These small group studies of the gospel of Mark 6:14-29 contain commentary, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications to encourage life change. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more practical studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Mark 6:14-29 Bible Study and Questions – John the Baptist Executed – Speaking Truth Vs Rash Promises
Outline
I. Herod arrests John (14-20)
II. Herod has John killed (21-29)
I. Herod arrests John (14-20)
Discussion Questions
• Which Herod is this and what was his relationship to Herod the Great who had all the babies killed?
• What was the reaction of the region at large to Jesus? What was Herod’s conclusion? Why might he have thought this?
• How had John incurred Herod’s wrath?
• Why did John rebuke such a powerful leader? What does this show us about John’s character?
• What lesson can you learn from John’s bold rebuke of Herod?
• What did Herodias think of John?
• What did Herod think of him?
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Herod – This is Herod Antipas who was named to the throne of Herod the Great after his father died around 4 B.C. He ruled over Galilee and Perea. Two of his other brothers, Philip and Archelaus, ruled different areas as Herod the Great divided His dominion into three regions.
Jesus’ ministry evoked a wide number of responses. Some said that John had arisen from the dead. Others said that he was Elijah. Others said that Jesus was a prophet. Herod sided with those who thought Jesus was John arisen again.
Mark 6:16 – But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
Perhaps this was partially due to guilt over having killed Jesus. Herod didn’t totally reject the supernatural and still had some amount of respect or fascination for John.
Herod had divorced his first wife and then taken his brother’s wife Herodias. Herodias was actually Antipas’ niece as well. It was an incestuous and messy relationship, which caused a feud with Herod’s first wife’s father.
Some have said that power corrupts. Herod seems to be somewhat religious. But his power went to his head. He was used to getting what he wanted. And he wanted his brother’s wife. Herod was powerful enough to get her so he did. This story reminds us of the how depraved unchecked sin is.
3. John rebuked Herod for the incestuous relationship –
Mark 6:17-18 – For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
John publicly condemned Herod for this incestuous and sinful relationship. It was against the Old Testament law. Obviously, this relationship would have been repugnant to God-fearing Jews. However, most were too afraid to speak up.
John does not fit into this category. Throughout Scripture, we see that John is a truth speaker. He speaks the truth boldly and without fear of the consequences.
On another occasion, he called the religious leaders vipers.
Matthew 3:7 – But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Speaking about leaders in this way was highly dangerous, but John would never have supported telling white lies. He was a prophet. As such, he was charged with preaching God’s message truthfully and boldly no matter how dangerous it was. As a prophet, God led him to do this in order to shock the people and hopefully wake up the Pharisees from their spiritual lethargy. In this case, speaking out against a powerful ruler like Herod would put a red bulls-eye on his own back. Indeed, being a prophet was often very dangerous! And yet John what needed to be said without sugar-coating things.
Reflect – Why not just be quiet on this issue so that he could deal with other less dangerous issues and prolong his ministry? If he let this one slip by, he could live longer and share with even more people.
Application – If you know God wants you to say something, say it. Do not cover up the truth or shy away from speaking it for the sake of your own comfort or to avoid persecution. We should follow Paul’s advice in Ephesians to “speak the truth in love.” Do you need to speak out about something your family, community, or church?
4. Herod feared John –
Mark 6:19-20 – And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
Herod was fascinated with John. Although John spoke out publicly against him, he was inclined to let it go because of his respect for John. Later, Herod met Jesus and was eager to see a miracle.
Luke 23:8 – When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.
When Jesus did no miracle, Herod joined the priests in mocking him (Luke 23:11). Thus, we see that Herod was more interested in a show than the truth. While John was a curiosity to Herod, he was an enemy that had to be ended to Herodias. She cared not about his status as a prophet. She wanted him dead.
II. Herod has John killed (21-29)
Discussion Questions
• Why did Herod offer to give Herodias’ daughter whatever she asked? Why did he make such a vow?
