The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Matthew #2533

Promised with an oath? Well now, here's an opportunity for old Satan to go work.

The Parable of Sower which contains the explicitly detailed yet simple explanation of the Parable of the Tares by Jesus Christ Himself, separates those few Christians who have eyes to see and ears to hear from the multitudes of Christians who do not. In fact, the Parable of the Tares itself separates the two churches of Philadelphia and Smyrna with whom Christ finds no fault at all, from the other five churches in Revelation chapters two and three that have at the least some major doctrinal problems to overcome (To see what they are missing read Rev. 2:9 & 3:9). To wit, the hour is getting late in this final generation of the fig tree and the time has come for our brothers and sisters to either to "wake up", as in open their eyes to the simplicity of our Father's Word and begin seeking His precious truth and pearls of wisdom instead of blindly following after the traditions of men, or face having the door to the wedding feast slammed in their faces when the true bridegroom comes (Mat. 25:10). A word to the wise virgin is sufficient.

That bring us to the 14th chapter of Matthew, whose name means "Gift of Yah", and in today's study we are going to see the inner workings of the subtle way in which Satan orchestrated the death of John of the Baptist, bringing to a close that great ministry which would have been counted as Elijah's had the people not rejected the King of kings and His dominion. It is important that we know how the enemy operates behind the scenes so that we are better prepared to be on guard against the cunning devices of the wicked one.

Matthew 14:1
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

* Note: Tetrarch technically means "the ruler of a fourth (tetra) part" of the country but by this time it was applied liberally to simply denote a regional or subordinate king or governor.

[2] And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Matthew 14:3
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

Some insight as to her lustful character and motive (gold digging) might just be that which Dr. Smith records in his Bible Dictionary concerning Philip:

"He was excluded from all share in his father’s possessions in consequence of his mother’s treachery, and lived afterward in a private station."

Here is what John told Herod regarding taking his brother's wife!

Matthew 14:4
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

[5] And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Mark 6:19
Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

Matthew 14:6
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Mark 6:21
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

[22] And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

Oh yeah, baby! Big sugar-daddy will give you anything your little old heart desires! Everybody got that? Whatsoever this beautiful damsel asks of me, up to half my kingdom, I promise with my sworn oath to give it her without fail!

Matthew 14:7
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

However, this boast of an oath is going to backfire on him big time because Satan is going to take full advantage of the opportunity to have a righteous man of God killed! According to proverbs, it is not a wise thing for a king to partake of strong drink.

Matthew 14:8
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

[9] And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

[10] And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

[11] And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

[12] And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

As far as John was concerned, he lived long enough to learn from Christ Himself that there would be a second advent, meaning that he, John, would not be counted as Elijah, and when Christ told his disciples to tell him he is blessed and to "not be offended" as if to say "hang in there", he knew that his days were numbered. The following is an excerpt from our study in Mat. 11:1 to 11:15 where Christ adds to the answer He has already given to John's question, "Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?"

"Matthew 11:6
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

offended = skandalizo, skan-dal-id'-zo, Greek 4624; ("scandalize"); from Greek 4625 (skandalon); to entrap, i.e. trip up (figurative stumble [transitive] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure) :- (make to) offend."

Matthew 14:13
When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed Him on foot out of the cities.

[14] And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.

Next we will find when evening comes that this great multitude will still be in the wilderness, in the desert place, where there are no restaurants nor fast food chains to get something to eat. Just wait until you see how Messiah uses this to teach us!