Albert Barnes Commentary Mark 6:20

"for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly." — Mark 6:20 (ASV)

He did many things. But he did not do the thing that was demanded of him—to break off from his sins. He attempted to make a compromise with his conscience. He still loved his sins and did other things that he supposed might be accepted, instead of putting away, as he should have, the wife of his brother—the polluted and adulterous woman with whom he lived.

Perhaps he treated John kindly, spoke well of him, or helped him with his needs, and in this way attempted to silence his rebukes and destroy his faithfulness. This was probably before John was imprisoned.

So sinners often treat ministers kindly, do much to make them comfortable, and hear them gladly, even while they are still unwilling to do the thing that is demanded of them: to repent and believe the gospel. They expect that their kind attentions will be accepted instead of what God demands—repentance and forsaking their sins.