For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her.
ελεγεν γαρ αυτω ο ιωαννης ουκ εξεστιν σοι εχειν αυτην
11 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 12 commentaries
John the Baptist, who arrived embodying the spirit and strength of Elijah, wielded the same authority with which he had condemned Ahab and Jezebel, as recorded in 1 Kings 21:19-25. He publicly rebuked Herod and Herodias for their illicit marriage, having taken his brother's wife while he was still alive. John chose to face the peril posed by the king rather than succumb to flattery and compromise his commitment to God's commandments.
It is said: There is no reverence for God in his sight, for he has deceived himself, believing he has discovered his sin, and has been detested (Psalm 35:2-3). What does it mean to have sought? Those who search will find (Matt. 7:8), so if one seeks after wickedness, that person ultimately discovers it. The one who has diligently sought after goodness deserves commendation, but one cannot expect forgiveness for the effort invested in pursuing evil. We ought to strive for virtuous actions, rather than shameful or sinful pursuits. Thus, is it not the pinnacle of folly and madness to seek hatred, to uncover through malicious schemes an injustice that none of the righteous are in pursuit of?
Now let us reflect on how the wicked chase after their injustice and animosity. Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, was lawfully married to Philip, her uncle and the son of Herod the Great, holding all royal authority. By virtue of hospitality and family ties, she welcomed Herod Antipas, her husband’s half-brother, while he was traveling to Rome, and shared in sin with him! Not long after, she abandoned her husband, breaking her marital vows. Did not she who left her spouse pursue unrighteousness and hatred through her act of adultery? Therefore, St. John the Baptist continually rebuked this unlawful union, declaring to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have this wife" (Matt. 14:4; see Mk. 6:18). She forsook her husband against the law and came to be with her brother-in-law in defiance of it. The adulteress was enraged and wanted to dispose of him. However, recognizing that it would not be easy to persuade Herod to slay a just man, she hatched a cunning plan. It was Herod’s birthday, and he was celebrating with a lavish banquet, like many kings do. Herodias beautified her daughter Salome, the offspring of her first marriage. During the king’s feast, Salome danced, enchanting Herod, though this delighted her uncle, and he offered her anything she desired as a reward for her lewd performance. On her mother’s counsel and urging, the young woman requested the head of John the Baptist. Herod, wishing to honor his solemn promise to grant his niece whatever she wished, ultimately had John executed and brought before her. She took the head to her mother. Indeed, they sought unrighteousness and hatred, for this woman attained through deceit and treachery what she dared not openly ask for.
Why would St. Ambrose refer to John the Baptist and King Herod (see: Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29) in relation to the Ring of Gyges? Had he chosen silence, Herod would not have taken his life; remaining quiet would have allowed him to maintain a visible presence without facing death. However, John acted out of righteousness, refusing to accept sin for his own safety, and instead provided a reason for his own demise. While some might argue that Gyges could not have truly vanished with the ring, it cannot be denied that John had the choice to remain silent. He honored what was right and could not bear witness to an indecent marriage, even one of royal status. He boldly proclaimed, "You cannot have her as a wife" (Matthew 14:4).
John could have chosen to remain quiet, but he deemed it inappropriate to keep silent out of fear of death or in order to appease the king at the expense of his prophetic integrity. Instead, he valued integrity above the preservation of his life. What could be more beneficial for a holy person than to attain the honor of martyrdom?
Persecution, mockery, and confinement are sometimes the fate of those charged with proclaiming divine truth to the authorities of this world. St. John boldly confronted Herod, bravely admonishing him for his immoral and seductive behavior. Instead of heeding the life-saving counsel from St. John, the wicked ruler chose to imprison him. Yet it is indeed a magnificent honor for the forerunner of Christ to uphold God’s mission at the expense of his liberty, even to the shedding of his blood and life. Do not be disheartened, faithful servants of the Lord, if the world lays burdens upon you; it is inevitable that fulfilling your ministerial duties will invite unjust hostility.
Consider the tribulations you will face from the enemy when you earnestly strive to dismantle his hold and the realm of sin. What will you endure from those enslaved by their desires as you call out their wrongdoings and guide them toward the narrow path that leads to salvation? Therefore, take heed that if you faithfully fulfill your role, tribulations will be your companion. As St. Paul articulated, this truth applies not only to the messengers of truth but to all who aspire to lead godly lives in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12).
