A Disgusting Party

N.T.#158 "A Disgusting Party"

Oct. 5, 2023

Matthew 14

LET IT GLOW

Oh my, this chapter begins with an immoral family of Herod the Great. A background of Herod and his 3 sons includes:

• Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome when Jesus was born. 
• Herod captured Jerusalem in 37 BC.
• Herod the Great was appointed king of Judea. He married more than 10 times. He was the guy who had some of his wives and sons murdered. (Jealousy of them and didn't want them to take his throne away.) Herod had ordered the killing of babies when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.(2:16) After Herod's death, Palestine was divided among his sons. 
• Three sons survived-Aristobulus (father of daughter Herodias), Philip (who married his niece Herodias), and Herod Antipas (who married the same niece while being married to another woman).
• Keep in mind that Herodias had daughter with Philip, named Salome.

I wonder if Herodias was obsessed with being a queen. Just a thought. There was a lot of immorality and evil going on in this family. If the book of Matthew was made into a movie, it probably would be rated X. This compounding incest was violating Leviticus 18:16. 

We need to be careful that we do not participate in the sins of the family. They can be carried out through generations of the father. Often drugs, alcohol use, and sexual sins continue in families unto one comes to Jesus and stops it.

LET IT GROW

Herod Antipas heard the Truth as John the Baptist revealed the king's sins. So the king put John into prison. (Mark 6:20) Then Herod Antipas threw a big party with his officials of military and government. Salome danced in a seductive way before the guests. (Probably Herod lusted for his stepdaughter.) He made her a promise of anything for a payment for her dancing, probably while drunken. (Up to half his kingdom) The girl asked her mother's opinion as to what request to make. The mother told her to Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. (verse 8)

And so it happened, sadly, John the Baptist was beheaded. (verse 10) It seemed that Herod did not want to kill John, but had to save his embarrassment before his guests. Then the disciples buried John's body when they heard of the matter. They told Jesus what occurred. (verse 12) When Jesus heard of John's death, He withdrew into a remote place. You will remember that John was Jesus' cousin and follower. Sometimes we need to deal with grief in solitude. 

Do we let ourself get into a situation where we have to save-face? We need to determine what is right no matter how embarrassing or painful it might be to us. 

LET IT GO 

Give us strength to carry on when our loved ones are taken away from us.

May our faith remain strong as we minister to the loving and unloving.