Dr Paul Allen

Masolino - Banquet of Herod - WGA14245 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 14:1–12 “He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother” ( vv. 10–11 ). Because He is unwilling to make His ministry into a sideshow that performs wonders for those who will always find a reason to deny Him, Jesus does not do many miracles in Nazareth ( Matt.13:58 ; see 12:38–42 ). Still, the acclaim from our Lord’s earlier works spreads throughout Galilee and reaches the tetrarch Herod, otherwise known as Herod Antipas , who rules the region ( 14:1 ). Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great, the king who attempted to kill Jesus shortly after His birth ( 2:16–18 ). Upon hearing of our Lord’s ministry, Antipas suggests that this Jesus is none other than John the Baptist , back from the dead ( 14:2 ). This gives Matthew an opportunity to bring us up to date on John’s situation, especially since Herod Antipas ind...

Dispute of Jesus and the Pharisees over tribute money (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 22:15–22 “‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away” ( vv. 21–22 ). Pompey, a famous general during the last years of the Roman republic , brought the territory of Palestine under Rome ’s control in 63 b.c. when his support allowed one side in a Jewish civil war to gain victory. From that point on, Israel ceased to be an independent kingdom and was ruled by client kings — like Herod the Great — who were loyal to the caesar. In 6 a.d., Rome began to rule directly that part of Palestine known as Judea through governors, or procurators. With this rule came also a yearly poll tax of one denarius, the normal daily wage, which was levied on every adult from puberty to age sixty-five. Most Jews loathed the poll tax because it symbolized Rome’s control of Judea. This background sets t...

Lucas Cranach d. Ä. 015 (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 14:1-12 "He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother" ( vv. 10-11 ). Because He is unwilling to make His ministry into a sideshow that performs wonders for those who will always find a reason to deny Him, Jesus does not do many miracles in Nazareth ( Matt. 13:58 ; see 12:38-42 ). Still, the acclaim from our Lord's earlier works spreads throughout Galilee and reaches the tetrarch Herod, otherwise known as Herod Antipas , who rules the region ( 14:1 ). Herod Antipas was a son of Herod the Great, the king who attempted to kill Jesus shortly after His birth ( 2:16-18 ). Upon hearing of our Lord's ministry, Antipas suggests that this Jesus is none other than John the Baptist , back from the dead ( 14:2 ). This gives Matthew an opportunity to bring us up to date on John's situation, especially since Herod Anti...