Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-03-16
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESION XII, FOR MARCH 90
MATT. 4:1-i2.
Golden Text: Keep Thy Heart with
All Diligence; for Out of 1t Are the
Issues of Life-Prov. 23-Behead-
Ing of John the Baptist.

The section includes the lesson, the par
allels, and the other references to John
the Baptist.
Historical Setting Time.-John was i'm
prisoned in March or April, A. d. 2S. He
was beheaded a year later, in March or
April A. d. %.
Place in the Life of Christ. The first
half of the third year of his ministry, the
year of teaching and working. During
the Great Galilean Ministry. 1t was the
occasion of another stage in the devel-
opment of Christ's work, the going with
his disciples to the surrounding coun-
tries.
Suggestions to Teachers.-The map can
be used with advantage. Note the place
in the life of Christ. Collect together all
the Scripture notices of the life OF John.
The parallel accounts should be kept be-
fore us as we study and teach. Temper
ance can be taught incidentally but ef-
fectively, from the fact that the crime
was probably committed under the infiu-
ence of strong drink. The martyrdom of
John Is the main subject of the lesson.
His life was successful, although short,
and crowned with a martyrs crown. This
life teaches better lessons and truer as to
what is a successful life, and the way to
gain 1t, than any number of stories as to
the way men became rich and attained
to high rank.
l. "At that time That period of Jesus
ministry while the twelve were on their
Galilean mission, begun in chap. 10: !, 5
(see Lesson VIII.) and continuing all win
ter. About this time they returned to re-
port to Jesus Matt. IA: r. 10, compared
with Mark 6: 30-32) "Herod the tetrarch."
Herod AntipaS, son of Herod the Great
(who slew the Bethlehem innocents), and
hnf., Ii, Lit oil 40
and Perea. Heard of the fame of Jesus
r. ", Heard the report concerning Jesus.
His marvellous works and teachings had
so penetrated and stirred the whole peo-
pie that the news reached the ears of the
king.
g said unto his servants" officers.
who were discussing as to who Jesus was,
some saying that he was Elijah, others
that he was a prophet like the prophets
of DID, but Herod feared that 1t was John
the Baptist" whom he had murdered, re-
turned to life again. If we mistake not.
that discovered head was rarely thence
forth absent from Herods haunted i'm
agnation from that day forward till he
lay upon his dying bed.-Farrar There
fore do these mighty works (powers)
shew forth themselves in him." He
thought that John had brought back with
him those larger powers, those diviner
gifts, which the spirit receives when 1t
eulcTS upon lIe heavenly lie, anu lhS
prophet could now exert those powers,
together with his former terrible reproofs.
No wonder Herod was afraid.
g. "Herod had laid hold on (arresteO
john" This was in March. A. d. rs,
year before the birthday festival de-
scribed below. I'm prison" Josephus
says that it was at Castle Macherus.-
Geilxie. For Herodias' sake, his broth
er Philips wife" Herod had put away
his lawful wife, the daughter of Aretas,
an Arabian king, for the purpose of mar
rying Herodias.
A. For John said Repeatedly unto him.
1t is not lawful for thee to have her"
1t was not lawful "a because he had
put away his lawful wife. (9 He had per-
suaded Herodias to forsake her husband.
Herod's brother Philip for the sake of
his rank and wealth. 60 To do this he
had been guilty of the basest treachery to
his brother.
5. would have put him to death"
Mark says that Herodias would have done
it. The only certain way to stop the re-
proof was to repent or to destroy the re-
proven. She would not repent, but would
kill the physician, as if that would cure
the disease. HE feared the multitude"
Who might rise up in revolt, or report
him to the emperor if he killed prophet.
He was even then on the verge of war.
He also feared John himself MARK.
6. when Herod's birthday was kept"
or came. and was kept with great ban
quet to which the mobiles and military Of
licers (Mark were invited. The daugh-
ter of Herodas." by her former husband.
Her name was Salome, and she after
wards married her uncle, Herod Philip H.,
tetrarch of Ituria. Danced before
them" or in the midst. as r. " She had
been sent by her mother to gain an oppor-
tunity for killing John Mark 6: 2D. 1t
was a shrewd scheme to take advantage
of Herod's half-intoxicated condition.
ceeded. They were fascinated by the
novel spectacle of high-born and charm
ing girl going through the voluptuous
NOV ements of an Oriental dance
Broadus.
Z Give her whatsoever she would
ask" Lven to half of his kingdom
MARK. 'Herod's foolish offer of what
ever she might ask is precisely what one
acquainted with the circumstances would
expect.
s. being before instructed or put for
ward. ''by her mother" She had gone TO
her mother to help her decide the great
question as to what out of the thousand
possibilities she should ask (Mark).
g. And the king was sorry" Not peni-
tent. but troubled and anxious. He had
expected some entirely different request.
There was danger, and troubled con-
science in the gift. Nevertheless for the
oath's sake" 1t should be oaths' uot
oath's, which is a printers or EDITOR ~
ror The word is plural in the original
(see r. V).-Morison. And them which
sat with him." Pride, and fear of imme-
date public opinion turned the scale. for
John would have few friends in that as
sembly. "He commanded it to be given
her." The willy Herodias had gained her
desire, which for year had been refused
by Herod.
10. "Beheaded John in the prison." If
the feast was at Macherus. the prison was
i'm one of the dungeons of the castle, and
the request was answered in very brief
time.
H. His head was brought in charg
err" A somewhat capacious platter. often
made of silver. which was charged or
loaded with meat at banquets. The sight
of the Baptist's head would be feast to
Herodias and her daughter.-F. Morrison.
"She brought ii TO her mother" She had
sacrificed much to please her mother. But
that mother did not gain her end. John
was silenced. but conscience and the voice
of God were not silenced. The stain of
blood could never be washed away, nor
"all the perfumes of Arabia sweeten" the
guilty soul. The ghost of John was worse
than Banquo's ghost TO Macbeth. She
died In exile.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.