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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 87 : The Death of John the Baptiser

Text: Matthew 14:1-12
5 November 2023

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 5 NOVEMBER 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 14:1-12

Subject: The Death of John the Baptiser

1. Misinformation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ

1At 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.”

Matthew 14:1-2

a) Herod was informed about the activities of the Lord Jesus
b) His miracles must have been reported
c) Herod’s comment
i) That the Lord Jesus was John the Baptiser raised from the dead
ii) Thus, the Lord Jesus was so greatly empowered
iii) This was nothing but superstitious fear

2. The Imprisonment of John the Baptiser

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.

Matthew 14:3-5

a) John had been arrested and imprisoned
b) John had openly criticized Herod Antipas for taking his brother’s wife
c) Herod Antipas wanted to execute John for this
d) But he feared the multitudes who regarded John as a prophet of God
e) John languished in prison

3. The celebration of Herod’s birthday

a) It was Herod’s birthday
b) The daughter of Herodias danced for King Herod Antipas
c) Herod was pleased with her dance and promised her a boon
d) She could ask for anything, and he would grant it

4. Herodias’ prompting

a) She had also hated John for speaking against her and Herod
b) The daughter of Herodias asked for the head of John the Baptiser

5. Herod was sorry he said what he did

a) He had made an oath to grant a boon
b) The boon asked for was the head of John the Baptiser on a platter
c) He gave the order for the execution of John
d) John’s head was brought on a platter
i) It was given to the daughter of Herodias
ii) It was then presented to Herodias
e) Why was the head asked for?
i) As a confirmation
ii) That John had been truly executed!

6. The conscience of Herod

a) His remark about the Lord Jesus indicated that he was thinking about John
b) His conscience must have bothered him
c) He had no excuse to behead John the Baptiser

THE FAITH OF JOHN

36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—
38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Hebrews 11:36-40

1. John was among those who died for their faith

2. He was “slain with the sword”

3. The world is not worthy to have a great man of faith like John

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To cultivate a significant faith

2. To be unafraid of suffering or death

3. To be inspired to find such a faith