Matthew 14:4

“For John said unto him, etc.] John having heard of this incestuous marriage, went to Herod, and reproved him to his face for it; and, as Luke says, “for all the evils he had done”, (<420319>Luke 3:19) for he was a very wicked man, and guilty of many flagitious crimes: John, in so doing, showed his zeal for holiness, his hatred of sin, his courage and faithfulness in reproving thus freely so great a man; and made it manifest, that he came in the spirit of Elijah: what he said to him was, it is not lawful for thee to have her, being forbidden, (<031816>Leviticus 18:16) for though by another law it was right to marry a brother’s wife, after his decease, when he left no issue, yet this was not…”

“For Herod had laid hold on John ... - See Mark 6:17-20; Luke 3:19-20. This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stopped at his brother’s; fell in love with his wife; agreed to put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, King of Petraea; and Herodias agreed to leave her own husband and live with him. They were living, therefore, in adultery; and John, in faithfulness, though at the risk of his life, had reproved them for their crimes. Herod was…”

“It is not lawful for thee to have her - It was not lawful indeed for either of them to have her. For her father Aristobulus was their own brother. John's words were rough, like his raiment. He would not break the force of truth by using soft words, even to a king. Matthew 14:5”

“14:4 John had continually warned Herod of his sin (see Lev 18:6; 20:21).”

“Lev 18:16, Lev 20:21; Deu 25:5, Deu 25:6; Sa2 12:7; Kg1 21:19; Ch2 26:18, Ch2 26:19; Pro 28:1; Isa 8:20; Mar 6:18; Act 24:24, Act 24:25 Matthew 14:5”