SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:5
Y quería matarle, mas temía al pueblo; porque le tenían por profeta.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:5
Verse 5. He feared the multitude] Miserable prince! who fears more to offend his people, than to sin against his God, by shedding innocent blood. When a man resists sin only by the help of human motives, he cannot long defend himself.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. And when he would have put him to death , etc.] As soon as he apprehended him, and put him into prison; being provoked by his reproving him, and being stirred up by Herodias, who was greatly incensed and enraged, and would have killed him herself, but could not, being hindered by Herod: who, though he had a good will and strong inclination to take away his life, yet what with fearing the terror of his own conscience, and the reverence and respect he had for John, as a good man; and especially for the reason here given, he did not do it, for he feared the multitude : not God, but the multitude; and these, not only the large number of people that attended on Johns ministry, and were baptized by him, and became his disciples, but the generality of the people, the whole body of the Jewish nation. So God is pleased oftentimes to restrain the wickedness of princes, by the fear of their subjects: because they counted him as a prophet ; a holy good man, and who was sent of God; they respected him as such, believing him to be a true and real prophet, and treated him with honour and reverence, suitable to his character; wherefore Herod was afraid, should he take away his life, that the people would mutiny, rise up against him, and revolt from him. In what esteem John was with the people of the Jews in general, may be learned from the character Josephus gives of him, as a good man; who stirred up the Jews to the practice of virtue, especially piety and justice; which made the common people fond of him and his doctrine; and who were of opinion, that the defeat of Herods army, which followed the death of John, was a just judgment of God upon him for it f833 .
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - The terror and reproach of conscience, which Herod, like other darin offenders, could not shake off, are proofs and warnings of a futur judgment, and of future misery to them. But there may be the terror of convictions, where there is not the truth of conversion. When me pretend to favour the gospel, yet live in evil, we must not favou their self-delusion, but must deliver our consciences as John did. The world may call this rudeness and blind zeal. False professors, or timi Christians, may censure it as want of civility; but the most powerfu enemies can go no further than the Lord sees good to permit. Hero feared that the putting of John to death might raise a rebellion amon the people, which it did not; but he never feared it might stir up his own conscience against him, which it did. Men fear being hanged for what they do not fear being damned for. And times of carnal mirth an jollity are convenient times for carrying on bad designs against God' people. Herod would profusely reward a worthless dance, whil imprisonment and death were the recompence of the man of God who sough the salvation of his soul. But there was real malice to John beneat his consent, or else Herod would have found ways to get clear of his promise. When the under shepherds are smitten, the sheep need not be scattered while they have the Great Shepherd to go to. And it is bette to be drawn to Christ by want and loss, than not to come to him at all.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ θελων 2309 5723 V-PAP-NSM αυτον 846 P-ASM αποκτειναι 615 5658 V-AAN εφοβηθη 5399 5675 V-AOI-3S τον 3588 T-ASM οχλον 3793 N-ASM οτι 3754 CONJ ως 5613 ADV προφητην 4396 N-ASM αυτον 846 P-ASM ειχον 2192 5707 V-IAI-3P
