Matthew 14:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip 's wife,

NIV: Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

NASB: For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

CSB: For Herod had arrested John, chained him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

NLT: For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).

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

NKJV: For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

The last time Matthew wrote about John the Baptist, he explained how John sent a message to Jesus from Herod's prison (Matthew 11:2–6). To begin this passage, Matthew looks back to explain how John the Baptist got there. In short, John was publicly criticizing Herod Antipas for unlawfully marrying his half-brother Philip's former wife, Herodias. She seems to have taken great exception to this, manipulating her husband more than once to act against John (Mark 6:14–29). At first, Herod arrested, bound, and imprisoned John for the sake of Herodias' anger.

Herod Antipas, called Herod the tetrarch here, was one of the sons of Herod the Great, who had ordered the death of the babies in Bethlehem shortly before his own death (Matthew 2:7, 13). Herod Philip was another of Herod the Great's sons. Herod Antipas divorced his own wife and Herodias divorced Philip so the two could get married. Herod was Jewish, though, and Jewish law forbade marrying the wife of one's brother while he was still living.

Herod likely imprisoned John at his hilltop fortress known as Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea.

Matthew 14:1–12 describes how Herod the tetrarch, ruler over Galilee, has heard of Jesus' fame and power. He believes Jesus is a resurrected John the Baptist. Matthew then explains that Herod had arrested John the Baptist. His "crime" was publicly condemning Herod's marriage to his own brother's wife. Later, Herod was manipulated into a promise by his wife's daughter, after she danced for him and his guests. On behalf of her mother, she asked for John the Baptist's head on a platter (Mark 6:14–29). Herod agreed and had John executed immediately. John's disciples came and buried him, then went and told Jesus the news of his death.

Matthew 14 begins with a backstory about the arrest and execution of John the Baptist by Herod the tetrarch, the Jewish ruler of the region. Jesus and the disciples take a boat to a desolate place only to find crowds waiting. Jesus heals many and then feeds as many as twenty thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Later, the disciples row against a strong wind until Jesus walks on the water to meet them and calm the wind. Peter walks on water briefly and then doubts and begins to sink. The disciples worship Jesus. On the other side of the lake, Jesus continues to heal the sick.

Matthew 13 included more of Jesus' parables and an unfortunate incident where His own hometown rejected His ministry. Chapter 14 begins with news that Herod the tetrarch—the man who killed John the Baptist—is aware of Jesus' fame and power. Jesus and the disciples intend to withdraw to somewhere desolate, but a crowd is waiting for them. Jesus heals people, miraculously feeds thousands, and walks on water. When they reach the other side, Jesus heals more people. Chapter 15 sees Jesus once again debating with His critics and performing more healings.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.