Herodias' Quarrel - Mark 6:19

Mark wrote how King Herod heard of Jesus and said, “It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife”, and in chapter six and verse nineteen of his book, Mark wrote how, “Herodias had a quarrel against” John where we read:

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

The verse reads, “Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, ...” Mark began with the words, “therefore Herodias” or “moreover Herodias whose name means heroic and was Herod's wife and former wife of his brother Philip” “had a quarrel” which means “was ensnared, set herself and held a grudge” “against him” or “in opposition to John the Baptist”. Mark shared how King Herod's wife Herodias held a “grudge” against John the Baptist because he called out Herod for marrying her.

The verse continues, “... and would have killed him; but she could not:” Mark added the words, “and would have killed him” which means “and had in mind, intended, resolved and determined have John the Baptist destroyed, perished, extinguished, abolished and inflicted with mortal death”; “but she could not” or “however Herodias was unable to have John the Baptist killed”. Mark shared how Herodias would have had John the Baptist “extinguished and inflicted with mortal death” but was unable to do so.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we discover the reason King Herod's wife Herodias desired John the Baptist to be “killed”. When John indited her and King Herod for their adultery, she became angry with him and held a grudge. Her purpose was to “extinguish” John, but she did not have the power to do so. We will find that she gets her way, however, let us understand, Herodias had no idea with whom she was in opposition, and when God has His way with every person they shall submit themselves to His Son Jesus Christ and yield to His plan of “salvation”.

Next time Mark shares how, “Herod feared John, know that he was a just man”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".