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When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Verse Takeaways
1
Fear of Man, Not God
Commentators highlight a crucial distinction in Herod's character. He wanted to kill John the Baptist but was stopped, not by a fear of God or a guilty conscience, but by his fear of the people's reaction. As one scholar memorably puts it, 'People fear being hanged for what they do not fear being damned for.' This serves as a powerful warning that worldly fears can restrain evil actions without changing a sinful heart.
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Matthew
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8
18th Century
Presbyterian
For Herod had laid hold on John. This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she …
19th Century
Anglican
He feared the multitude — Mark, whose account is the most detailed of the three, adds that Herod himself feared John, knowing …
Baptist
Neither he nor his illicit lover could bear such direct criticism, and so he would have silenced the rebuking tongue forever if he had not been res…
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Herod Antipas’s first wife was the daughter of Aretas (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:32), Arabian king of the Nabateans, whose land adjoined Per…
16th Century
Protestant
And though he wished to put him to death. There appears to be some contradiction between the accounts of Matthew and Mark
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And when he would have put him to death As soon as he apprehended him, and put him into prison; being provoked by hi…
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The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other daring offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a future judgment …
13th Century
Catholic
Above, the Lord showed the power of the Gospel teaching by way of some parables; here, He shows its power by deeds. And He does three things:
