The Strangest of All Gifts: A Beheading, Part 1

Hello this is Dave Speicher reminding you that tomorrow at midnight Insight for living will close the books on another ministry year to give a much-needed donation before the deadline.

Go to insight.org from January 2021 until now we've embarked on a fascinating journey to the gospel according to Matthew Chuck Swindoll appropriately titled this teaching series, the King of King because it features the unfolding story of Jesus unparalleled reign over all the earth today on Insight for living we're stepping into the third phase of our study section that moves from Matthew chapters 14 through 20 in which we read about the king's ministry close of today's message looks plain how you can request materials for this comprehensive study of Scripture are very encouraging. Others are shocking. This is one of those intricacy become so evil. You almost feel like you need a shower after you visit of the message. This is one while inspired, but tragic, tragic story and the conclusion of it.

There are four lessons that I hope you will never forget because they tie imperfectly with our lives. This day and at this time. So while difficult to hear is necessarily that we hear it come to terms with it and realize what it means to us. Matthew chapter 14 the first 13 verses I'll be reading from the new living translation when Herod Oedipus the ruler of Galilee heard about Jesus, he said to his advisors. This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracle for Herod had arrested and imprisoned.

John, as a favor to his wife, Herodias, the former wife of Herod's brother Philip John had been telling Herod. It is against God's will all for you to marry her.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of Orion because all the people believe John was a prophet but a birthday party for Herod Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him so he promised with about to give her anything she wanted at her mother's urging, the girl said I want to handle John the Baptist on a train, then the king regretted what he had said, but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders so Trenton was beheaded in the prison and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl who took it to her mother. Later John's disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what it happened.

As soon as Jesus heard the news. He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone living study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to insight world.org/studies another message from Chuck that he titled the strangest of all gifts, a beheading talk about a piece of work make it to pieces of work, Herod, Oedipus and his wicked wife Herodias there hardly any words to describe them.

I think my favorite would be there. The Bonnie and Clyde of the New Testament, there are no good in mama that surprises the depravity of their lives can be traced back to their roots just take Herod Oedipus, who became the leader or what we would call the governor of the country improvidence of Galilee.

One expositor describes the scene, the true account is actually more incredible than a bizarre soap opera. It is a story of infidelity incest political intrigue, jealousy's plight, revenge, lewdness lost: heartedness, cruelty, brutality, violence, ungodly remorse. Above all, it is the story of godless fear and the power of such fear to confuse this evening. Corrupt destroy and Dan. Nowhere in Scripture is the truth. The fear of man brings a snare more vividly illustrated than here. That's what we have in front of us. The setting of Matthew 14 takes us back to the Mafia family of the first century in that day. It was known as the Herod the Herod family. The roots of that family tree were nurtured by the bones and the blood of those the Godfather of the family killed, known as Herod the great, he gave new meaning to human depravity married no less than 10 times each one of them only added to his life of deception, cruelty and crime. He murdered several of those wives as well as several of his own sons, which led to the popular saying it is better to be Herod's cell than Herod's son is K had a better chance to live a long life. David McKenna adds this slaughtering men and flaunting God.

Herod the great, deserves a niche in the pantheon of history's villains along with Caligula, Nero, Genghis Khan, Adolf Hitler and Idi Amin. They hold in common the arrogance that led them to commit the most heinous crime that the background story begins in the biblical account of Matthew 14 with a rather well, shall we say.

Lucky son.

He survived his father. He lived on and ultimately became the ruler.

As we read here of the region of Galilee's name is answer plus Herod answer plus he's quoted by Gill's hands were stained by the blood of the baptizer, whom he had murdered in the dungeon of the palace of Herod, when he hears the man Jesus named as the one working miracles. Herod answer plus is haunted haunted by the thought that John the baptizer must have risen from the dead. Since such miracles were being performed.

He must've come back and beginning at verse two, we have a flashback. As we returned to the account that occurred sometime earlier if you really want to see it in full clarity, you need to read it alongside Mark chapter 6 return there in a few moments, but understand that what we are reading has already occurred with the lessons to be learned from it or you are yet to be learned.

