because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John's words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly. because Herod feared JohnThe word "feared" in Greek is "ἐφοβεῖτο" (ephobeito), which implies a reverential fear or respect. Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee, recognized something extraordinary in John the Baptist. This fear was not merely terror but a recognition of John's moral and spiritual authority. Herod's fear indicates an acknowledgment of John's divine mission and the power of his message, which resonated with Herod despite his own moral failings. and protected him
The Greek word for "protected" is "συντηρεῖν" (synterein), meaning to keep safe or preserve. Herod's protection of John suggests a complex relationship where Herod, despite his political power, felt compelled to safeguard John from harm. This protection can be seen as an acknowledgment of John's righteousness and a subconscious desire to align with the truth John represented, even if Herod's actions later contradicted this. knowing that he was a righteous and holy man
"Righteous" in Greek is "δίκαιον" (dikaion), and "holy" is "ἅγιον" (hagion). These terms underscore John's moral integrity and his consecration to God's service. Herod's recognition of John's righteousness and holiness highlights the undeniable impact of John's character and mission. It serves as a testament to the power of a life lived in obedience to God, which can influence even those in positions of power. When Herod heard John
The act of hearing, "ἀκούων" (akouon), implies more than just listening; it suggests an engagement with the message. Herod's willingness to hear John indicates an openness to the truth, albeit conflicted. This phrase suggests that the Word of God, as spoken by John, penetrated Herod's heart, challenging him and stirring his conscience. he was greatly perplexed
The Greek word "ἠπόρει" (ēporei) conveys a state of confusion or being at a loss. Herod's perplexity reflects the internal conflict between his sinful lifestyle and the call to repentance that John's message demanded. This inner turmoil is a common human experience when confronted with the truth of God's Word, which calls for transformation and surrender. yet he listened to him gladly
"Gladly" in Greek is "ἡδέως" (hēdeōs), indicating a sense of pleasure or delight. Despite his perplexity, Herod found joy in listening to John. This paradoxical reaction reveals the deep-seated human longing for truth and righteousness, even when it challenges one's current way of life. Herod's gladness in hearing John suggests that the message of repentance and the Kingdom of God resonates with the soul's deepest desires, offering hope and the possibility of redemption. Persons / Places / Events 1. Herod AntipasThe tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great. He is known for his complex relationship with John the Baptist, whom he both feared and respected. 2. John the BaptistA prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for his call to repentance and his baptism of Jesus. He is described as a "righteous and holy man" in this passage. 3. HerodiasThe wife of Herod Antipas, formerly married to his brother Philip. Herod's marriage to her was condemned by John the Baptist, leading to tension and ultimately John's imprisonment. 4. GalileeThe region over which Herod Antipas ruled. It is significant as the setting for much of Jesus' ministry and the events surrounding John the Baptist. 5. PrisonThe place where John the Baptist was held by Herod. It symbolizes the tension between worldly power and divine truth. Teaching Points The Fear of God vs. the Fear of ManHerod feared John because he recognized his righteousness, yet he was more concerned with his own reputation and power. Believers are called to prioritize the fear of God over the fear of man. The Power of a Righteous LifeJohn's life and message had a profound impact on Herod, demonstrating the influence a righteous and holy life can have even on those in power. The Danger of CompromiseHerod's perplexity and eventual decision to imprison John illustrate the danger of compromising one's convictions for the sake of political or personal gain. Listening with an Open HeartHerod listened to John gladly, yet his heart was not truly open to change. True listening involves a willingness to be transformed by the truth. The Cost of Speaking TruthJohn's boldness in speaking against Herod's unlawful marriage serves as a reminder of the potential cost of standing for truth in a world that often opposes it. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Herod's fear of John reflect the tension between worldly power and divine truth? How can we apply this understanding in our own lives when facing authority figures? 2. In what ways does John's righteousness and holiness challenge us to live a life that impacts others, even those who may oppose us? 3. How can we guard against the danger of compromise in our own spiritual walk, as seen in Herod's actions? 4. What steps can we take to ensure that we are not just listening to God's Word, but also allowing it to transform our hearts and actions? 5. How does the example of John the Baptist encourage us to speak truth boldly, even when it may lead to personal cost or persecution? How can we find strength in other scriptures that address persecution for righteousness' sake? Connections to Other Scriptures Matthew 14:1-12This passage provides a parallel account of Herod's interactions with John the Baptist, including the events leading to John's execution. Luke 9:7-9Herod's curiosity about Jesus is highlighted, showing his ongoing intrigue with prophetic figures and the message of repentance. Acts 24:24-26Similar to Herod's perplexity, Felix, a Roman governor, is described as being intrigued by Paul's message, yet ultimately unwilling to commit to the truth. People Elias, Elijah, Herod, Herodias, James, Jesus, John, Joseph, Joses, Judas, Jude, Mary, Philip, SimonPlaces Bethsaida, Galilee, Genneseret, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Sea of GalileeTopics Afraid, Awe, Conscious, Ear, Enjoy, Fear, Feared, Fearing, Gladly, Greatly, Hearing, Herod, Holy, John, Keeping, Kept, Liked, Listen, Listening, Observed, Perplexed, Perplexity, Pleasure, Protected, Puzzled, Righteous, Safe, Stood, Troubled, Upright, Watch, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Mark 6:1-56 5357 journey Mark 6:14-29 5098 John the Baptist Mark 6:16-29 8450 martyrdom Mark 6:17-20 5737 sisters Mark 6:17-28 5714 men Mark 6:17-29 8828 spite Library January 6 Evening
The apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things they had done.--MARK 6:30. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.--The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.--Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. When ye shall have done …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily PathSeptember 4. "Come Ye Yourselves Apart" (Mark vi. 31).
"Come ye yourselves apart" (Mark vi. 31). One of the greatest hindrances to spirituality is the lack of waiting upon God. You cannot go through twenty-four hours with two or three breaths of air, in the morning, as you sip your coffee. But you must live in the atmosphere, and you must breathe it all day long. Christians do not wait upon God enough. It needs hours and hours daily of spiritual communion with the Holy Spirit to keep your vitality healthful and full. Every moment should find you breathing …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth January 8. "It is I, be not Afraid" (Mark vi. 50).
"It is I, be not afraid" (Mark vi. 50). Someone tells of a little child with some big story of sorrow upon its little heart, flying to its mother's arms for comfort, and intending to tell her the story of its trouble; but as that mother presses it to her bosom and pours out her love, it soon becomes so occupied with her and the sweetness of her affection that it forgets to tell its story, and in a little while even the memory of the trouble is forgotten. It has just been loved away, and she has taken …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Herod --A Startled Conscience
'But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.'--Mark vi. 16. The character of this Herod, surnamed Antipas, is a sufficiently common and a sufficiently despicable one. He was the very type of an Eastern despot, exactly like some of those half-independent Rajahs, whose dominions march with ours in India; capricious, crafty, as the epithet which Christ applied to him, 'That fox!' shows; cruel, as the story of the murder of John the Baptist proves; sensuous …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Master Rejected: the Servants Sent Forth
'And He went out from thence, and came into His own country; and His disciples follow Him. 2. And when the Sabbath day was come, He began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing Him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto Him, that even such mighty works are wrought by His hands? 3. Is not this the carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon! and are not His sisters here with us? And they …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Martyrdom of John
'For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. 18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. 19. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: 20. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21. And when …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The World's Bread
'And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31. And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. 33. And the people saw them departing, and many knew Him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Christ Thwarted
'And He could there do no mighty work, save that He laid His hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And He marvelled because of their unbelief.'--Mark vi. 5,6. It is possible to live too near a man to see him. Familiarity with the small details blinds most people to the essential greatness of any life. So these fellow-villagers of Jesus in Nazareth knew Him too well to know Him rightly as they talked Him over; they recognised His wisdom and His mighty works; but all the impression that these …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture On Attending the Church Service
"The sin of the young men was very great." 1 Sam. 2:17. 1. The corruption, not only of the heathen world, but likewise of them that were called Christians, has been matter of sorrow and lamentation to pious men, almost from the time of the apostles. And hence, as early as the second century, within a hundred years of St. John's removal from the earth, men who were afraid of being partakers of other men's sins, thought it their duty to separate from them. Hence, in every age many have retired from …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions The Epistle of Saint Jude.
V. 1, 2. Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to those that are called to be holy in God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. This Epistle is ascribed to the holy Apostle, St. Jude, brother of the two Apostles, James the Less and Simon, by the sister of the mother of Christ, who is called Mary (wife) of James or Cleopas, as we read in Mark vi. But this Epistle cannot be looked upon as being that of one who was truly an Apostle, …
Martin Luther—The Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude Preached and Explained The First Sayings of Jesus --His Ideas of a Divine Father and of a Pure Religion --First Disciples.
