Original Author: Jacob Rose
Matthew 14:1-12 – At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
Leviticus 18:16 – You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
The king (Herod) could not lawfully be with the woman (Herodias), so He needed to kill the prophet (John) in order to be with her. The king knew it would not be right to kill the prophet himself, however the woman swayed her daughter to have the prophet slaughtered. The prophet had his head cut off. The head was given to the daughter who also gave it to her mother as a gift. The king could be with the woman.
After we sinned, God (The King) could not be with us (the woman or bride) lawfully, so The Prophet needed to be slaughtered. The King wouldn’t slaughter the Prophet Himself, however the Jews swayed the Gentiles to have the Prophet slaughtered. Jesus, the Head, was cut off from not just the Father, but the Church or Body. After His resurrection, The Head was given to the Jews and the Gentiles as a gift. The King could now be with us.