The Strangest of All Gifts: A Beheading, Part 2

When someone calls out a flaw character. There's nothing gained by feeling resentful you nurse a grudge logging off, there is no limit to go to get the aggressive cancer growing within your mind how much better it is to accept the reproof that someone gave you with the time resent how much better it would have been in your case.

When that person offended you, for you to forgive thing to receive a ball from a stranger snub. We love their cynical words linger in our mind if we allow it.

Proof from family and friends becomes exaggerated for long.

We feel reason today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll describes that human dynamic as we examine the complicated jealousy is represented in Matthew 14. You likely noticed that today's message was originally delivered on September 11. Before we venture into this passage will begin with our father on this tragic day of remembrance it's appropriate that we witness in the Scriptures.

Another tragedy need not have been had their only men restraint, but all the power of a grudge today on this anniversary is a nation we pause and remember the great men and women who did their best to save as many lives as possible some and collapsing buildings. Simon burning buildings.

Some airplane on a downward spiral. We remember the families of those who grieve as this cyclical journey returns and they recall how much their mother or dad son or daughter brother or sister relative or friend meant to them and how much they are missed. We still live in this nation. Our father and we still are not learning the lessons and we therefore plead for your grace to be applied to us protecting us taking care of us.

The undeserving, and by your grace giving us leadership that will give attention to truth and lead accordingly. On this day as we mourn and remember, remind us that you are sovereign God are in charge of it all, that all does in fact work together for good to those who love you not minister large others through our gifts as we give them those we will never meet who live in places we will never visit because of our gifts will be able to continue in some even survive. Thank you for the privilege of hard work in our occupations.

Being able to make a living from that we give our gifts full of gratitude in the name of the God of all grace, even the Lord Jesus Christ are matchless and everyone said amen study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures. Studies by going to Insight world.org/study another message from Chuck that he titled the strangest of all gifts, a beheading touted 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 on the region of Galilee's name is a plus Herod and suppress he's haunted by guilt. His 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 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 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, drawn as a favor to his wife, Herodias, the former wife of Herod's brother Philip is 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 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.

So we read in verse 18 he had been telling Herod.

It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife, so Herodias put it this remember it Herodias. That's the wife for a crutch against John and wanted to kill them, 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. 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 and we read at that party for Herod Herodias is daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him. The Greek term is the word for sexually aroused him loss is loss his brain full of alcohol is hard, empty of morals, he suddenly in his lustful moment set 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.

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 are sick you will read that she went back to her mother to find out what she should ask for, and she hears her mother make this request.

I want 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 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. There's no warning. Suddenly is door is open, and walks a man with a blade and off comes the head with the switch 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 almost impossible to believe man is good and godly as John would meet that kind of feet, but the disciples heard of the beheading 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 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. Remembering in morning. Thinking back to those great moments. They shared together in the great ministry the baptizer.

It had, boldly proclaiming Christ against all odds and in front of whomever right never intimidated him as we see in this very case for the one who is in charge of the entire province of Galilee is confronted by John more than once. It isn't right. You're doing wrong. This kind of thing displeases God and God's people the morning in his as we will see next time was a huge crowd comes in.

Jesus moves into another scene we will look back and we've we've rehearsed the setting we have seen this event in all its lewdness and ugliness.

Now there are lessons to draw from it. Believe it or not, Herodias the wife Herod Oedipus the husband, Salome, the dancer all teach us something we can take with us from this day on even the whole story makes a statement to everyone by way of application. Listen carefully as we all look within Herodias the wife teaches us how dangerous is revision. How wrong is holding a grudge. It led to murder, shameless, senseless.

Needless murder. She didn't flinch your nurse a grudge long enough. There is no limit to what you will go to get even or to get back. It's like I get aggressive cancer growing within your mind and within your emotion. How much better it is to accept the reproof that someone gave you that you at the time resented how much better it would have been in your case. When that person offended you, for you to forgive even though they may never ask for it. I mean the alternative is you suffer the consequences.

Read Matthew 18 for yourself or Peter asks his Lord only jobs do I do I forgive another seven times. Jesus answer is 70×7. He's not saying 490 times. Don't take that literally saying an infinite number of times for every offense. There must be forgiveness for everything wrong.against you.

You must be able to be big enough to get past. If you do not read the end of Matthew 18 and you will read that you will be turned over to torture the inner torture rings that eat away like an acid on your peace and contentment. Herodias is eaten with the torture rings of her grudge.

