Matthew the apostle wrote, “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus. And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for you to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet”, and in chapter fourteen and verse six of his book, Matthew wrote what happened on, “Herod's birthday” where we read:
But when Herod's birthday was kept,
the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
The verse reads, “But when Herod's birthday was kept, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “when” or “at the time and moment” “Herod's” whose name means “heroic” and was “Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great and own brother of Archelaus who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea” “birthday” or “celebration and feast for Herod's day of birth” “was kept” which means “was held, conducted and came into being”. Matthew shared how there came a day when a “birthday party” was held for Herod.
The verse goes on to say, “... the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.” Matthew added the word, “the daughter” which means “the female offspring” “of Herodias” or “belonging to Herod's wife Herodias whose name means heroic and was the daughter of Aristobulus and granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip I, son of Herod the Great, a man in private life; but afterward formed an unlawful union with Herod Antipas, whom she induced not only to slay John the Baptist but also to make the journey to Rome which ruined him; at last she followed him to exile in Gaul” “danced” which means “moved from the rank-like or regular motion” “before them” or “in the presence of Herod and those attending the birthday party”, “and pleased” or “and was agreeable with the idea of being exciting to” “Herod” which refers to “Herod Antipas”. Matthew shared how Herod was “pleased” and “excited” by the dancing of “Herodias' daughter”.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Herodias' daughter “pleased” and “excited” Herod with her dancing. This dance must have been so enticing that Herod was overwhelmed with pleasure. The lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh has an effect upon people. Although Jesus' “fore-runner” John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, and his attention and desire was to kill him, Herod was distracted by this “dance” for his birthday. God desires to “save” every person from a life filled with the “lusts of the flesh and the lust of the eyes”, and as we read more we shall discover what these “lusts” cost Herod. Let all who read these words consider that Jesus desires everyone to turn from fleshly “lusts” and receive Him as “Savior and Lord”.
Next time we see Matthew shares how Herod, “promised with an oath”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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