Lessons from King Herod and John the BaptistMark 6:14-28

Two opposing moral forces will clash: light and darkness, truth and error, good and evil (Mk. 6:14-16; Mt. 11:14; Lk. 1:17)

John (in the spirit of Elijah) clashed with Herod

Jesus and the Pharisees (Mt. 15)

Stephen and the Jews (Acts 7)

Christians and the world (Phil. 2:15)

Many people are enslaved by another’s opinion, belief, or desire (Mk. 6:17)

John was in prison because Herod listened to Herodias

People are enslaved today by what others say about the Bible – parents, friends, preachers, etc. (Jn. 12:43, 48)

People need to hear “it is not lawful” (Mk. 6:18)

Herod was warned of his sin (Lk. 3:18-20)

An act that is sanctioned by man (Herod’s “marriage” to Herodias), may not be sanctioned by God (Rom. 7:2-3)

People today need to be warned of their sin (Ezek. 3; 33; Acts 20:27)

Fear alone or the desire to hear more preaching is not enough (Mk. 6:19-20)

Herod feared John (and the multitude, Mt. 14:5) and he wanted to hear more preaching, but he did not forsake his wicked way

Fear is a good start, but one must stop his sin and then be a doer of what he hears (Isa. 55:7; Lk. 6:46; Acts 2:41)

Laxity in one area of your life can lead to laxity in other areas (Mk. 6:21-23)

Herod, being lax in his marriage, was then lax in his self-control regarding the dancing: sin first interests, then excites, and then captivates

A lack of control in one area of my life will lead to more problems elsewhere (Prov. 25:28; 2 Thess. 2:10-11; 2 Tim. 2:13)

Some people allow themselves to be used and abused as a pawn in the wicked schemes of others (Mk. 6:24-25; see Mt. 14:8)

The daughter of Herodias was “put forward” by her mother; she was “put up to this”

Don’t be a pawn; don’t go along with sin (Prov. 1:10; Acts 5:2,9; 1 Cor. 15:33)

The barbs of sin will prick your conscience for awhile (Mk. 6:26-29)

Herod was “exceeding sorry”, but he did not stop the beheading of John

Our conscience pricks us to make a change (Psa. 38:18; Mt. 26:75; 27:5; Acts 2:37; 2 Cor. 7:9-11), but the conscience can also become hardened to the point of no return (Acts 24:26; 1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13)