⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

A Prophet Without Honor

⁵⁴ Jesus entered his hometown and taught in their synagogue. As a result, the people were amazed and said, “Where did this fellow get this wisdom and these miracles? ⁵⁵ Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother named Mary? And aren’t James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas his brothers? ⁵⁶ And aren’t all of his sisters here with us? Where then did this fellow get all of these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own hometown and in his own house.” ⁵⁸ He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Matthew 14

Recalling the Death of John the Baptist

¹ At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus. ² He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist! He has risen from the dead! That is why these powers are working in him.” ³ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. ⁴ John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. ⁶ But when it was Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced among them. This pleased Herod. ⁷ So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

⁹ Although this saddened the king, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that it be done. ¹⁰ He sent the order and had John beheaded in prison. ¹¹ His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and reported this to Jesus.