Blinded by Unbelief

Rowan Hilsden | Jun 04, 2023

Scripture: Matthew 13:53-14:12

Rejection at Nazareth

53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there. 54 He went to his hometown(A) and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?(B) 55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?(C) Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James,(D) Joseph,[a] Simon, and Judas?(E) 56 And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” 57 And they were offended by him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his household.”(F) 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time(G) Herod the tetrarch(H) heard the report about Jesus. “This is John the Baptist,” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”(I)

For Herod had arrested John, chained[b] him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(J) since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful(K) for you to have her.” Though Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd since they regarded John as a prophet.(L)

When Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them[c] and pleased Herod. So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. 10 So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,[d] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 13:55 Other mss read Joses; Mk 6:3
  2. 14:3 Or bound
  3. 14:6 Lit danced in the middle
  4. 14:12 Other mss read body

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