Matthew 14:8 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 14:8 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.”

Prompted by her mother, she said: give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter. The mother's promptingconnects the daughter's request to Herodias' ongoing vendetta against John. The here on a platter communicates the immediate and grotesque character of the demand: not merely the execution of John but the immediate delivery of the evidence. Herodias could not silence John through Herod's reluctant imprisonment; she uses the daughter's dance to achieve through manipulation what she could not obtain through direct request.

Church Fathers on Matthew 14:8

The Evangelist having related John’s imprisonment, proceeds to his putting to death, saying, 'But on Herod’s birthday, the d aug hter of Herodias danced in the midst.
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

We find no others keeping their birthday besides Herod and Pharaoh, that they who were alike in their wickedness might be alike in their festivities.
Jerome · 4th century

It should be known that it is customary not for rich only but for poor mothers also, to educate their d aug hters so chastely, that they are scarce so much as seen by strangers. But this unchaste woman had so brought up her d aug hter after the same manner, that she had taught her not chastity but dancing. Nor is Herod to be less blamed who forgot that his was a royal palace, but this woman made it a theatre; 'And it pleased Herod, so that he swore with an oath that he would…
Remigius · 9th century

Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!