Matthew 14:4
“For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.””
What does Matthew 14:4 mean?
John the Baptist is calling out King Herod for marrying Herodias, who was previously married to Herod's brother Philip. Under Jewish law, this violated the rules around family relationships and divorce, which is why John spoke up even though it put him in danger. His words show genuine moral courage, since criticizing a king's personal life could easily cost him his life. What makes this moment striking is that John didn't stay silent just to keep himself safe, but spoke truth even when the consequences were severe.