[S]cholars have pointed out the similarity of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 to the horrid acts of Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas divorced his wife in order to marry his brother’s wife Herodias, who divorced Herod’s brother Phillip to marry Herod. Herod Antipas was the Herodian ruler (tetrarch) of Judea during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus was tried before him before His crucifixion. John the Baptist preached against Herod’s atrocities and eventually John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod’s decree.1 Look at the similarity of Herod’s actions to Jesus’ hyperbolic teachings on the law in the Sermon on the Mount.2 The heart of the teachings are summarized below:3
1. Matthew 5:21-26: You think that you are innocent of murder because you have not slain with your own hand, but I say to you that you are guilty of murder if you even conceive it in your heart.
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Author: Christopher W. Myers
Keywords: Herod, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch, Sermon on the Mount, Marriage, Divorce, Phillip, Philip, Herod's brother, Herodias
Bible reference(s): Matthew 5:21-32, Matthew 14:3-11
Source: Divorce Paper: Jesus’ View on Divorce According to the Synoptic Gospels (Lynchburg, Virginia: 2007).
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