Matthew 14:4 - For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
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What does "Matthew 14:4" mean?
Matthew 14:4, "For John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her,'" refers to John the Baptist's condemnation of Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Herod Antipas: Herod Antipas was the ruler (tetrarch) of Galilee and Perea.
Herodias: Herodias was Herod Antipas's niece (daughter of his half-brother Aristobulus IV). She was also previously married to Herod Antipas's half-brother, Philip (also known as Herod Philip I, although not the Philip who was one of the 12 disciples).
"It is not lawful for you to have her": This statement means that John the Baptist publicly denounced Herod Antipas for marrying Herodias. There were likely several reasons why this marriage was considered unlawful:
Incest: Marrying your niece was considered incestuous under Jewish law. Leviticus 18 prohibits certain close family relationships. While the exact interpretation and application of these laws were debated, marrying a niece was generally seen as a violation.
Adultery: Herodias was married to Philip while she was having an affair with Herod Antipas. Jewish law prohibited adultery. Furthermore, divorcing a spouse to marry another without proper justification was also frowned upon. It's likely both Herodias and Herod Antipas were considered to be committing adultery.
Violation of Moral Standards: Even beyond the strict legal interpretations, John the Baptist likely saw the marriage as a profound violation of moral and ethical principles. It was a scandal that undermined the social and religious fabric of the time.
In essence, John the Baptist was challenging Herod Antipas's authority and moral integrity. He was upholding Jewish law and speaking out against what he saw as a grave sin. This act of defiance ultimately led to John's imprisonment and eventual execution, as described later in Matthew 14.
Matthew 14:4 - For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
What does "Matthew 14:4" mean?
Matthew 14:4, "For John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her,'" refers to John the Baptist's condemnation of Herod Antipas's marriage to Herodias. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
Herod Antipas: Herod Antipas was the ruler (tetrarch) of Galilee and Perea.
Herodias: Herodias was Herod Antipas's niece (daughter of his half-brother Aristobulus IV). She was also previously married to Herod Antipas's half-brother, Philip (also known as Herod Philip I, although not the Philip who was one of the 12 disciples).
"It is not lawful for you to have her": This statement means that John the Baptist publicly denounced Herod Antipas for marrying Herodias. There were likely several reasons why this marriage was considered unlawful:
Incest: Marrying your niece was considered incestuous under Jewish law. Leviticus 18 prohibits certain close family relationships. While the exact interpretation and application of these laws were debated, marrying a niece was generally seen as a violation.
Adultery: Herodias was married to Philip while she was having an affair with Herod Antipas. Jewish law prohibited adultery. Furthermore, divorcing a spouse to marry another without proper justification was also frowned upon. It's likely both Herodias and Herod Antipas were considered to be committing adultery.
Violation of Moral Standards: Even beyond the strict legal interpretations, John the Baptist likely saw the marriage as a profound violation of moral and ethical principles. It was a scandal that undermined the social and religious fabric of the time.
In essence, John the Baptist was challenging Herod Antipas's authority and moral integrity. He was upholding Jewish law and speaking out against what he saw as a grave sin. This act of defiance ultimately led to John's imprisonment and eventual execution, as described later in Matthew 14.