Matthew 14:9

New Living Translation (NLT)

Then 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.

For Meditation

“Can you use an air conditioner in this place?”

The moment those words tumbled out of the Pastor’s mouth, he knew he was in trouble. He was picking his wife from the Beauty Salon of a member of the church. The day was hot and humid, and the hair blowers didn’t help either. In his discomfort, the Pastor promised to provide an AC unit for the salon. The young lady quickly accepted the offer with profuse thanksgiving, and the burden was on the poor Pastor who had no idea how he was going to fulfil that promise. Solomon was right: “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity” (Prov. 21:23).

Many times we ensnare ourselves with promises we have not carefully thought through. Our mouths precede our reasoning, and we find ourselves in very uncomfortable and embarrassing situations. The worst is when our ill-conceived promises confront us with wrong or sinful actions.

Herod faced that situation at his birthday party when he gave his step-daughter a blank check in recognition of her terrific performance on the dancing floor (Matt. 14:6-11). The girl sought her mother’s help to write the check, and John the Baptist became the victim. Herod, even though distressed by the unusual request, obliged “because of the vow he had made in front of his guests” (Matt. 14:9).

1. Did Herod have to murder because of the vow and the guests?
2. Was there no way out of that snare?
3. What was the real problem here?
4. Was it not more about his perceived dignity and pride?
5. Couldn’t Herod have sacrificed those emotions on the altar of righteousness? Well; what did Herod know about righteousness anyway?

I pray that we who know Christ Jesus will always act righteously even when we have pushed ourselves to the brink by our fast tongues. We can chew our inflated egos and do the right things in spite of our ill-conceived promises.  All it takes is a confession and apology.

So: May you refrain from making hasty promises that may ensnare and take you down the road of embarrassment or sin; and may the grace of God sustain your resolve to be prudent in your kindness.

Remember the lesson Christ taught us by this scripture: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk. 2:27).

Shalom