They brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and she took it to her mother.
This verse presents the tragic scene of John the Baptist’s death in all its cruelty. The prophet’s holy head is placed on a platter as the fulfillment of an order, not the result of a just judgment. The girl, without any question or sign of pain, takes it and brings it to her mother. Here we see what a hardened condition sin can produce: when a person, on the path of evil, not only does not repent, but with pride accepts its fruit. John’s head becomes the crown of an evil scheme. This is a cold expression of the contempt shown by human beings toward God’s prophet. Yet it is this beheaded prophet who became the silent witness of righteousness.