**Read Matthew 14:1-12 and Romans 11:28-36
I. Herod Beheads John the Baptist
- Matthew 14:1-12 is a story of the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist. John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas because he spoke against his marriage with Herodias. When Herod Antipas visited his half-brother, Herod Philip, he fell in love with his sister in law so he divorced his wife to marry her. For this to happen, Herodias must divorce her husband too so when Herod Antipas and Herodias got married, John called it "immoral and unlawful" under Jewish law. Because of fear of an uproar and possible loss of power, Herod Antipas, with the request of her new wife, ordered the imprisonment of John the Baptist. But Herod did not give John a death sentence because of fear of John's followers, who see him as God's prophet. This all changed at Herod's birthday when his daughter was given a promise to give her whatever she asks. She, with the help of her mother, then requested for the head of John the Baptist delivered on a platter. Because of the pressure of his daughter's request and the guests with them, he ordered John the Baptist's beheading.
- Herod did not want to kill John the Baptist but he gave the order so he would not be embarrassed in front of all the guests at his party. He gave in to the pressure of his daughter, wife, and the crowd to do something wrong and evil. Sometimes we are pressured by our friends and own family to do something that we are not comfortable with, something that is against our faith. Sometimes, they discourage us to take the leap of faith and leave the old religious traditions. We need to be strong and not give in to their requests even though we will be embarrassed in front of them and others. We are not here to please them but we are in this world to please the true God. Our friends and families will not give us salvation. It is your personal decision to have a relationship with God, not of your parents, your friends, your relatives, or anybody else. We need to do what is right no matter how painful or embarrassing it is.
"What good is it to a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul" - Matthew 16:26.
II. God's Unchanging Mercy
- In Romans 11:28-36, Paul explained that God's original plan was for the Jews to share all their blessings to the Gentiles, which they ignored and neglected. Now that God has blessed the Gentiles anyways through Jesus Christ, it is now the Gentiles's turn to obey God and bless the Jews. His mercy does not change and is still for everyone.
- We used to be with the world , unrighteous and disobedient to God.. We were the ones that were away from God but now that we have been "born again" spiritually, into His family, we need to share our blessing with the non-believers. We can do this by sharing the "good news" and praying for them. We can ask God to plant a seed in their hearts so one day, it might grow and open their eyes and ears to God's word. Jesus has given us the Great Commission to spread the good news to everyone:
"And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” - Mark 16:15
III. Proverbs for Today/ 7:1-5
7 My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
IV. Additional Old Testament Reading:
Exodus 19:16-25, Exodus 20, Exodus 21:1-21, Psalms 28:1-9
