Matthew Contrasting Kingdoms

 

Matthew

Contrasting Kingdoms

Matthew 14 shows us the contrast of Herod’s kingdom and Christ’s Kingdom

Every kingdom of this world struggles with the same problems as Herod had

In the end, human leadership fails

Where Satan rules you will think you are having a party

But in the end, you served to destroy righteousness

Herod served John’s head on a platter to his guests

Jesus served healing, compassion and food to His guests

Herod’s guests were in the palace

Jesus’s guests were in a remote place

There is a contrast between the kingdoms of this world

And the Kingdom of Heaven 

 

 

Matthew

 

Contrasting Kingdoms

 

 

Matthew chapter 14…

 

 We read the story of Herod,

the tetrarch’s birthday party.

 

This Herod, the tetrarch, is son of Herod the Great.

 

Tetrarch meant in Rome, one of four divisions.

 

King Herod the tetrarch, is Herod Antipas,

 the son of Herod the Great.

 

Herod the Great divided his rule of Rome

into four divisions as inheritances.

 

The Bible tells us of six Herods…

 

 So it becomes confusing to many

of us who read God’s Word.

 

Herod Antipas is the Herod

most mentioned about in the Bible.

 

If you are confused because there are too

many Herods in the Bible than Google

 https://biblerr.com/too-many-herods-in-the-bible/.

 

Herod Antipas heard of Jesus’ miraculous powers.

 

 Herod was very concerned because

 he thought John the Baptist, who he beheaded,

had risen from the dead.

Matthew 14:1-2

In verse 3, we are brought back to the time

when Jesus heard of Herod’s birthday party.

 

The celebration ended with John the Baptist’s head

being served to wife Herodias

who was Herod’s brother’s wife.

 

Herod ruled over Galilee,

so his kingdom ruled over the Jewish people.

 

We get a little more of the story in Mark 6:17-29….

 

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

 

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced,

she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you."

23 And he promised her with an oath,

"Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"

"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

We can learn a lot about Herod’s kingdom.

 

It was ruled by fear.

 

Herod feared John and protected him,

knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.

When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled;

yet he liked to listen to him.

 

It was ruled by pressure of others.

 

 The king was greatly distressed,

but because of his oaths and his dinner guests,

he did not want to refuse her.

 

The background to this picture is

 a party for the king and in a horrible end,

Herod served John’s head on a platter.

 

We got Jesus’ response in Matthew 14:13…

 

When Jesus heard what had happened,

he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.

 

But Jesus did not get time to grieve because…

 

 The crowds followed him on foot from the towns.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd,

he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Matthew 14:13-14

 

It was getting late in the day

and the crowd of 5000 men

plus women and children needed to eat.

 

Jesus is not in a king’s palace

 but with the people in a remote place.

 Jesus asked His servants to feed them.

 

His servants see their provisions are only…

 

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish"

 Matthew 14:17

 

Jesus brings order and serves them all

and there are leftovers.

 

Every kingdom of this world struggles

with the same problems as Herod had.

 

In the end human leadership fails.

 

Where Satan rules you will think you are having a party,

 but in the end, you served to destroy righteousness.

 

Herod served John’s head

on a platter to his guests.

 

Jesus served healing, compassion

and food to His guests.

 

Herod’s guests were in the palace.

 

Jesus’s guests were in a remote place.

 

There is a contrast between…

 

The kingdoms of this world

 and the Kingdom of Heaven. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Matthew 14:1-21 NIV

 

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

 

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

 

6 On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

 

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."

 

16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

 

17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

 

18 "Bring them here to me," he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.