Matthew 14:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But she, prompted by her mother's desires, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist” (Matthew 14:8). It was a twofold offense, not only because she danced but also because her actions pleased in a manner that led to the shedding of innocent blood as a reward. Can you see how cruel and devoid of reason Herod truly is? He binds himself with an oath, granting the young woman complete freedom to make her request. Yet when he witnessed the evil that arose from it, he felt sorrow, as the evangelist records, despite having previously imprisoned John himself. Why does he mourn? Such is the nature of righteousness! It is indeed astonishing and commendable when seen in wicked individuals. How enraged Herodias became!

Saddened due to righteousness, for even the adversary was astonished by righteousness. However, through the binding nature of his vow, he offers a cruel temptation. From this, we understand that it is preferable to violate a vow than to commit an evil act in its name.

Scripture often reflects the collective mindset of the time, with narrators illustrating shared thoughts and feelings. For instance, when Mary refers to Joseph as the father of Jesus (Luke 2:48), it exemplifies a common perception. Similarly, in this situation, Herod is depicted as being troubled, influenced by the perspective of those around him. In truth, the deceiver and instigator of violence masked his true emotions, feigning grief while harboring joy within. He rationalizes his deeds through the oath he has sworn, committing an evil act under the guise of righteousness.

And he felt sorrowful. His grief stemmed from the necessity of executing a virtuous man and inciting the public's animosity towards him. Yet, for the sake of the vow and those who were with him, he ordered that it be fulfilled. O servant of the woman, you feared having witnesses to your betrayal of the vow, yet you showed no fear with the many who witnessed this wrongful death! You ought not to have made such a careless oath, and when you did so thoughtlessly, it would have been wiser to forgo the promise; when faced with two wrongs, one should always choose the lesser.

Prior to this, Herod had openly expressed his intent to eliminate John, yet he hesitated due to concern for the crowd, as they regarded John as a prophet. However, when confronted with the request to take John’s life, what caused Herod, who was previously bound by an oath, to become suddenly troubled? His earlier intentions seem disconnected from his current unwillingness; the anguish he now experiences contrasts sharply with his prior desires. Clearly, there was a semblance of order in earlier matters, and now the ramifications are evident. The magnificence of the law has been eclipsed by the indulgence brought about by lack of faith.

With a sense of unease, Herod acquiesced to her horrific demand: And the king was troubled. He may have anticipated that Herodias’ daughter would request something refined and extravagant: luxurious garments, exquisite jewelry, grand residences, and similar treasures; yet he was mistaken. Upon witnessing the malevolence that arose from it, he was ‘grieved…’ Why did he experience grief? Such is the nature of virtue that even the judgment of wicked individuals finds it commendable and admirable. But was Herod's sorrow genuine and unblemished? ‘Observe,’ remarks the blessed Theophylact, ‘what folly was demonstrated by Herod: he vowed to grant the dancer whatever she desired.

To understand the historical context surrounding the death of John the Baptist, it is essential to recognize that Herodias was the offspring of Aristobulus, who was the son of Herod the Great from his second marriage. At the behest of her grandfather, she entered into marriage with his other son from his third marriage, known as Herod in the writings of Josephus Flavius, while the evangelists refer to him as Philip. After the death of his father, Philip led a private life in Jerusalem. While still married to Philip and after they had a daughter named Salome, Herodias left him to marry Herod Antipas, a fourth son of Herod the Great and the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. To facilitate this new union, Herod Antipas had to annul his first marriage to the daughter of King Areta of Arabia.

The monarch felt sorrowful, not because the presence of John’s severed head might disrupt the festivities, but during those times, it was not customary in either the courts of Eastern tyrants or the palaces of Roman leaders for the demise of a revered individual to interrupt the ongoing celebrations. Herod mourned because he faced the dilemma of either violating his vow or executing the Prophet, whom he had previously shielded from the hostility of the Pharisees. Both options were misguided, yet he was compelled to select one. Thus, he turned to his nobles and advisors, as if seeking their counsel on the matter weighing heavily on him. Likely, his companions concluded that it would be preferable to end a life than to disregard the oath he had made without much thought.

Antipas was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events and felt deep sorrow, for he held the prophet in high esteem. Yet, the false sense of shame he felt in front of his guests, who had witnessed his rash vow, clouded his judgment. Consequently, he dispatched an executioner to the fortress of Maher, where John the Baptist was suffering, ordering him to behead the prophet. Thus, the greatest of those born of women succumbed to the vicious hatred of a woman for his message. The prophet's head was brought forth as a target of Herodias' scorn, while his disciples lovingly buried his lifeless body.

The king experienced deep sorrow; this emotion arose from (1) the admiration that both he and others held for John. He recognized John as a righteous figure, held him in high regard, and often heeded his counsel (Mark 6:20). "Why such sorrow? The nature of virtue is such that even the judgments of wicked individuals find it deserving of awe and commendation" (Zlat.); (2) he may have feared that John’s death, viewed by the masses as that of a prophet, could incite public animosity towards him (Euph. Sig.) and provoke widespread outrage. His grief does not negate his desire to eliminate John (Matt. 14:5): the suddenness of the girl's request bewildered him, revealing his weak character, despite having contemplated John’s demise; this reaction is psychologically reasonable.

Herod was taken aback by such a demand and felt distressed. The fear of public backlash held him back from taking a life, yet his own vows and the presence of those dining with him made it impossible for him to refuse. As noted by St. John Chrysostom, it would have been wiser for him not to have made the oath at all; however, given that he had already sworn, it would have been preferable not to fulfill it. When faced with a choice between two evils, selecting the lesser evil is surely the better path. Unfortunately, Herod's pride, a distorted sense of honor, and misguided shame overwhelmed all other emotions within him. In this turmoil, he disregarded his true self, fearing the displeasure of his guests more than the pangs of his conscience. Consequently, he yielded to Salome’s heartless request and sent a servant to the prison to behead John and deliver his head.