John approached Herod with persuasion rather than condemnation, desiring to guide him towards reform rather than lead him to ruin; however, Herod chose destruction over humility. For those imprisoned by sin, the innocence of the unoffending is often seen as a threat. Righteousness stands in stark contrast to wickedness, purity frightens the irreverent, and integrity is at odds with corruption. Restraint challenges excess, mercy cannot endure cruelty, respect rejects dishonor, and justice will not tolerate injustice. The evangelist emphasizes this when he records, ‘John said unto him, Thou shalt not have her.’ In this instance, John becomes a target; one who renounces evil often incites resentment. By confronting wrongdoing, he becomes a casualty of his own righteous stand. John spoke in alignment with the law, justice, and the message of salvation, his words infused with love rather than animosity. Such noble intent was met with malice from the wicked in return.
In his admonishment of Herod, St. John aimed to free his soul, which was ensnared by sin, yet Herod shackled the very one who sought to liberate him. Nevertheless, the servant of God, despite being imprisoned, continued to proclaim the truth, rebuking and instructing even from behind bars. Within his discussions with his disciples and other followers who had access to the holy captive, St. John's condemnation of Herod was frequently articulated. This dialogue had the potential to reach Herodias, stirring her anger and prompting her to pressure Herod for the execution of the prophet who accused him.
During that period, John found himself in prison due to certain circumstances. He had been baptizing in Perea, where Herod Antipas served as tetrarch, ruling from his capital in Tiberias, located in Galilee. Herod had inherited his father’s tendencies to be suspicious of everyone, closely monitoring events occurring in his territory. Upon learning that John was attracting a significant following, he viewed him as a potential threat. Herod sought to summon John to his court, aiming to assess the nature of his influence and, if warranted, to protect himself. However, Herod was taken aback by the reality of John's character. Despite John's humble appearance and ascetic lifestyle, he was a staunch moral voice, boldly proclaiming truths before both the populace and the royal family.
In the halls of Herod's palace, he confronted the tetrarch for taking his brother Herod Philip's wife, condemning this sin along with other immoralities prevalent in Herod's court. Although Herod may not have displayed overt anger towards John's criticisms—indeed, he showed enough respect to listen (Mark 6:20)—Herodias, driven by ambition and anger at John's rebuke, pressured Herod to execute John. Ultimately, Herod complied, imprisoning him in the stronghold of Maheru. He had no intentions of taking further action against John, influenced partly by the public's regard for John as a prophet and their affection for him, which deterred Herod from harsher measures (Matthew 14:5). Additionally, Herod feared that mistreating such a righteous man could lead to divine retribution (Mark 6:20). These considerations left Herod in a prolonged state of uncertainty regarding John’s fate and might have led him to consider freeing John altogether, had not Herodias seized a moment of Herod's indecision to secure John's execution, as will be seen in the ensuing account. Throughout his imprisonment, Herod permitted John to maintain contact with his disciples.
Between the Hebrews, a distinction can be made between Matthew and Mark regarding Herod's intentions toward John. In Matthew's account, it is Herod himself who harbors the desire to eliminate John (5), while Mark attributes this desire solely to his unlawful wife, Herodias (19). Additionally, Matthew indicates that Herod feared the populace's reaction should he kill John, whereas Mark portrays him as fearful of John, whom he perceived as a righteous and holy man whose counsel he greatly valued (20). This illustrates that Herod was deterred from fulfilling Herodias' demands for John's death for two primary reasons: his concern for the people's opinion and his personal apprehension toward John.
Mark does not assert that Herod refrained from killing John out of reverence for him as a just man; rather, he feared the consequences from God for such an act. It was not his desire to disregard his respect for John in order to satisfy the malevolent wishes of his beloved wife. Thus, although Herod, urged on by Herodias, may have intended on several occasions to put John to death, each effort was thwarted by his fear of both the people and John's own righteousness.
John the Baptist faced imprisonment at the hands of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and Perea, who infamously ordered the massacre of the children in Bethlehem. Herod was unlawfully living with Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, while Philip was still alive. Such an arrangement was clearly against the divine law (Leviticus 18:16), which led John to confront Herod regarding this overt transgression.
It has been previously mentioned that Herod Antipas was married but chose to cohabit with Herodias during Philip's lifetime. John the Baptist boldly condemned this illicit union, earning himself a staunch adversary in Herodias. Seeking to eliminate John, Herodias influenced Herod Antipas to imprison him in the fortress of Maheru. This stronghold, located in Perea near the Arabian border, was constructed by Herod to serve as a military base during conflicts with the Arabs. Following the revelation of her husband's wrongful liaison with Herodias, Herod Antipas' legitimate wife, the daughter of King Aretas of Arabia, sought refuge with her father. Enraged by this betrayal, Aretas declared war against Herod, prompting Antipas and his entire court to relocate from Tiberias, their regular residence, to Mahera, where they resided in the palace.
