Matthew 14:11

Friday, 14 November 2025

And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Matthew 14:11

“And his head, it was carried upon a platter, and it was given to the damsel, and she carried to her mother” (CG).

In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod sent and he beheaded John in prison. It next says, “And his head, it was borne upon a platter.”

The word pheró, to bear, is introduced here. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, to bear, carry (bring) along, especially temporarily or to a definite (prescribed) conclusion (defined by the individual context).”

Once John was beheaded, it was placed upon a platter, being carried to its now rightful owner according to the oath made by Herod. It next says, “and it was given to the damsel.”

Something new concerning Herodias’ daughter is seen here. She is called a damsel, a little girl. It explains why she went to her mother (as recorded in Mark) to determine what she should ask for when the oath and offer were extended to her by Herod.

From the prison where John was beheaded, it was borne by an attendant and taken to Herodias’ daughter. She was the one who had pleased Herod in the dance and to whom the promise was made. Therefore, the burden of carrying it to its final destination was accomplished by her. As it says, “and she bore to her mother.”

Nothing beyond this is recorded concerning what happened to the head. Some extra-biblical comments about it have been made, but the Bible itself is silent on the matter.

Life application: In the story of the life of King David, the account of David encountering Goliath on the battlefield is recorded. There it says –

“So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.” 1 Samuel 17:48-51

A bit later, it says, “And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent” (1 Samuel 17:54).

To understand the significance of what occurred in that account, sermons from the Superior Word detail the events and their typological significance in detail. One thing that can be deduced about the beheading of John is connected to that account concerning Goliath.

Everything about the law is associated with death. God gave Adam a law in the Garden of Eden. Adam violated that law, and it brought about his death (Genesis 2:17), and it also brought about death in humanity (Romans 5:12). Even Jesus, who was under the Law of Moses, died in fulfillment of it. It was a necessary death for grace to be bestowed.

John the Immerser was the final prophet under the law. He was the herald of the coming of Christ. As such, he was destined to die as an example of the law’s power of death over life. Only in coming to Christ’s completed work is the matter reversed, and life, meaning life in Christ, prevails over death.

As terrible as the account concerning John the Baptist is, we are being instructed in the difference set forth between Adam’s failure and Christ’s victory. This includes the death of John, who proclaimed law to the world.

The law had to come to an end for grace to be bestowed. John is the one who brought it to that point. Jesus is the One who then acted, completing the task and offering something far more glorious to the people of the world. Let us never forget the lesson of law vs. grace. Hold fast to the grace of God as it is revealed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Lord God, in the end, it is all about what You are doing in Christ Jesus for the people of the world. Help us to remember this and to hold fast to this truth. We don’t need more law! What we need is grace. Thank You for the grace offered through His completed work. Amen.