The Commands, Teachings, and Life of our Lord Jesus Christ: Matthew 2:1-6

Wise Men and Herod

 

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

     Wise men came from afar to see Jesus. Imagine this, we don’t know if there were three or twelve wise men, but they traveled for months and some think, even years, following the star that signaled Christ’s arrival into the world to worship him! How great their commitment, how devoted they were to meet the King of Kings even though they were not Jewish!

 

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

      The snake Herod heard of the questions of the wise men going throughout Jerusalem—“Where is the new king of the Jews?” Herod was a man who had killed members of his own family when they stood in his way. This man was a tyrant! ….yet the tyrant was troubled—he was worried and anxious about the questions of these wise men….It seems a little ironic that Christ’s birth met with the same adversity as his ministry would—the Jewish leaders where threatened by his power, authority, and claim to be the Son of God. The leaders wanted control! …but Christ from day one stands in their way.

     So Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes together and demanded where Christ was to be born based on the Scriptures. They responded, “In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, ‘And thoug Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall fome a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.’” The very words of Scripture revealed centuries ahead of time where Christ would be born and it will lead to slaughter as was also prophesied centuries ahead of time.

 

Matt 2:1-6 (KJV)