Luke the physician wrote how multitudes came to John to be “baptized”, and “as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not. John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people”, and in chapter three and verse nineteen of his book Luke shared about, “Herod the tetrarch” where we read:
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife,
and for all the evils which Herod had done,
The verse reads, “But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, ...” Luke began with the words, “But Herod” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding, moreover and Herod whose name means heroic and was the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles” “the tetrarch” which means “the governor of the fourth part of a region”, “being reproved by him” or “being convicted, refuted, confuted, brought to light and exposed by John” “for Herodias his brother's wife” which means “about, concerning and on account of Herodias whose name means heroic and was formerly the female spouse of Herod's brother”. Luke shared about “Herod” who was the governor over a fourth part of the kingdom, and he was “convicted” by John because John spoke out against him for marrying his “brother's” wife.
The verse continues, “... and for all the evils which Herod had done,” Luke added the words, “and for all the evils” which means “and because of each, every, the whole and everyone of the labors, works, toils, annoyances and perils” “which Herod” or “that Herod” “had done” which means “performed, produced and brought forth”. Luke shared how John also spoke out against all the “wicked deeds” which were done by Herod, and those words “convicted” him as well.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn about another character in the life of Jesus the Messiah. “Herod”, who was “Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great”, married his brother Phillip's wife. John spoke out against this as well as the other “evil deeds” Herod performed as “governor”. We can imagine how this affected Herod and his wife Herodias as they listened to John condemn them. God's words often bring conviction, and the best response is to humble oneself and yield to the words God has said. God sent His Son Jesus to be the “Savior” of mankind, and when a person realizes who He is, the best response is to submit to His words and ways.
Next time Luke shares how Herod “shut up John in prison”, 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".
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