Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

. later in life, we see Herod Antipas forging a truce with Pilate as they allow Christ to bekilled; both Pilate and this Herod later die in exileB. Preaching Divorce and Remarriage1. lest we think that preaching on divorce and remarriage is new or that the dangers involved arenew, we are given this account of John’s work with Heroda. John was not afraid to preach the truth, even to people in authority who could kill himb. why is that no preacher in our day fears execution but so many still are afraid to declareGod’s will?; perhaps they think the esteem of men more important than anything else2. John proves to us that there are some unions which God does not create or sanction; it ispossible for a marriage to exist lawfully on earth but unlawfully according to God’s willa. Josephus tells us that Herodias had divorced Philip as Antipas had divorced his wife; bothdid so that they could marry each otherb. this marriage was deemed unlawful by John and he told them so3. very few outposts of Christianity will condemn any heterosexual marriage these days; suchinconsistency and failure to teach the whole counsel of God leads to more illicit unions and not a fewchurches of Christ are falling into the same shamea. the doctrine of Christ on divorce and remarriage is clear (Mark 10:1-12)1. doing what Antipas and Herodias did is sinful; ending a marriage and starting anotherone is sinful and tantamount to adultery2. adultery is committed when a person forsakes one marriage and begins a new onewithout divine sanctionb. Matthew’s account of this lesson adds that there is one exception (a divorce due to oneparty’s adultery allows the innocent spouse to remarry “in the Lord”4. preaching this today closes some doors that might have led to conversion, but avoiding thesubject to secure the conversion only taints it; is it really conversion if no change has been effected?5. it also has the potential to land the preacher in trouble, but none greater than John’sC. Herod Was Always Learning1. apparently Herod Antipas had a bizarre fascination with John whom he had imprisoned toappease his wife; he kept John alive because the people esteemed him as a prophet2. but Herod also went to John to listen to his preaching, although it condemned his sin andperplexed him greatly3. with no other audience, John kept preaching; Herod kept listening but was never converteda. sometimes people fall into a form of religion much like Herod’s (they consider themselvesChristians and make regular appearances in assemblies, but their lives are not greatly affected by thegospel commands and prohibitions (Second Timothy 3:1-7)b. in Christians, it is complacency and flagging zeal; they become content with imperfectionc. in visitors, it is a problem becoming convinced to make the break and be converted4. test yourselves regularly to make certain you do not fall into this rutD. Herodias Was Heartless1. if Antipas was immoral, Herodias was without conscience; she did not feel at all the guilt Johntried to instill in her, but rather sought to silence his rebuke forever2. she was the wicked queen, the heartless persecutor, the type of person for whom opportunedays are created and the kind who would proudly display the head of a preacher on her mantle3. she would not hold up the hands of a Moses, but criticize him behind his back; the brotherhoodof believers has plenty like her, holding up the hands of error and bringing derision on teachers of truth4. the pressure was always great on the Bible’s two Elijahs and it is heavy upon all preachers whobuck the trend and teach the truth without accommodation for error (Second Timothy 4:1-5)5. hold up their hands (Second Timothy 1:8)E. Salome Was Impudent1. Josephus tells us that Herodias’s daughter was named Salome; she was both the niece andgreat-niece of Herod Antipas who watched her dance2. one can only imagine what Salome’s dance must have been like, so great was its effect uponher weak-willed uncle who foolishly risked half his kingdom to appease his lust82! Jeff S. Smith