Mark 6:25 Commentary and Bible Study

The girl seems to have had no sensitivity whatsoever. She went in immediately and demanded the head of John the Baptist on a plate, on a tray. ‘I will that thou give me by and by’, which translates the Greek meaning ‘immediately’; no hesitation. Why must it be done immediately? Well sin takes its opportunity. When the king was sober, perhaps he would think twice about his oath. Perhaps he would be prepared to humble himself and say, ‘I played the fool; I'm not going to do that.’ Perhaps when there wasn't all the seduction in the surroundings and the rhythm and the clamour, and all his lords and people who he had to look big in front of; perhaps the moment would have died. So it had to be done at once. Then too, this was something that she had been waiting for, and frustrated about, for a long time. Revenge could not come too soon. ‘She came in straightway, I will that thou give me by and by [immediately] in a charger [on a platter] the head of John the Baptist.’