The account Herod had arrested and imprisoned. John, as a favor to his wife, Herodias, the former wife of Herod's brother Philip's a good time to turn quickly and look at Mark chapter 6 and you'll see the account that Matthew does not include verse 17 of Mark six. Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. You see, when activists went to visit Philip. He fell in lust with Herodias, and they escape. She left her husband and family. He left his wife and their families and they eloped and they lived in open sin was in that day was known as adultery. And in that day. It was a shameful act among the Jews. It was scandalous.

John the baptizer decided not to keep his mouth shut. He was never known as one to keep his mouth shut and this was no time to start. So we read in verse 18 he had been telling Herod. It is against God's law for you to marry your brothers, one so Herodias look at this.

Remember it Herodias.

That's the wife bore a crutch against John and wanted to kill him, but without Herod's approval.

She was powerless for Herod respected John and knowing that he was a good and holy man. He protected him.

Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him. There's a lot of intrigue in that your curiosity runs away with you.

I imagine he would go to the cellar.

He would bring John to his chamber, and they would talk privately, secretly, certainly, Herodias did not know of it and he found him curiously fascinating and he would spend time dialoguing with the baptizer while keeping him in prison inappropriately.

We read in Mark 621 will go back to Matthew the moment Herodias is chance finally came on Herod's birthday back to Matthew 14 verse six. Here is where the plot thickens and gets really ugly at a birthday party for Herod before you think of your son or daughter's birthday party. I need to stop you and have you think of a stag party.

This is no little party with funny hats and whistles and confetti and balloons. This is a group of guys cronies that get together for all the things it would include one man writes Roman nobles frequently held stag parties in which gluttony excessive drinking, erotic dancing and sexual indulgence were, verse six tells us about it and we read at that party for Herod Herodias's daughter performed a dance when we stopped there, lest you think they all joined in the square dance enjoying the party together. On the contrary, she's a stripper she's a pole dancer. We would call her today, but what makes it even more intriguing.

She's Herod's stepdaughter, the creepy old man begins to lust after his own stepdaughter as she performs an erotic sexually arousing dance we read it here. She performed a dance that greatly pleased him. The Greek term is the word for sexually aroused him lawsuit is less his brain full of alcohol is hard, empty of morals, he suddenly in his lustful moment blurts out a stupid statement he says to her about to give you whatever you want, tell me what you want. Mark adds up to half my kingdom. She didn't know what to say. By the way Josephus tells us her name is Salome. We don't read her name in the Scriptures, but from his words, the historian's words will call her by that name Salome who would greatly pleased him heard this request and he is about to give her whatever she wanted and noticed verse eight, at her mother's urging, if you go to Mark six. You read that she went back to her mother to find out what she should ask for. I believe it was at that moment Salome pieced it all together.

Shirley and her growing up years. She had heard her mother as she spoke with this enormous grudge against the baptizer and she hears her mother make this request.

I want the head of John the baptizer. By the way check the record for yourself. The mother never says do it immediately nor does she say bring it on a platter that was Salome's part.

She gets caught up in the plot when she understands what her mother wants is she thinks but I have the power to arouse my stepfather.

I've got the ability to ask the ultimate immediately bring on a platter. The head of John the baptizer.

Please observe in verse nine.

A little late but at least the moment is there. He regretted what he had said woman wanted me to take it back when you say something stupid.

The best that you can do following. It is that was a stupid statement and admitted in front of those around. Unless of course you're caught in the peer pressure of what others may think he would lose face for after all, it's his party use the chain. How could he do that. So Herod because of the vow he had made. Notice how it reads in front of his guests, he issued the necessary order at this point you to take a deep breath because here the scene is brutal. The baptizer was down in his cell.