Joseph died before his son had taken any public part. Mary remained, in a manner, the head of the family, and this explains why her son, when it was wished to distinguish him from others of the same name, was most frequently called the "son of Mary."[1] It seems that having, by the death of her husband, been left friendless at Nazareth, she withdrew to Cana,[2] from which she may have come originally. Cana[3] was a little town at from two to two and a half hours' journey from Nazareth, at the foot …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus The Chronology
45. The length of the public ministry of Jesus was one of the earliest questions which arose in the study of the four gospels. In the second and third centuries it was not uncommon to find the answer in the passage from Isaiah (lxi. 1, 2), which Jesus declared was fulfilled in himself. "The acceptable year of the Lord" was taken to indicate that the ministry covered little more than a year. The fact that the first three gospels mention but one Passover (that at the end), and but one journey to Jerusalem, …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth The Friend of Men 223 in Nothing Does the Contrast Between Jesus and John the Baptist Appear More Clearly than in their Attitude Towards Common Social
I The Friend of Men 223. In nothing does the contrast between Jesus and John the Baptist appear more clearly than in their attitude towards common social life. John had his training and did his work apart from the homes of men. The wilderness was his chosen and fit scene of labor. From this solitude he sent forth his summons and warning to his people. They who sought him for fuller teaching went after him and found him where he was. They then returned to their homes and their work, leaving the prophet …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth Twelve Baskets Full of Fragments Gathered from the Miracle of Christ Feeding the Multitude.
1.--MAN NEEDS HELP. "They have nothing to eat." (Mark vi. 36.) 2.--GOD IS BETTER THAN GOOD MEN. "Send them away," said the disciples. (Mark vi. 36.) "They need not depart," the Lord replied. (Matt. xiv. 16.) 3.--MINISTERS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR THE CHILDREN, THEY GIVE HELP AS WELL AS TROUBLE. Andrew said, "There is a lad here." (John vi. 9.) 4.--YOUTH CAN GIVE TO JESUS WHAT NO ONE ELSE POSSESSES. "There is a lad here which hath five barley loaves." (John vi. 9.) 5.--UNBELIEF …
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
CHAPTER XXIX. THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. 1. The New Testament, like the Old, is not an abstract system of doctrines and duties, but a record of facts involving doctrines and duties of the highest import. This record does not constitute an independent history, complete in itself, and to be explained in its own light. It is rather the necessary sequel to the record of the Old Testament. It interprets the Old Testament, and is itself interpreted by it. The two constitute together an organic whole, and can …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the Bible The Right to Privacy
"There were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."--Mark 6:31 "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them."--Matthew 9:36 I had just come back from a strenuous month in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Sprightly, the young married couple who were in charge of the mission station, and I were relaxing around the tea table. I told about the work I had been doing, and answered interested questions. Finally the talk drifted into lighter channels, and …
Mabel Williamson—Have We No Rights? Set at Liberty.
(MARK VI. 27.) "Hush my soul, and vain regrets be stilled; Now rest in Him who is the complement Of whatsoe'er transcends our mortal doom, Of baffled hope and unfulfilled intent; In the clear vision and aspect of whom All longings and all hopes shall be fulfilled." ARCHBISHOP TRENCH. The Genesis of a Great Crime--The Strength of Evil Influences--An Accomplice of Satan--The Triumph of Hate--The Baptist Beheaded--A Place of Repentance The evangelist Mark tells us, in the twenty-first verse of this …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist The King's Courts
(MARK VI.) "The number of thine own complete, Sum up and make an end; Sift clean the chaff, and house the wheat; And then, O Lord, descend. "Descend, and solve by that descent This mystery of life; Where good and ill, together blent, Wage an undying strife." J. H. N. Under Royal Surveillance--"It is not Lawful."--The Revenge of Herodias--The Upbraidings of Conscience--Devotion to Truth--"A Sin unto Death." Our story brings us next to speak of the Baptist's relations with Herod Antipas, son of the …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist Rejected in his Own Country
"And He went out from thence; and He cometh into His own country; and His disciples follow Him." MARK 6:1-6 (R.V.) WE have seen how St. Mark, to bring out more vividly the connection between four mighty signs, their ideal completeness as a whole, and that mastery over nature and the spiritual world which they reveal, grouped them resolutely together, excluding even significant incidents which would break in upon their sequence. Bearing this in mind, how profoundly instructive it is that our Evangelist …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark Links Mark 6:20 NIVMark 6:20 NLTMark 6:20 ESVMark 6:20 NASBMark 6:20 KJV
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