Matthew 14:1-12

Matthew 14:1-12
The story of Herod and Herodias teaches us some valuable principles concerning how God treats marriages that have not been scripturally contracted. Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, records that Herod seduced his own brother’s wife and married her. Mark’s account states, “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” (Mark 6:17-18). Herod sinned on two accounts. First, Genesis 2:24 states that “the two shall become one flesh.” Jesus later stated that this principle forbids divorce for any cause other than sexual immorality (Mt. 19:6-9). Second, the law forbids a man from taking his brother’s wife (Lev. 18:16).What is especially interesting about this text is that John preached that even though Herod and Herodias were married, their marriage was sinful: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Therefore, just because two people are married does not mean their marriage is acceptable to God. Jesus states, “And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Mt. 19:9).

Further, we learn that a person cannot simply come to Christ and keep a mate he or she was not allowed to marry. All sins can be forgiven, but no one can continue in sin and be forgiven. As in the case of Herod and Herodias, John did not simply tell Herod to be baptized in order to make his marriage to Herodias would be acceptable. Therefore, since an unscriptural marriage includes a continual unlawful sexual relationship, the only way for Herod to be saved would have been to separate from Herodias. Sin had to be stopped. First and foremost, repentance is a prerequisite to forgiveness.
Berry Kercheville