After releasing the disciples, the Saviour resumed His ministry, traveling through cities and villages, performing acts of kindness for the sake of suffering humanity. During this time, a significant event occurred, foreshadowing an ominous rebellion by the forces of darkness against the heralds of the heavenly kingdom. This event involved the martyrdom of John the Baptist, the great forerunner, renowned among all who have been born of women, and the most exalted prophet. For his courageous proclamation and condemnation, he had endured a long imprisonment in a dark cell; yet even there he persistently exercised his prophetic voice, particularly condemning Herod Antipas, who governed Galilee following the demise of Herod the Great.
Antipas was a trivial yet profoundly immoral prince, engaging in an openly scandalous relationship with the wife of his brother Philip, who shared in his lewdness. Despite the outrageousness of this union, no one dared challenge it; silence prevailed as all bowed before this sinful royal pair. Only John the Baptist, like his formidable Old Testament counterpart Elijah, fearlessly rebuked the new Ahab and Jezebel with his powerful words of denunciation. “Thou shalt not,” he warned Antipas directly, “have thy brother's wife.”
"Shall not" holds significant weight because it is clearly prohibited by the Mosaic Law (Lev. 18:16, Lev. 20:21). According to the law, a brother is required to ensure the continuation of his deceased sibling's lineage by taking the widow as his wife (Deut. 25:5-6). However, Philip, who was the spouse of Herodias and brother to Antipas, was still living and had already fathered a daughter with Herodias (cf. Theophilus). Therefore, Antipas' actions were entirely unlawful, and as a steadfast adherent to the law, John appropriately condemned him for this transgression.
Following Christ's significant testimony, the esteemed herald of the Gospel, John, did not enjoy his freedom for long after fulfilling his mission. While in the realm of Herod Antipas, the capricious and indulgent ruler of Galilee and Perea, John's presence stirred unease within Herod. The ruler feared that the gatherings drawn by John’s message might lead to upheaval in the tumultuous times, prompting him to take measures to safeguard against sudden unrest and potential regret. Furthermore, John's bold condemnation of contemporary vices, coupled with his frank preaching, brought about the ire of Herodias, Herod's unlawful wife.
Channeling the spirit of the prophet Elijah, who had fearlessly criticized the sinful actions of Ahab and Jezebel (3 Kings 21:21, 23), John confronted Herod, stating: ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife’ (Mark 6:18). Herod Philip, John’s brother residing in Rome, was legitimately wed to Herodias, but driven by ambition she abandoned her marriage, breaching the law that prohibited a man from marrying his brother's wife while he lived (Deuteronomy 25:5-10), and took Herod Antipas as her spouse. This wicked woman sought to eliminate John for exposing her illicit relationship, but her attempts to persuade Herod only led to John's imprisonment. Herod hesitated to obey the murderous desires of Herodias, fearing retribution from the populace (Matthew 14:5), as he recognized John's character as righteous and holy (Mark 6:20), worrying that John's death might invite divine retribution. Thus, Herod cherished John as a prisoner, honoring him and engaging in various acts of kindness towards him, finding joy in listening to his teachings (v. 20). Such regard for his captive allowed John a degree of freedom even within prison walls, maintaining communication with his disciples, who brought him news of Christ’s ministry, which he in turn relayed to Jesus (Matthew 11:2).
As the Gospel continued to resonate and grow, John the Forerunner and Baptist of Christ ultimately met his demise as a martyr. His condemnation of Herod's sinful union with Herodias incited vengeful feelings in her. Understanding that John's admonitions could lead to the end of her privileged status should Herod heed his counsel, she was determined to eliminate the truth-teller, yet lacked the means to do so independently. Deviously and persistently manipulating her weak-willed, frivolous husband, she managed to sway Herod, who initially regarded John as a righteous and holy figure, into contemplating his sacrifice. Nonetheless, fearing the uproar from the people who revered John as a prophet, Herod delayed the barbaric act; Herodias also awaited her moment to exact revenge.
Herod Antipas had long been aware of Christ’s name and miracles due to the widespread gossip that reached him (Mt. 14:1; Mk. 6:14; Lk. 9:7). Confounded, he inquired, who is this about whom I hear such things (Lk. 9:9)? and speculated whether this Miracle Worker could possibly be John the Baptist raised from the dead, whom he had executed (Mt. 14:2; Mk. 6:14, 16), and he sought a chance to see Him for confirmation (Lk. 9:9).
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THEOSIS