ACC ~ Mark 6 v25

WHEN A LESSER SIN ELICITS A GREATER

BEDE: His love for the woman prevailed. She forced him to lay his hands upon a man whom he knew to be holy and just. Since he was unwilling to restrain his lechery, he incurred the guilt of homicide. What was a lesser sin for him became the occasion of a greater sin. By God’s strict judgment it happened to him that, as a result of his craving for the adulteress whom he knew he ought to refuse, he caused the shedding of the blood of the prophet he knew was pleasing to God. … Already holy, John became more holy still when, through his office of spreading the good news, he reached the palm [1] of martyrdom. EXPOSITION ON THE GOSPEL OF MARK 2.23. [2]

[1] Reward.

[2] Cetedoc 1367, 2.23.74; HOG 2:232*. The evil of the murder was disproportionate to the evil of his oath.

Mk