Matthew 14:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is not without reason that the Evangelist here specifies the time, but that you may understand the pride and carelessness of the tyrant; inasmuch as he had not at the first made himself acquainted with the things concerning Christ, but now only after long time. Thus they, who in authority are fenced about with much pomp, learn these things slowly, because they do not much regard them.

Herod, lacking reverence for God, was nonetheless intimidated by the crowd, which led him to refrain from carrying out their execution. However, the adversary provided him with a favorable moment.

Luke does not give this in the same order, but where he is speaking of the Lord’s baptism, so that he took beforehand an event which happened long afterwards. For after that saying of John’s concerning the Lord, that His fan is in His hand, he straightway adds this, which, as we may gather from John’s Gospel, did not follow immediately. For he relates that after Jesus was baptized, He went into Galilee, and thence returned into Judæa, and baptized there near to the Jordan before John was cast into prison.

One of the Ecclesiastical interpreters asks what caused Herod to think that John was risen from the dead; as though we had to account for the errors of an alien, or as though the heresy of metempsychosis was at all supported by this place—a heresy which teaches that souls pass through various bodies after a long period of years—for the Lord was thirty years old when John was beheaded.

Mark tells us that Herodias harbored a deep anger towards John and wished to end his life, yet she was unable to act upon her desire. He explains that Herod feared John, recognizing him as a righteous and holy man, and therefore took him into custody. Herod was moved to comply with many of John's teachings and found joy in listening to him. This is recorded by Mark (Mark 6:19, 20). However, Matthew presents a somewhat different perspective, indicating that Herod desired John's death but was afraid of the people. If Herod was receptive to John’s counsel and honored him as a holy man, why then did he choose to imprison him? The events described by Mark occurred earlier, while those in Matthew refer to a later time.

From this place we may learn how great the jealousy of the Jews was; that John could have risen from the dead, Herod, an alien-born, here declares, without any witness that he had risen: concerning Christ, whom the Prophets had foretold, the Jews preferred to believe, that He had not risen, but had been carried away by stealth. This intimates that the Gentile heart is more disposed to belief than that of the Jews.

Perhaps some one may ask how it can be here said, At that time Herod heard, seeing that we have long before read that Herod was dead, and that on that the Lord returned out of Egypt. This question is answered, if we remember that there were two Herods. On the death of the first Herod, his son Archelaus succeeded him, and after ten years was sent into exile to Vienne in Gaul. Then Cæsar Augustus gave command that the kingdom should be divided into tetrarchies, and gave three parts to the sons of Herod. This Herod then who beheaded John is the son of that greater Herod under whom the Lord was born; and this is confirmed by the Evangelist adding the tetrarch.

He readily deviates from righteousness, showing a greater concern for human judgment than for divine. While such apprehension may limit sinful actions, it fails to eradicate the inclination to sin. As a result, those who abstain from wrongdoing out of fear may find themselves even more enticed to sin. Only by nurturing a reverent fear of God can one truly direct the mind, steer clear of transgressions, maintain purity, and cultivate resolve. Now, let us contemplate the trials faced by Blessed John!

Herod found himself unable to resist the wicked schemes of his cherished mistress, while he himself desired freedom from the denunciations he loathed. Yet, he hesitated to act upon his dark intentions. He contemplated eliminating John, yet fear of the populace restrained him, as they revered John as a prophet, and indeed he was far more than just that. There were moments when even Herod, that shameless libertine who disregarded God's commandments, would unwittingly be swayed by John's bold and divine message, often obeying it, as noted by Mark the evangelist. This reflected the remarkable influence of this greater man born of women.

During that period, John found himself imprisoned due to a series of events. He was baptizing in Perea, under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, who governed from his capital in Tiberias, Galilee. Having inherited a deep-seated mistrust from his father, Herod was vigilant about all activities within his realm. It was sufficient for him to learn that John had amassed a significant following to perceive him as a potential threat. In an attempt to evaluate him, Herod sought to summon John to his court, aiming to discern the nature of his character and ascertain if his concerns were warranted, so he might protect himself. However, Herod was surprised to discover that this man, often misjudged due to his simple clothing and ascetic lifestyle, was indeed a stern moral advocate.

In the accounts of the Gospels, a distinction can be observed between Matthew and Mark. Firstly, while Matthew asserts that Herod sought to eliminate John due to his own motives (5), Mark attributes this desire solely to Herodias, Herod's unlawful wife (19). Secondly, Matthew indicates that Herod's reluctance to execute John stemmed from his fear of the people's reaction, whereas Mark reveals that Herod was actually afraid of John himself, whom he perceived as a righteous and holy individual, often heeding his counsel (20). This illustrates two underlying reasons for Herod's hesitation in carrying out Herodias' demand to kill John: his fear of public opinion and his fear of the man himself.

It is evident that Herodias viewed John as her adversary and sought to eliminate him through the prevalent method of her time—murder. However, she lacked the authority to carry out the death of the prophet she despised. Instead, she exerted all her efforts and influence over Herod, who was enamored with her. She implored Herod multiple times to have John killed, and it is likely that at times Herod capitulated to her desires, agreeing to satisfy the requests of the woman he cherished. Yet just as he was about to act on her wishes, he hesitated. The people held John in high regard as a prophet, and thus his death could incite significant public outrage, a scenario that particularly alarmed Herod.

Herod Antipas experienced a profound guilt within himself and secretly revered the prophet; however, Herodias, entrenched in her wickedness, was enraged and plotted to eliminate the accuser. Reluctant to ask directly, she resorted to deceit and seized the first chance to carry out her murderous intentions.

Herod’s anxiety over a potential uprising led to John’s confinement, as noted by Flavius (Ant. 18: 5, 2). It is likely that this fear motivated him to consider taking John's life. The charges brought against him by Herodias served merely as a superficial justification for this act. Herod was apprehensive about the possibility of public unrest if he decided to execute John, since John was esteemed among the crowd as a prophet. The people recognized John as an extraordinary messenger from God to the Jews, honoring him rightly, for he was not only a genuine prophet but was indeed more than a prophet (Matthew 11:9).

After the profound witness given by Christ, the prominent herald of the Savior soon found himself imprisoned. In the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas, the capricious and morally bankrupt ruler of Galilee and Perea, John the Baptist stirred apprehension within him. Herod was anxious that the multitude eager to hear John might incite turmoil amid the turbulent times they faced, so he believed it prudent to preempt any unexpected backlash and potential regret for his actions. Furthermore, as a staunch critic of the societal immorality of the era and a candid proclaimer of the truth, John had incurred the ire of Herodias, Herod's unlawful spouse.