• Would he have really given her half the kingdom?
• What did the girl request? Why?
• What was Herod’s reaction to this request?
• What can we learn from this about oaths?
• After he made the oath and was asked to deliver John’s head, what should he have done?
• What should you do if you make a rash vow and fulfilling it would be sinful?
• Is there any lesson here about peer pressure?
• What lessons can we learn from the John the Baptist about suffering and persecution?
Cross-References
Matthew 14:1-13 (See verse 13) –This is the parallel account in the Gospel of Matthew and includes Jesus’ reaction.
James 5:12 – But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Herodias’ dance – Many have speculated that Salome (Herodias’ daughter) performed a lewd dance. There is no concrete evidence of this. However, these types of banquets in those days had many such dances. Herod and Herodias and the whole family were certainly devoid of moral values so it wouldn’t be surprising.
Where would Salome learn modesty and purity? Certainly not from her mother, who left her husband for his brother. This is a subtle reminder of the importance of proper parenting and the responsibility parents have to teach their children propriety and raise them up according to the Word. It is also a reminder to be a good example for our children since our children will often naturally follow our example. The adults in Salome’s life gave her terrible examples. She was following their lead.
Proverbs 13:20 – Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
2. Antipas made a public vow to give her up to half the kingdom –
Mark 6:22 – For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”
It was a common vow for ancient rulers to make. By saying “up to half the kingdom,” it meant that they would not give away their throne. They reserved 51% controlling interest in the kingdom and the majority means they kept absolute power. However, though this type of oath was common, it was a very foolish oath.
How could he promise to do whatever she asked without knowing what she would ask?
He boxed himself into a corner with no good way out by signing a contract without knowing the terms. She could certainly ask many things he wouldn’t want to do or would be unwise for him to give.
Reflect – Why did he make this vow then? What was he thinking? I don’t think he was. He didn’t stop and think through what might happen. He just blurted this promise out in the heat of the moment. It was rash and impulsive. It was completely based on emotion or perhaps even infatuation rather than logic, common sense, or morals. What can we learn from this?
Applications –
In a narrow sense we learn not to make promises, guarantees, or oaths to do things without knowing what those things are. Do not commit to anything without knowing what it is.
Ecclesiastes 5:2-6 – Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
Often when people ask if I am free a certain time, I first ask them why. I don’t want to commit to anything without knowing more about it. Sometimes people say, “Can you do me a favor?” I always reply, “What is the favor?” before giving an answer. Even when my wife or children ask for a favor, I ask them what it is before committing.
Beyond this, we should hesitate to make promises at all. Using the phrase “If the Lord wills” is a good option.
James 4:13-15 – Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Reflect – Is there ever an appropriate occasion to make a promise? If so, when? When should we not?
There could be times to make promises. At a solemn occasion such as a marriage we could make vows to show our commitment. At the same time, if you make those vows, you need to keep them!
It is not wrong to tell our kids “I will love you forever” because this is something we should do and a good goal for us. The problem is making commitments and then finding that we can’t fulfill them.
We say we will go to join or help out at an event and then we can’t. We say that we will be a certain place at a certain time and then are late. On and on it goes.
The bigger principle here is to think before we speak. Do not speak or act impulsively without thinking something through.
James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
This applies to many areas. For example:
• Do not go into business without prayer, research, and council. Maybe a good friend asks you to partner with them, but don’t just agree out of a desire to satisfy him. Make sure it is the right decision first.
• Do not get married without prayer and council. Do not rush into it. Instead think it through and make sure you know the person well and will not be surprised later.
• Do not accept a job rashly.
• Do not quit a job rashly.
• Do not buy expensive things impulsively, but think it through to make sure you really need and can afford them.
• What examples can you think of?
The main point is to follow the advice in these verses.
Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
Luke 14:28 – For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
3. Herodias’ daughter –
Reflect – Can we learn anything positive from Herodias’ daughter? Does she give us any good example to follow?
