Matthew 14:3-11

Matthew 14:3-11 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. Our story for today is a good lesson. When a woman dances and wiggles her body around in front of a man, he begins to think wicked thoughts. And that is exactly what King Herod did. He liked Salome’s sexy dancing and made a hasty promise to her. He promised to give her anything that she wanted. Absolutely anything! But when Salome asked her mother, Herodias, for advice, her mother wickedly told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herodias wanted revenge because John had preached against her adultery. So when Salome asked for the head of John the Baptist, King Herod was in a bind. King Herod respected John, but he had made a promise to Salome in front of all of those people. So just because Herod had made an unwise promise, John the Baptist was beheaded and lost his life. There are two good lessons in this story: be careful what you promise and be careful what you watch.