Mark 6:22–23

It was Herod's birthday — a day that fastens a man's thoughts on himself and stirs up the desire to please himself. Herod "made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief men of Galilee." It was a royal party with himself at the centre. What more could the flesh want? It had its fill. And now his eyes were fed too — the beauty of Herodias' daughter, the grace of her movements, the elegance of her dancing. She pleased Herod and those who sat with him. What a circle of delight! Then Herod had to be equal to the occasion. If all this was for his pleasure, he must not act cheaply; he must act like a king... Here is the pride of life: claiming the power to give, like a sovereign, whatever is asked.

Herod, as seen in the Gospels, was a weak-minded, impressionable man... The presence of his lords and captains at his feast excited him. The dancing of the daughter of Herodias before him and his guests carried him away in a whirl of exuberant pleasure. Without any self-control, he uttered the most extravagant promises: "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you," he said, adding no qualifications. And to show that this was not mere Eastern exaggeration, he confirmed his promise with oaths. The man who inherited a fourth of his father's kingdom swore to the girl, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." Infatuated and drunken men sometimes speak in this wild, impulsive way. So Ahasuerus more than once promised to give Esther what she asked, up to half of his kingdom (Esther 5:3, 6; 7:2), and Herod may have foolishly thought he was imitating the great world-emperor with this boastful pledge.

The right day comes, and Satan's hand is there, urging his instruments on to the final act. Men are blinded and think they are carrying out their own will. They do not see that they are the devil's plaything, and that he is leading them on in war against God... The day is well chosen: it is Herod's birthday, when his power and luxury are on show in a way that satisfies the pride of life... The lust of the eyes enters with the girl and takes possession of the king.

It would seem that Herodias had plotted for this outcome. She had set a trap for Herod and baited it with her own daughter. Knowing his disposition, she counted on some such promise from the monarch when he had been drinking.

Note the character of the girl who pleased Herod enough to win such a promise, confirmed by an oath. It is fair to assume that her beauty and graceful movements produced this pleasure. Who could have thought that behind it all was a heart taking positive delight in corruption and violence! Oh world, here is the character of those who seduce you by their charms!

The King was very sorry, but not sorry enough to admit that he had made a foolish oath which he could not keep and still do right. His own pride and his fear of men decided him to have John murdered. If she had asked for Herod's head, would he have agreed? Herod did have a way out, if he had had the least sense of responsibility to God. He might have told the girl that John's head was not his to give; but he was proud enough to think that he had title over men's bodies.

Though Lord of all He took the place of a subject, obedient, dependent man on earth. Instead of making Himself the centre of earth's ministry He came to minister... His poor disciples begged Him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you... Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." His reply was moving: "to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." He claims no power to give in the kingdom which He will take in obedience to His Father's will.

Herod, as seen in the Gospels, was a weak-minded, impressionable man. The straight talk of the prophet impressed him. The dancing of the daughter of Herodias before him and his guests carried him away in a whirl of exuberant pleasure. Having no self-control at all, he made the most extravagant promises: "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you," he said, adding no conditions. And to show this was not mere Eastern exaggeration, he confirmed his promise with oaths. The man who inherited a fourth of his father's kingdom swore to the girl, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." Infatuated and drunken men sometimes speak in this wild, headlong way. Ahasuerus more than once promised Esther whatever she asked, up to half of his kingdom. Herod may have foolishly thought he was copying that great world-emperor with this boastful pledge.

It was Herod's birthday, a day which naturally fastens a man's thoughts on himself and makes him want to gratify himself. Herod "gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee." It was a royal entertainment with himself at the centre. What more could the flesh want? It was satisfied to the full. His eyes feasted too on the beauty of Herodias' daughter, on the grace of her movements and the elegance of her dancing. She pleased Herod and those who sat with him. Then Herod had to match the occasion. If all this is for his gratification, he must not act meanly, he must act like a king. So he swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." Here is the pride of life. He assumes the power to give, like a sovereign, whatever anyone asks.

It seems that Herodias had plotted for this outcome. She had set a trap for Herod and baited it with her own daughter. Knowing his character, she counted on some such promise from the ruler when he was well into his drink. The sweetness of revenge meant more to her than half of Galilee, so she told her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist.

The king was exceedingly sorry, but not sorry enough to admit that he had made a foolish oath and could not righteously keep it. His own pride and his fear of men decided him to have John murdered. In fact, Herod did have a way out if he had had the least sense of responsibility to God. He might have told the girl that John's head was not his to give; but he was proud enough to think he had title over men's bodies.

He was by no means a weak man. He would not have killed the Baptist just because Herodias or her daughter wanted it. They trapped him instead through his superstitious regard for his oath. The man is blessed who "swears to his own hurt and does not change"; but Herod kept it to the hurt of another.

Though Lord of all, He took the place of a subject, an obedient, dependent man on earth. Instead of making Himself the centre of earth's ministry, He came to minister... His poor disciples begged Him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." How moving was His reply: "...to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." He claims no power to give in that kingdom. He will receive it in obedience to His Father's will.