1When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus,2he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”3For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).4John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.6But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him,7so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.8At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!”9Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.10So John was beheaded in the prison,11and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.12Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
Sin just makes you stupid.
Herod takes his brother’s wife and is lucky enough to have a brave man (John the Baptist) tell him he is wrong. But rather than have the wisdom to admit his sin and change, Herod puts his brave advisor in jail. Then Herod has a party and has his own step-daughter provide the entertainment. We all know the dance was sexually charged. Obviously Herod’s party wasn’t something that would be held in a church basement. All this debauchery leads Herod to make an incredibly stupid vow, which in the end, leads Herod to murder.
Sin just makes you stupid.
Now Herods wife Herodias is no better. She is Herod’s partner in adultery. She also hates John the Baptist and she obviously is willing to expose her daughter to a bunch of partying men. Then she has the chance to make her daughter incredibly rich (half Herod’s kingdom) and she is so full of hatred all she gets out of it is the head of penniless preacher!
Sin just makes you stupid.
I myself remember a time when I was so caught up in an addictive behavior that I wasn’t taking care of my marriage, my family, or my business like I should have been. I wasn’t working hard and I was spending my free time filling myself with sinful thoughts and ideas. I was blind to who I was hurting and how much I was hurting them. I think my family is still paying a awful price for what I did. Sin just made me stupid.
Lord, please remind me of how foolish sin has made me be. Don’t let me dwell on my past sins, for You paid the price for them, but never let me forget them either. Use them to keep me humble and kind. Keep me full of Your Word, Your love, Your Spirit and thus…Your wisdom.
Do you have a story about sin making you stupid? Beginner’s Online Bible Study *obbs*