The sinful nature is very cunning. It not only nurtures a desire to do wrong, but it waits for an ideal opportunity to do it (James 1:14-15).  The evil heart-radar of those who ignore God, spots its chance and then blindly seizes it.  It does so, because the sinful heart does not want to see anything outside of itself; it operates in the dark and is intensely resistant to the light of truth (John 3:19-20).

Herod's pompous banquet and the lavish promise to his wife's daughter, set the stage for John's murder.  All was apparently innocent, but the underground river of hate had caused rapid moral subsidence in the palace (Mark 6:17-19).  Pride, arrogance, the buying of affection with impossible promises - along with sensual passion and hatred of God's Word and prophet - were the fruit of demonically inspired, fleshly natures.  Any one of them could unleash evil: together they proved lethal.  How tragic it is, when people know the truth but refuse to act on it.

Herod Antipas did not want John the Baptist dead.  It suited him to have the prophet near at hand in the palace dungeon, a person to be called to attend the king and give spiritual wisdom (Mark 6:20).  At least John was safe in custody and the jealously scheming Herodias could not arrange for an 'accident to happen to him'.  Also, perhaps Herod thought he might be keeping in with God by patronising the prophet.  But Herod was proud (Proverbs 18:12).  In the room that night were all the powerful people in his Province of Galilee and Perea.  Herod believed that he was in control.  But he was wrong.  He did not have to promise anything to Salome, the daughter of Herodias and her former husband Philip (who was Antipas' brother).  But because Antipas was infatuated with his new wife whom he stole from his brother, and sensually affected by Salome – he promised to give her anything, up to half of the tax proceeds of the area he governed.  The promise was public, his reputation depended on delivering.  But Herod was blind (John 9:39-41).  He could not see the trap which was being set.

Herod had not submitted to the truth John brought to him, and the king thought it did not matter: instead, he thought he could contain his wife's violent wish.  To be interested in the gospel is not enough: God commands everybody to repent!  Never underestimate the power of sin in nice or powerful people.  The gospel is not intended to make people nice, but to save them from their sin.  And this passage underlines the need to repent and be saved - however important they think they are.  It starts with us and then the Lord may ask us to call others to repentance too.