Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:18
For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
18. For John had said ] Herod was probably on his way to meet his father-in-law, when he first encountered the Baptist, who, in the presence of the Galilean king, proved himself no “reed shaken by the wind” (Luk 7:24), but boldly denounced the royal crimes (Luk 3:19), and declared the marriage unlawful. For this outspoken faithfulness he was flung into prison, probably in the castle of Machrus or “the Black Fortress,” which Herod’s father had built in one of the most abrupt wdys to the east of the Dead Sea, to overawe the wild Arab tribes of the neighbourhood. Though originally in the possession of Aretas, Herod had probably seized the fortress after the departure of his first wife to her father’s stronghold at Petra (Jos. Ant. xviii. 5. 2).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Mar 6:18
For John had said unto Herod.
The difficulty of wise rebuke
It is difficult to rebuke well; i.e., at a right time, in a right spirit, and in a right manner. The Baptist rebuked Herod without making him angry; therefore he must have rebuked him with gravity, temper, sincerity, and an evident goodwill towards him. On the other hand, he spoke so firmly, sharply, and faithfully, that his rebuke cost him his life He reproved him under the prospect of suffering for his faithfulness; and we should never use a strong word, however true it be, without being willing to acquiesce in some penalty or other, should it so happen, as the seal of our earnestness. (J. H. Newman.)
Rebuke of sin considered indelicate
I have always noticed that people who live in the practice of vice think the servants of God ought not to allude to things so coarse. We are allowed to denounce the sins of the man-in-the-moon and the vices of savages in the middle of Africa; but as to the everyday vices of this city of London, if we put our finger upon them in Gods name, then straightway someone cries, It is indelicate to allude to these things. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
18. For John had said unto Herod, Itis not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wifeNoblefidelity! It was not lawful because Herod’s wife and Herodias’husband were both living; and further, because the parties werewithin the forbidden degrees of consanguinity (see Le20:21); Herodias being the daughter of Aristobulus, the brotherof both Herod and Philip [JOSEPHUS,Antiquities, 18.5,4].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For John had said unto Herod,…. He had been personally with him, and had plainly and freely told him of his sin, and faithfully reproved him for it; alleging what he had done was contrary to the law of God:
it is not lawful, for thee to have thy brother’s wife:
[See comments on Mt 14:4].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thy brother’s wife ( ). While the brother was alive (Lev 18:16; Lev 20:21). After a brother’s death it was often a duty to marry his widow.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “For John had said unto Herod,” (elegen gar ho loannes to Herode) “For John had said to Herod,” directly, without apology or timidity, had repeatedly, emphatically said, that it was immoral and unethical for him to do what he had done.
2) “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.” (hoti ouk eksestin soi echein ten gunaika tou adelphou sou) ”That it is not a lawful thing (morally or ethically) for you to have (consort with) your brother’s wife,” based on Lev 18:16. Like Elijah and Nathan this John the Baptist was a brave and honest prophet who reproved sin in high places, to the shock of Herod and his adulterous wife, whom he had taken from his own brother, and married, 2Sa 12:7-14; 1Ki 18:18.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
Ver. 18. See Trapp on “ Mat 14:3 “ See Trapp on “ Mat 14:4 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18. ] more than once: it was the burden of John’s exhortations to him.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
had said = kept saying.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
18.] -more than once: it was the burden of Johns exhortations to him.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
It is: Lev 18:16, Lev 20:21, 1Ki 22:14, Eze 3:18, Eze 3:19, Mat 14:3, Mat 14:4, Act 20:26, Act 20:27, Act 24:24-26
Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:8 – Abner 2Ki 20:14 – What said 2Ch 18:7 – I hate him Job 21:31 – declare Pro 29:10 – The bloodthirsty Jer 22:1 – Go Luk 3:19 – General Luk 13:24 – for Act 24:25 – temperance
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
THE WITNESS OF THE BAPTIST
John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife.
Mar 6:18
The Baptist sets an example of boldly rebuking vice, and patiently suffering for truths sake.
I. His boldness.He does not spare the king. What excuses he might have made! It would be a bit of bad policy to alienate the king, to lose his favour. While he was friendly, John had an opportunity of getting hold of so many people and handing them on to Jesus. Ah, how often we are deceived about this matter of popularity and of influence! We are so loath to lose influence, to stand by principle. We sacrifice the very object of which influence and popularity may be given for the sake of retaining it. For what is influence given? What is the worth of popularity save that it may be used?
II. He rebuked vice.I will speak of Thy testimonies even before kings, and will not be ashamed. That was the motto of John the Baptist; that must be the law of the Christian Church, and of Christian men and women in whatever sphere or department of life. Before kingseven the uncrowned King Demos who utters his mandates in the daily press, or the king or queen of your own circle of society. The Christian religion has a code of morals just as imperious in its demands as the Christian creed. Do not be afraid of being thought bigoted or prudish. Raise the standard. There are many who will rally round it if only some one in the office, in the club, in the drawing-room, will have the courage to plant it.
III. The Divine law concerning marriage.The special subject-matter of the Baptists witness was a protest on behalf of Gods law concerning marriage. It was in defence of the sanctity of family life and of domestic purity. Does that not come home with a special application to us in these days? There are divers influences working to undermine our high, our true conception of the dignity of family life, of the Divine law concerning marriage. The Divine law concerning marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others on either side. We are concerned with the Divine law. The Church must stand by that. The Church cannot give her benediction, she cannot admit to her high privileges and sacraments those who forsake or transgress the Divine law concerning marriage.
Bishop A. C. A. Hall.
Illustration
From Josephus we learn that the Baptist was imprisoned at the castle of Machrus, on the east coast of the Dead Sea. This castle, however, is stated to have belonged to Aretas. But Aretas made war on Herod when the latter put away his first wife (the formers daughter), and it is supposed that, in the course of the war, it fell into Herods hands. If Herod were at this time engaged in a campaign on the frontier, his headquarters might be at Machrus; which would account for the apparent quickness with which the order to behead John was carried out. Such an absence from Galilee would also account for his not hearing of Jesus till after Johns death. Subsequently, Herods army was totally routed by Aretas, which was regarded by the Jews as a judgment for the murder of the Baptist.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
8
John told Herod it was not lawful for him to have this woman. The law that he violated by that marriage is in Lev 18:16; Lev 20:21.