He knows nothing of a dance or nothing of an oath he knows nothing of what's transpiring above, there's no warning. There's no no there's no tap of the shoulder telling them what's coming suddenly is door is open and in walks a man with bleed and off comes the head with a switch. It hits the stone floor. Blood splattered everywhere as the man is beheaded and his hand is brought on a tray. Please observe not given to Herod Oedipus who made the request but given to the one who was the reason for the request. She took the head on the tree to her mother. Your silence is appropriate, almost impossible to believe man is good and godly as John would meet that kind of feet, but we are living in a day of beheadings with the innocent experience that but will never get used to that kind of thing. The body lay lamp on the floor and would've remained there until the stance filled the palace which would in pleased Herodias all the more, but the disciples heard of the bidding and we read at the end of verse 12 they came for the body and buried it, and then they went and told Jesus what happened for the terminal moment for our Lord, out of the blue the disciples come quickly and described to him. The scene taken that body of the deer man buried it and now they tell the Savior of the forerunners death, one who had baptized him who he told others he he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world now gone voice is not silent and we read words that describe grief as soon as Jesus heard the news. He left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. I think there are times when we read the Bible that we need to stop reading pause and let the wonder in our Lord all alone in the little boat out at sea, remembering in morning. Thinking back to those great moments. They shared together in the great ministry the baptizer. It had a times we wish and cipher living were 60 minutes in length, rather than a half-hour. Would love to continue our study in Matthew 14. Right now, in order to hear how this scandalous story unfolds, but Chuck Swindoll will resume his message called the strangest of all gifts, a beheading on tomorrow's program.

To learn more about this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org will hear a closing comment from Chuck in just a moment. So please stay with us for so let me offer some context for current teaching series for the entire year of 2021. Chuck is guiding us through a verse by verse study through Matthew the series is called the King of Kings. In addition, you might be surprised to learn that Chuck wrote a commentary on the book of Matthew. If you're looking to get better acquainted with the real Jesus, the one writers like Matthew described. Then we highly recommend adding these two volumes to your personal collection.

There called swindles living insights on Matthew to purchase this two-volume set, go to insight.org/offer which Chuck we're digging deep into this first book in the New Testament, and already it's been eye-opening. Our current study through the gospel of Matthew has been absolutely delightful. How refreshing to read this eyewitness account from a man who actually walked alongside Jesus and one of our recent studies we saw Jesus teaching in the public square to a weary audience.

He offered these comforting words when he said come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear in the burden I give you his light although we never tire of hearing this column an invitation from Jesus. Do we his soothing words spill over us like a refreshing waterfall of hope, washing away our fatigue and replacing it with confidence. After all, the last year has been riddled with unwanted surprises as an during this season of hardship our nation.

In fact, our entire world has been bombarded with emotional bombshells.

The kind of rattler spirit and make us feel well exhausted to his listeners and again to us today, Jesus opens his arms and says come to me and I will give you rest, my friend, this is our mission at Insight for living ministries and it's my promise to you today. As long as God gives me breath I will declare these promises from God as accurately and enthusiastically as I know how but I cannot walk this journey all alone.

As we approach 30 June. The deadline that we face. I need people like you to come along with me now why you may ask because you and I hold the key to liberating people from their spiritual and emotional exhaustion together. We are stewards of the good news.

So my question to you when you come alongside Insight for living ministries right now with a generous financial gift. When you do your gift will be used to reach battle weary listeners real people who crave real soul rest from Jesus that you and I have come to rely on every day. Thank you for listening to my heart. And thanks for responding today. June 30 is tomorrow so let me explain how you can respond to Chuck Swindoll right away. The quickest way to give is to go directly to insight.org many prefer using our convenient mobile app process is quite simple.

You can also speak with one of our ministry representatives by calling us listening in the US style. 1-800-772-8888. Our phone number. Once again, 1-800-772-8888 four to give a contribution today online, go to insight.org join us again tomorrow.

Our study in the book of Matthew continue right here on Insight for living with Chuck Swindoll the preceding message, the strangest of all gifts of the heading was copyrighted in 2016 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. all rights reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited