Mark 6:17-29

Sins of the Story

This is the story of John the Baptist beheading. There were several sins that led up to John’s demise from others in the story. I would like to highlight a few.

Unlawful marriage

Herod convinced his half-brother’s wife Herodias to leave his half-brother and marry him. John confronted Herod with this unlawful marriage.

Leviticus 18:16 NASB95

‘You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.

Leviticus 20:21 NASB95

‘If there is a man who takes his brother’s wife, it is abhorrent; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They will be childless.

Herod had betrayed his brother and took his wife. this is wrong because marriage is to be sacred between one woman and one man.

Matthew 5:31–32 NASB95

“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 19:1–12 NASB95

When Jesus had finished these words, He departed from Galilee and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan; and large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there. Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. “And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”

Holding a grudge

Herodias was furious that John called Herod out for doing something wrong. She was so mad that she wanted him dead. Anger had grown a root in her heart that led to John the Baptist death. Holding a grudge leads to tremendous sin. Matt.5 38-42

Matthew 5:38–42 NASB95

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

The progression of anger to a grudge leads to revenge and vengeance.

Wild parties (Drunkenness)

Mark 6:21 NASB95

A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee;

Herod threw a wild party and got drunk and had lady dancers at the party.

Luke 21:34 NASB95

“Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap;

Ephesians 5:18 NASB95

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Drunkenness inhibits ones ability to make logical and right decisions. We this as evidenced by the king offering up to half his kingdom.

Adultery

Mark 6:22 NASB95

and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

Salome was the daughter of Herodias. She was Herod’s niece and daughter of his half-brother Phillip. When she seductively danced before Herod it pleased him.

Matthew 5:27–30 NASB95

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Lusting after someone when you are married or single is a form of adultery that will affect your existing marriage or future marriage.

Murder

Mark 6:27–28 NASB95

Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

The king issued the death of John because of the anger of Herodias. Herod killed an innocent and righteous man.

Mark 6:20 NASB95

for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.

The compilation of sin led to the death of John the Baptist.

Sin in our life leads to death as well. Matt. 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 NASB95

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.