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Gospel Reading for February 06, 2026 – Mark 6: 14-29
UNFORGIVABLE SIN
King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”
Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
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If we were members of the family of John the Baptist, we might consider what Herod did to him an UNFORGIVABLE SIN. John was deeply revered and had helped countless people repent and turn away from their evil ways. In God’s plan of salvation, he played a crucial role as the precursor of the Messiah—a role he fulfilled with great faithfulness. He had many followers who looked up to him. Yet, he was imprisoned simply for speaking the truth—truth that Herod did not want to hear.
Now imagine ourselves locked in a prison cell, only to have an executioner enter and abruptly cut off our head, all to serve as a reward for an alluring dance performed by a daughter, manipulated by a mother seeking vengeance against us. How sordid and unjust indeed!
And yet, did Jesus confront Herod over this crime? He certainly had the right to do so, for John was his cousin. However, when we examine the life of Jesus, we see a consistent pattern: he did not condemn sinners outright, but instead called them to repentance and transformation. He often taught through parables, perhaps so that people might come to recognize on their own, their need to repent and change ways.
This may explain why Herod was deeply perplexed and disturbed when he heard about Jesus’ miracles and preaching—so much so that he even thought Jesus was John raised from the dead and wanted to see him (Luke 9:7–9). This does not mean that Jesus approved of what Herod had done to John. Rather, it shows that Jesus did not fixate on the sinner, but on the sin.
For Jesus, the only UNFORGIVABLE SIN is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28–30; Matthew 12:22–32)—that is, speaking evil against God and willfully rejecting His grace and the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance. Jesus spoke of this when the Pharisees attributed his power to cast out demons to Satan.
Lord Jesus, may we be instruments of your grace, helping others turn away from evil and walk in the path of repentance and new life!
