The Sinfulness and Depravity of Men - And Women

Scripture is clear when it proclaims the sinfulness of man. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” the Apostle Paul was inspired to write in Romans 3:23. In Romans 5:12 Paul wrote, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned”.

In Romans 3:12 we read “ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” And in Romans 3:10 we find that “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE”.

The sinfulness and utter depravity of man is on display each and every day in the world in which we live. The news headlines seldom, if ever, lack a news story that depicts the depraved acts of men. Each one contributes to the ever growing mountain of evidence and eye witness testimony in support of the sin indictment against man that is declared in scripture.

As I was recently reading the 14th chapter of the Book of Matthew, I was reminded that depravity knows no gender boundaries. I don’t mean to suggest that this truth had previously escaped me or that I had discovered some hidden truth. It just caused me to pause and consider the depravity of men – and women.

In this chapter we read Matthew’s account of the death of John the Baptist. Most are familiar with the story. John had been telling Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife. This (the truth) had angered Herod and Herodias, his brother’s wife and had resulted in John being jailed.

At a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias had pleased Herod with her dancing. As a reward for pleasing him, Herod promised with an oath to give the girl whatever she asked. The passage tells us that Herodias prompted her daughter to ask Herod to give her the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Mark's gospel account of this says that after speaking with her mother "she came in a hurry to the king" to make this request. In fulfillment of his promise, Herod had John beheaded and his head was brought and given to the girl on a platter. The girl then gave it to her mother.

I’m convinced that seeing the head of a man who had been beheaded, sitting on a platter would be grotesque and repulsive to most all people. But nothing in the text seems to suggest that there was anything but glee in the hearts of these two women. They could have asked for wealth and fortune, as Herod had said to the girl that she could ask for up to half of his kingdom. But it was the beheading of a man and his head being delivered on a platter that was the request of a depraved woman and her daughter.

Praise God for the cross of Christ. Praise God for the gospel of grace. Praise God for His ability to save. And praise God for His power to change lives and renew minds. Praise God for His Son, Jesus!