A Rash Oath and Fulfilling Provision

Matthew 14:1-21 

John the Baptist Beheaded

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."

9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Feeding the Five Thousand

13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."

18 He said, "Bring them here to Me." 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The rash oath given by king Herod for sensual favor led to the king promising anything to please the daughter of his sister-in-law.  He imprisoned John because he had spoken against the immorality of taking his brother’s wife do for himself because he thought as king he had the right and power to do anything and get away with it, just as we observe today among men of political power and position.  Herod had then been in fear of Jesus afterwards because of what he had done to John the Baptist with this rash promise to please her.  He had to behead the prophet as his sister-in-law had told her daughter to demand from the king as if he would receive anything in return from her, but was bound to because of so many witnesses to his promise.  The guilt and fear drove him to imagine John had risen from the dead and become Jesus as his tormented mind thought.  What fear and guilt can do to an already perverse mind!  Afterwards, the disciples buried the prophet and went to inform Jesus what happened.  Jesus was saddened and went to a solitary place upon hearing the sad tidings bit was soon found by those following Him.  Many people came to Him to be ministered to by His words for their physical and spiritual needs.  His compassion for the crowd led Him to heal many sick until late in the day.  Then Jesus wanted to feed them because that was another pressing need which they had, but there was not enough food for such an unplanned impromptu gathering far from town.  The disciples could not see that Jesus could provide all their needs as they focused on the healing and missed His ability to sustain their bodies.  Jesus therefore asked for what food they had and miraculously multiplied it until it was enough for all with some left over for each of the twelve disciples.  Twelve baskets of leftovers from just five loaves of bread and two fish!  That should have left a lasting mark on them.  Do we also expect only miracles and not daily sustenance from our Lord?  Do we make each promises to be held to instead of making our yes and no answer the needs (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-5, Matthew 5:37, James 5:12)?  Let us be sober in our impetuousness and trusting for our needs for shelter and sustenance, avoiding rash oaths and trusting for fulfilling provision from our Lord.