The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 82

Vers. 1-12.-77ie morals of a tragedy. Here we have e. tragedy in which the prin- cipal actors are, on the one side Jesus and John the Baptist, and on the other Herod, Herodias, and Se.Jome. We propose to bring out some of its lessons. Learn, then- I. THAT THE HAUGHTIEST DESPOT IS HIMSELF RULED BY THE MEANEST THINGS. 1. What is meaner than vile passion P (1) Capricious lust ruled the destinies of Herod. The king is ruled by the beast. The beast excites the murderer. The man is bedevilled. (2) "He that ruleth his heart is greater than he that taketh a city." Brute force may take the city. Brute force may imprison the saint. Moral force rules the heart. It vanquishes sin. It vanquishes Satan. 2. What is meaner than the pander of vile passion P (1) This Herodie.s was. A despicable woman, who could abandon her living husband to consort with his brother. (2) The tetrarch we.s the creature of that wretch. He consented to her stipulation that he should divorce his lawful wife. He became a murderer to please her. (3) How much lower ca.n the despot sink? Let those who  84 THE GOSPEL .ACCORDING ro ST. MATTHEW. [oH. xrv. 1--36, would be honourable eschew despotism. Be admonished by the "dog in office; " by the "beggar on horseback." II. 'l'HAT THE DIVERSIONS OF TBB WORLD ARB OO)O(OH OOOABION8 OF BIN, 1, F~ting. (1) This in _the abstract is innocent. There are religious festivals. (2) Excesse~ have to be av01~ed (see Prov. :xxiii. 81---33). (8) The folly of the fool comes out of his merry heart. ' There oannot be a better glass, wherein to discern the face of our hearts, than ~ur pleasures ; s~ch as the'/( _are, such !!-re we " (Bishop Hall ; see Prov. x. 23; Hos. VIL 6). 2. Dancing. (1) '.1h1s may evmce a holy excitement, as when Da~1d danced before the ark. His dancing would be the hilarious stepping of a soul full of holy triumph. (2) The dancing of Salome was of another kind. The dancing of the ball-room is a pernicious invention to excite criminal passion. It has often led to the sacrifice of chastity, and to murder afterwards to conceal shame, (8) Christian mothers who send their daughters to the dancing-school should remember the mother of Salome (cf. 2 Chron. xxii. 8). 8, Company. (1) The company of the good is frcim the Lord. It was none the less edifying to the disciples of John because a prison was the place of meeting. (2) The company of the wicked is from the devil. It is none the less demoralizing when the meeting-place is in a palace. (8) Tyrants will have flatterers for their courtiers. They hate reprovers. John's words were rough like his raiment (see 1 Kings mi 8; Prov. ix. 8; xv. 10-12). The prisoner is not bidden to the feast. (4) Unlike the princes of Jehoiakim (see Jer. x:x:xvi. 25), the guests of Antipas had not the spirit to protest against the oaths or the murder, and so they became accomplices in both. To their notions of honour the Baptist's head must be sacrificed. Ill. THAT A PA..BTIAL SUBBXNDEB TO TB'OTB IS NO SECURITY AG.A.INST COBBUPTlON. 1. Herod for B0111J! time spared John's life. (1) In the first flush of his resentment for John's reproof, he was minded to put John to death. In this, too, he was encouraged by Herodias. But he was restrained by his fear of the multitude, " because they coUJUted John as a prophet." (2) The fear of man is to the wicked a greater restraint than the fear of God. Men fear to be hanged for what they fear not to be damned ( see Eccles. vii 1 7). The fear of man restrains; the fear of God constrains. 2. He even listened to John's sermons. (1) The consequence was that he had a new motive for sparing John's life, which was still coveted by Herodias. He now" feared John, know- ing that he was a righteous man and a holy, and kept him safe." (2) He heard John with a conviction which" much perplexed him; and he heard him gladly." Wicked men are not iuseusible to the beauty and power of great principles. Many such listen gladly to faithful gospel preaching. (8) He went further; "he did many things" at tile instance of John. 3. But he did not forsake all his sins. (1) He retained Herodias. How many things in the way of reformation will men do while they hold to the sin that easily besets them I (2) He detained the Baptist in prison. There he lay for ei:,:liceen months-a term equal to that of his public ministry. 'l'hus was the tyrant respunsible for the crime the public ministry of that great man might have prevented. (8) The sequel was that, though "the king was sorry," yet he murdered his monitor to gratify his mistress. l V. THAT THE WICKED HAVE TO DREAD RETRIBUTIVE BEBUBBEOTIONS, 1. Grime d;storts the conscience. (1) "The king was sorry." (a) Sorry at his banquet. Note: Sorro.v accompanies the joys of earth. (b) Sorry that he had pledged his oath to the damsel when he saw the consequence. "How human passion contradicts itself I Now war is waged for an inch of land; now half a kingdom is sacrificed to the will of a young coquette! n (Quesnel). (2) But his honour was at stake. "Herod had so much religion as to make scruple of an oath-not so much as to make scruple of a murder" (Bishop Hall). Can a wicked oath justify a wicked deed P (8) "For the sake of them that sat at meat with him" (cf. Mark vi. 21). The law of honour would condemn Herod as a coward if he did not keep his oath. Yet was be such a coward that he would rather brave the anger of God than the contempt of vain men. So he murdered a great prophet for very tenderneBB of conscience I (4) "The king was sorry." Men enter on a new stage of crime when the restraints of fear yield to self-indulgence. A new step in sin is seldom made without compunction. A guilty man is ever miserable under the power of B0lf-accusa.tion, reproach, and remol'B0. 2. Phantoms af'iae from tfi, d,:stortion. (1) Christ bad been now preaching and working miracles about two on. xrv. 1--86.] THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 86