July 11

A Royal Coward

The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted — Matt 14:9 BSB

Herod called himself a king, but look at how weak he was, what a coward! He regretted making that reckless oath—deeply regretted it. His conscience wasn’t completely dead. He didn’t want to kill John. He was afraid of what people would think, knowing they would condemn him. He feared the consequences of his actions. And he hated himself for being trapped in Herodias’ plot for revenge. Yet despite all of this, he didn’t have the courage to refuse her request.

True, he had made an oath, but no promise or oath is binding if it requires someone to sin. Herod was wrong to make such a reckless promise, not knowing what it might involve. Once he made it, he should have kept it, no matter the personal cost, as long as it didn’t involve sin. If Herodias had asked for half his kingdom, he would have been obligated to give it to her. But no one is bound to fulfill a promise that requires committing a sin.

Yet it wasn’t really the oath that influenced Herod. He lacked the courage to do what was right. He feared the ridicule of his guests, and he was too controlled by Herodias to refuse her. His weakness ruined him. Rather than stand for what was right, he stained his hands with the blood of an innocent man. And those stains have never been washed away.

There are some things we have no right to swear away. We should always keep our word, even if it costs us. A good person will keep a promise, even if it brings harm to themselves. But no one is bound by an oath to give away another person’s life—that isn’t theirs to give.