted him the rest of his life. (Read text)

Transition

Herod made four sinful choices from which we can learn valuable lessons. I encourage you to write them down.

Herod’s first sinful choice was that …

He Married His Brother’s Wife

  1. First, note the context (v.14-16)
    1. King Herod heard about Jesus, for His name had become well-known.
    2. Herod believed Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead (v.16). Others thought He was a prophet. Herod was troubled.
  2. His sinful choice of a wife (v.17)
    1. The Herod in our text was Herod Antipas.
    2. “Herod Philip I was really Herod Antipas’ half-brother. It was unlawful for Herod to marry Herodias because their marriage was incestuous since Philip was still alive (cf. Lev. 18:16; 20:21). Antipas had converted to Judaism, so he had placed himself under Mosaic Law.” Hiebert in Constable
    3. John preached against Herod’s immoral relationship.
    4. God ordained marriage between one man and one woman for life. (Gen 2:24) “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
    5. Jesus confirmed that divorce is wrong and marriage is for life. (Matt 19:5) “And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?” (Matt 19:6) “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
      ☆ God can and will forgive divorce and remarriage if it is truly confessed, but the consequences will remain.
      Herod’s second sinful choice was that …

He Put John the Baptist in Prison

  1. He yielded to his bossy wife
    1. Herodias was a nagging wife. Note the words “for Herodias’ sake” (v.17). She hated John for his preaching against their sinful living together (v.18). She must have nagged Herod until he finally had John put in prison.
    2. Herod was not the leader of his home. His wife got her own way most of the time. Thus, he put John the Baptist in prison against his better judgment.
    3. Husbands are to be the head of their homes.
      1. Husbands, you need to make the final decisions based on wisdom gained from the Bible. Godly husbands are not selfish dictators. They spend quality time daily with the Lord, seek God’s mind, love their wives as Christ loves us, and lead by example. Study Ephesians 5:22-33.
      2. Wives, you need to let your husbands lead. Many Christian women run their homes by putting pressure on their husbands to do things their way. That is evil. If you husband is not a loving leader, then ask God to work in his heart as you submit to him. Study 1Peter 3:1-6.
  2. He would not let Herodias kill John
    1. We must give Herod a little credit. When Herodias wanted to kill John, he protected John (v.19).
    2. Herod feared John (v.20). He knew that John was a just (righteous) and holy man. The word “observed” means to keep safe or to protect.
    3. Herod often listened to John and heard him gladly (v.20). Deep inside, Herod knew that John was right and he was wrong, yet he was too proud and weak to stand up to his wife and let John go free.
      ☆ Men, let’s ask God to make us the biblical leaders that God wants us to be.
      Herod’s third sinful choice was that …

He Yielded to his Lustful Desires

  1. He foolishly walked into a trap
    1. Notice the words “when a convenient day was come.” The word convenient refers to a seasonable, timely, opportune time.
    2. Herodias had been plotting. She knew that Herod’s birthday was coming and that he would have a feast. “It is quite probable that she knew of Herod’s propensity, when drunk on such occasions, to make rash promises to dancing girls, and she plotted accordingly.” Peter Pett
    3. She had her daughter dance before Herod.
  2. His lust caused him to make a foolish promise
    1. Her sensual dance baited the trap. Again, Pett states, “Such dances were expected to be lewd and suggestive, and this girl’s would be no exception, and it raised Herod’s excitement to such an extent that he offered her as much as half his kingdom as a reward.”
    2. This is a good reminder that dancing is not for Christians. The good dancing in the O.T. was simply modestly-dressed leaping and spinning as they sang in praise to God (Ex 15). Bad dancing in the Bible was sensual (Ex 32). Virtually all dancing today is sensual and sinful.
    3. With an oath, Herod made this very foolish promise (v.22-23). The devil cunningly knows the powerful struggles that men face when around sensually dressed women.
      ☆ Men, we must avoid tempting situations. Protect your internet and phone with filters like K9, Net Nanny, or Qustodio. Don’t foolishly think you are strong enough to resist. Stay away from the swimming beach. Bounce your eyes away from indecent women in the shops or at work. Flee youthful lusts (2Ti 2:22). Men, tell the ladies in your home the truth and teach them how to dress modestly.
      ☆ Ladies, though you will never truly understand these struggles in men, you must accept them as true and seek to dress modestly. Bathing suits are never modest. Tight clothing, open shoulders, low necklines, and exposing your legs above the knees attract men’s attention in sinful ways. Ask God for wisdom to dress modestly.
      Herod’s fourth sinful choice was that …

He Killed John to Save Face

  1. Herodias’ daughter ask for John’s head
    1. She may have been somewhat innocent, but her wicked mother used her to gain her end (v.24).
    2. She obeyed her mother and asked for John’s head to be brought to her by and by in a charger or lit. immediately on a dish (v.25).
  2. Herod was sorry but too weak to say “No”
    1. He knew that to kill John was wrong and he was sorry that he had made such a rash promise (v.26).
    2. Yet, because he had sworn to do so and because he did not want to shame himself before his guests, he had John killed (v.26-27).
    3. John’s head was brought in as requested and his disciples buried his body (v.28-29).
    4. It is very likely that for the rest of Herod’s life he was plagued by the memory of his rash vow, foolish promise and murder of John.
      ☆ If you ever make a rash promise while you are upset, be humble enough to swallow your pride and take it back. It is not worth it to go through the rest of your life with regret.

Conclusion

God wants you to do right so you can avoid sinful choices. 1) Remember that marriage is for life. Divorce is wrong and even when forgiven has painful consequences. 2) Men, if you are not the loving leader that God wants you to be, with God’s help change. Ladies, if you are not the submissive completer to your husband as God planned, with God’s help change. 3) Men, we must guard our eyes and minds and ladies, you must dress modestly to protect your purity and the thoughts of men. 4) If you ever make a rash promise be humble enough to take it back. The best thing to learn about history is to learn from history.

What Herod needed most was God’s forgiveness but we have no record that he ever confessed his sin and trusted Christ. Perhaps that is your greatest need as well.

Song: Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord – 337; You can have revival (back)
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Herod’s Sinful Choices
10 September 2017 AM – Mark 6:14-29 – Mr17 – Scott Childs