Interestingly, the girl is a stark contrast with Herod. She doesn’t just give a quick answer when he asks her what her request is. She doesn’t just ask for a new dress or piece of jewelry. Instead, she takes her time, goes to consult, and then makes up her mind. Her motivation seems to come out of a desire to manipulate in order to please her mother and enhance her own position and influence. In the process, she actually shows us an example of thinking something through instead of acting rashly. But she made a critical mistake. She asked counsel of a godless and immoral person. Counsel will only be as good as the person you ask it from.
Proverbs 24:6 – For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Notice the term, “wise guidance.” There is wise counsel and there is foolish counsel.
By listening to her mother’s evil advice and choosing the head of John the Baptist, she grossly failed even though she took time to think it through.
Her motivations were corrupted. She was seeking to please herself and her mother, not God. This is a reminder that the process of prayer, research, consulting, and thinking things through is very important, but our heart motivations are vital as well. You can’t just do these things as a checklist and then go on with what you wanted to do the whole time. You have to be truly seeking the Lord and open to following Him no matter what He asks.
The fact that the mother and daughter agreed on this horrendous and unjust “wish” shows the depth of their depravity and corruption.
4. Herod’s reluctance –
Mark 6:26-28 – And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
Herod didn’t want to do it because he was fascinated with John. But he had made a promise in front of a large group of important people. To not follow through would open himself up to their ridicule and also cause some to doubt his word.
Reflect – What should he have done at this point?
After he had already made the promise there was no good way out. Either he sins by killing John or he sins by lying.
This is the way of sin. Sin twists situations so much there is sometimes no good way out (see Ezra 9 and 10 for an example). Even so, John should have done the lesser of the two wrongs. He could have said something like, “I realize I made a promise. This was a mistake on my part as I made it in haste and didn’t think it through well. I hate to break a promise, but it would be worse to kill an innocent man. Please forgive me and you can make another request. This time I want to hear it first and if it is good, I will do it for you.”
In the Old Testament, a father was given authority to override any rash promises made by his family members (Numbers 30:3-16). In similar manner, we should not allow a rash vow to cause us to sin even worse.
Reflect – Who else in Scripture made a rash vow?
See the story of Jephthah in Judges 11.
Herod Antipas compounded his sin by going through with it. Note that he didn’t go through with it because it was right or even because he was concerned about personal integrity. His concern was how others would view him. It was pride that pushed Herod to kill John. He didn’t want to look bad in front of his friends and these powerful people. He wanted to appear strong and in control.
Application – We should be careful that we don’t do wrong things in order to appease people around us or so that we won’t look bad. Be pleasers of God rather than pleasers of man (Galatians 1:10). John is an example of that. He stood up to Herod even though it would cost him his life. It made Herod angry, but at the same time it seemed to earn Herod his respect in a time when no one would stand up to him or point out the elephant in the room.
In review, we can see the depth of sin corrupting even the leaders of Israel. At what kind of banquet would dead person’s head be presented on a platter? What kind of mother would ask her child to make this request? What kind of child would receive this “gift” and pass it on proudly to her mother? What kind of king would agree to do this? It was a sinful place and a sinful family.
The entire story reminds us that Jesus came to a dark world. He came to shine the light and to overcome darkness. Thus, this story in Mark highlights the need for Jesus to come and accomplish His mission of salvation, bringing us out of the darkness and into the light. Thankfully, God did not abandon us to the likes of Herod and his family. He came to set us free. Jesus’ mission was successful.
Now that He has set us free, let us not return to the darkness anymore.
Proverbs 26:11 – Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
Well written and clearly spoken with many practical lessons to learn with God in the background. Thank you
These verses are so applicable to today’s society and how we approach decisions or issues; however, following the process of prayer, researching, consulting and thinking it through is vital. Never neglect the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit!