The Imprisoning of John the Baptist - Mark 6:17–19

     Why did Herod murder John the Baptist? Not many folk like to consider this aspect of the murder, for many folk are divorced and do not like the rebuke all of this is to their divorce. It was the immorality of Herodias that provoked the entire incident. But in a larger sense, that immorality only gave Herod only used that immorality as an excuse to remove an irritant and to do what he flesh had been driving him to do all along…
     The rebuke in the provoking. “John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife” (Mark 6:18). Herod had divorced his wife and married his brother’s wife. This caused quite a political problem; but Scripture speaks of the bigger problem, namely, the moral problem. John the Baptist stood up to Herod and rebuked him for this immoral marriage. Few today will stand up boldly against divorce as John the Baptist did.
     The restraint in the provoking. “Herod … bound him in prison, for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her” (Mark 6:17). Herodias, Herod’s new wife, did not like John the Baptist’s rebuke and influenced Herod into putting John in prison. Herodias was a wicked woman who brought much curse upon the land. Herod was a fool to marry her.
     The rage in the provoking. “Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him, but she could not” (Mark 6:19). Herodias, like many immoral, godless women, was violent and wanted John the Baptist dead. She could not get along with him. Divorced and immoral people have a problem getting along with anybody. But, in spite of her raging against John the Baptist, Herod would not accommodate her wishes as we will note in our next point.