She teaches us how dangerous is revenge you holding a grudge any of you against someone you once worked for against one of your parents against the former might have about your current mate you holding a grudge you have miserable. You're making your own life, not to mention the lives of others. Herodias was held to live with and us by now must have wondered why on earth in Hilo with her the guarantee now really deep because of the power of repayment. Let it go. Let it go.

If you have trouble doing that. Remember what our Lord is done for you. He knows everything no one else does. He knows things you have done that was wrong as far as East is from the west removes those transgressions from us. God doesn't carry a grudge.

How foolish of us to do so.

Herodias teaches how dangerous is revenge.

Herod Oedipus teaches us something else. How powerful is peer pressure powerful is peer pressure whom I didn't go back in an incorrect statement utilized in the stock Salome before she left the room.

The people around them fearing what they would think or say, not realizing that folks respect you more when you acknowledge a foolish statement or wrong act loses it by Herod Oedipus himself was an old English couplet that is said of Judas Iscariot. It goes like this still visible old man by himself is price for 30 pieces.

Judas sold himself not Christ. To borrow from that for fear of what others may say or think Herod sealed his own fate, not John's. John's eternity is secure. As soon as you stop breathing on this earth, he took up residence in the presence of the father. Same with us when we die. Herod Oedipus teaches us how powerful is this tangled web of complicated relationships delivers a shocking outcome and we hope you'll join us again tomorrow when Chuck Swindoll concludes his message about the strangest of all gifts beheading your listening to Insight for living and to learn more about this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org because today marks the final day in the ministry year.

Chuck is prepared to share an important closing comment. So please stay with us. First, I want to point you to one of the most helpful resources offered by Insight for living.

Nothing will accelerate your ability to understand the remedy for resentment how to overcome betrayal or stand up to peer pressure any more than spending time in God's word and you likely own a favorite Bible for this purpose, but you may not have one that includes insightful commentary from Chuck Swindoll. The Swindoll study Bible represents decades of personal study by Chuck preparing for sermons and writing books, and it's all contained in this helpful study tool that belongs in your personal library to discover the different options available to you and to purchase a copy of the Swindoll study Bible go to Insight.org/offer Chuck in the first book in the New Testament Matthew spent a lot of time describing a group of first century religious leaders. The Pharisees were a lot like Herod's family emotional bullies who intimidated those who follow Jesus. The Pharisees were spiritual outlaws. They were bandits like bank robbers.

They had a way of ripping off the treasury of joy. These religious thugs made up all sorts of untenable rules and tight regulations that were impossible to follow and then they look down their noses with pride and disgust when people failed to keep those rules and regulations. Legalism, their first love is an exhausting lifestyle. Plus, it sucks the joy right out of anyone who aspires to a grace filled life well in Matthew chapter 11 Jesus specifically targeted an audience of battle weary warriors who found a legalistic lifestyle impossible to sustain and exhausting when they tried Jesus opened his arms and said to them come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and you will find rest for your souls. The rest that Jesus offered that day and still offers to you and me today is different than you might think.

He's not talking about wiping sweat from her brow after your morning jog. He's not offering a vacation or a good nights sleep is far more than that Jesus pinpointed your soul. You see, his invitation penetrates your inner self that mysterious all-important place within us that represents the spiritual core of our being. This is the focal point of everything we do at Insight for living ministries. Our goal is to teach the word of God so that the spirit of God can accomplish what no one else can do we want to see Jesus liberate all who listen to Insight for living liberate from the tyranny of religious legalism.

And so today I'm appealing to your shared vision to bring men and women around the world to the same place of freedom and grace in Jesus that you and I enjoy you've heard us mention the importance of June 30.

Well it's for more than a an accounting deadline God could use your generous donation to deliver his message right into the heart and soul of individuals right now and I can assure you everything you give will allow us to share the good news of Jesus who said come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and you will find rest your soul respond to Chuck right now. It was a phone call at 1-800-772-8888 also give a donation@insight.org. This is the final day, Chuck will mention the special meeting your donation today sent before midnight tonight will make all the difference in helping us reach the goal much more. You can also give a donation by using our convenient mobile app or by calling us listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8884. Give donation@insight.in March 2022 Insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel carefully planned to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years no place has been warming will to God's children in the land of Israel. The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our ship Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ's every nation and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll, Insight for living ministries March 6-17, 2022.

Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with the refreshed heart for God and a renewed vision for the world.

Really, I mean it every time.

So I want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 Insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. Join us again when Chuck Swindoll continues our study in Matthew's gospel Thursday Insight for living.

The preceding message, the strangest of all gifts beheading was copyrighted in 2016 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. all rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited