Messiah

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

18 In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

How to Say It

Agrippa. Uh-grip-puh.

Antipas. An-tih-pus.

Antipater. An-tih-puh-ter.

Archelaus. Are-kuh-lay-us.

ethnarch. eth-nark.

Galilean. Gal-uh-lee-un.

Herod. Hair-ud.

Idumea. Id-you-me-uh.

Judea. Joo-dee-uh.

Julius Caesar. Joo-lee-us See-zer.

Magi. May-jye or Madge-eye.

Persia. Per-zhuh.

Pontius Pilate.Pon-shus or Pon-ti-us Pie-lut.

Samaria. Suh-mare-ee-uh.

Home Daily Bible Readings

Monday, Dec. 21—The Beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 9:7–12)

Tuesday, Dec. 22—Give Me Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:7–12)

Wednesday, Dec. 23—Gaining a Wise Heart (Psalm 90:11–17)

Thursday, Dec. 24—Those Who Find Wisdom (Proverbs 3:13–23)

Friday, Dec. 25—Where Is the Child? (Matthew 2:1–6)

Saturday, Dec. 26—Overwhelmed with Joy (Matthew 2:10–15)

Saturday, Dec. 27—Finding and Protecting Jesus (Matthew 2:7–9, 16–23)

Experienced ministers who have conducted many funerals will tell you that some of the most difficult are those in which the parents of the deceased are in the audience. This is particularly hard when the funeral is for a young child, but it can be almost as tough when the person being laid to rest is an adult.

A general principle of nature and of families is that the children are not “supposed” to die before the parents. This is one of the causes of the extreme grief of wartime, when parents see their young sons (and now daughters) die before their time. It is likely that some who are reading this lesson have suffered in this way.

In these cases, the grieving parents are advised to cherish the memories but move on with their lives. They are told that time heals all wounds and that the pain eases as the years go by. While this folk wisdom is oft repeated, newer studies have shown that it is not always accurate. It is true that adults may learn to cope with the death of a child in various ways, but the pain and sorrow may lie just beneath the surface for the rest of their lives.

In this week’s lesson, the Bible author quotes the poignant Jeremiah 31:15: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” The picture is of the grieving mother who has lost children. Nothing will relieve her grief. She cannot stop crying. Jeremiah, who certainly plumbs the depths of human sadness himself, empathizes with this ancient mother, and we can still do so 2,600 years later.

Today’s lesson looks at what is sometimes called the Massacre of the Innocents, the decree from King Herod that caused the infant boys of the village of Bethlehem to be murdered. It was only through a providential act of God that baby Jesus escaped this fate.

It is futile to speculate what might have happened if Herod had been successful in killing Jesus, the target of the massacre. God did not let it happen. God would not let it happen. Even so, we can feel the combination of dread and relief experienced by Mary and Joseph.

There are several men named Herod in the New Testament. It is difficult to keep them straight, but it is useful to do so. We start by realizing that Herod was used as a family name, similar to how the Romans used the family name Caesar to designate their emperors. Today’s lesson is concerned with a person sometimes called Herod the Great. He is probably the only Herod who ever claimed the title king in a meaningful way.

Herod’s father, Antipater II, had been a friend of Julius Caesar (who lived 100–44 bc). Herod himself spent time in Rome growing up and was friends with Julius Caesar’s eventual successor, Augustus Caesar. The Roman Senate named Herod to be the king of Judea in 40 bc, but they left it to him to win his kingdom. He raised an army and conquered Jerusalem in 37 bc. He ruled there until his death in 4 bc.

When he died, the Romans split his kingdom among his sons. Herod Archelaus, one of these sons, is mentioned in today’s lesson (Matthew 2:22). Another son, Herod Antipas, was the killer of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6–10) and presided over one of the trials of Jesus (Luke 23:7). Herod Agrippa I killed James (Acts 12:1, 2). The last of the Herods was Herod Agrippa II, who interviewed Paul in Acts 25. Herod Agrippa II died in Rome about ad 100, leaving no children. This ended the four-generation dynasty of Herod.

Herod the Great is known as a builder, and his greatest project was the rebuilding of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This was a massive task and was unfinished when Herod died. Work continued until about ad 62, meaning that the temple stood complete for less than a decade before its destruction by the Romans in ad 70.

Today’s lesson also features “wise men from the east” (Matthew 2:1). The technical term for them is Magi, and they represent a type of scholar found in the royal courts of the rulers of Persia and other kingdoms east of Judea. (We get our word magician from the word magi.)

While the academic pursuits of these men were wide-ranging, they were known for their interest in astronomy/astrology (the distinction between these two terms wasn’t real clear in the ancient world) and in studying ancient texts. Both of these characteristics come into play in today’s story. Those designated wise men were not kings in the usual sense, but they were usually from the wealthy families of their society. Some of them may have had royal blood, for not every offspring of a king could be a ruler.

The particular wise men at issue today came to Jerusalem looking for the newborn Jewish king. They apparently knew about prophecies concerning a future Messiah from their studies. They associated their observations of the appearance of a new star with this Messiah’s birth.

7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

The wise men have learned from King Herod and his advisors that the Messiah had been prophesied to be born in the city of David, namely Bethlehem (Matthew 2:4–6). The devious Herod receives this information for his own purposes, but wants yet another piece of information. This inquiry is conducted privily, in private rather than in public. Herod wants to know when the star appeared. This is because Herod, like the wise men, assumes that the appearance of the star coincides with the date of the Messiah’s birth.

We wonder when the wise men first saw the star. Did they follow it for hundreds of miles across the desert? Or did they see the star “in the east” (Matthew 2:2) only after arriving in Jerusalem? The answer is not crystal clear due to the way the original text is worded. But what is clear is that the wise men are able to gain access to the court of Herod.

8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

The distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, to the house where Jesus is to be found, is about seven miles. The treachery of Herod is transparent to us now, but is probably not evident to the wise men. They have no reason to think that Herod is not as sincere as they are in his desire to find the newborn king. Because Bethlehem is so near to Jerusalem, Herod probably thinks this will be a quick operation, perhaps taking a day or two.

Why would any of these powerful, wealthy adults want to worship a baby? We should appreciate the gravity they feel, the potential impact of the birth of this child. For the wise men, this is a wonderful, one-time event of enormous impact. They see this as an act of God, thus a cause for worship. For Herod, this is a threat, the looming specter that his successor is now on stage. We can see that Herod’s claim to desire worship is a cynical move by a person of no genuine faith.

Much of Herod’s paranoia is due to the different perspectives between him and the nation of Israel. The common folk of the nation long for a Messiah to deliver them from the bondage of Roman rule. By contrast, Herod is a collaborator with the Romans. He has profited from the relationship. He has no interest in fighting them! The very idea of a Messiah is contrary to his interests.

9. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

The astronomical phenomenon that has prompted the inquiry of the wise men has now changed. Somehow the star has dropped low enough to be a precise guiding beacon for the travelers, going before them. We should remember that these men are experts at watching stars. They are not fooled by some trickery foisted upon them by Herod or anyone else. This can be explained as nothing else but a supernatural occasion orchestrated by God himself.

The star finishes its purpose when it arrives at the dwelling where the young child is. This is not the stable of Luke 2:7, but the house of Matthew 2:11 (not in today’s text). There the star stands, to move no more. We are left to wonder if this star is observed by others, or if it is seen only by the wise men. At any rate, we can assume that this is the final act of the star and that it does not reappear the next night.

To the wise men, the movement of the star confirms everything they believe. They hope that their interpretation of the astral sign and of what they know about Jewish prophecy is correct. But their faith may be tested by the experience with Herod and his advisors. Why are those Jewish leaders caught seemingly unaware of the fulfillment of their own prophecy, the birth of their own king?

Matthew’s description of the wise men’s joy consists of four words in the Greek to convey its magnitude. They rejoiced with … joy is a redundancy that serves to express the intensity their delight. It is not a common joy, but an exceeding great joy. This is a joy we can and should share. [See question #1, page 152.]

To mention the word star in an ancient culture naturally brought to mind the image of a twinkling light in the night sky. That is the normal use of the word in the Bible. But in modern culture the word star is more likely to bring to mind the image of a celebrity of television or movie fame. Such stars may even get “their star” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—stretches of sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Los Angeles.

People look up to such celebrities. The success of magazines such as Star and People offers further evidence of the existence of what may be called “a cult of celebrity.” How unfortunate it is that celebrities are so often unfit role models! Foolishly, people of all ages seek to emulate “the lifestyles of the rich and famous,” as one television program phrased it. It seems that about the only time many people are interested in stars in any other sense is when they read their horoscopes.

The ancient Magi demonstrated a wisdom that is lost on many today. To walk hundreds of miles shows how serious they were in their quest to find the one born king of the Jews. The star they followed led them to Jesus, who was to become, among other things, a role model for life as God intended it to be lived. Jesus himself is “the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16). Which star means the most to you? —C. R. B.

16. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

We now learn of some of the details of Herod’s treachery. Previously, he had expressed his desire to know the date of the star’s appearance. The reason he wants this information is so that he can estimate the age of the young king, the threat to his throne. The two years old part of Herod’s order probably is the king’s way of “making sure” by allowing for a margin of error. Jesus is perhaps several months old at this time. The fact that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus have moved from the stable of Luke 2:7 to the house of Matthew 2:11 shows us a passage of time.

Herod’s character is also revealed here. He is not a potential worshiper of a new Messiah, but a jealous tyrant who will use murder to protect himself. We know from other historical accounts that Herod has ordered the deaths of sons and wives, so this fit of rage is consistent with his character.

It is likely that Herod first waits a couple of days for the wise men to return to him with their report. When Herod learns that the wise men have “departed into their own country” without reporting back (Matthew 2:12), he interprets this as being mocked. The reader knows that the wise men are not deliberately mocking Herod, however. They are following the direction God gives to them in a dream. [See question #2, page 152.]

17, 18. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

We are not told how many babies die in this rampage. Depending on the size of the village, it may be something like two dozen. Each household, however, feels the loss deeply. In the natural village community of young mothers, no one is unwounded. [See question #3, page 152.]

Matthew explains this by portraying it as fulfillment of prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15. There the prophet predicted this inconsolable grief as a precondition of the restoration of Israel. Jeremiah boldly proclaimed that God would gather Israel and comfort her distress because God loves Israel “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Rachel is, of course, one of the great foremothers of Israel in the book of Genesis.

The so-called Candelaria Massacre took place one night in 1993 in Rio de Janeiro. The tragedy involved the murder of 8 street children who were sleeping in a church doorway. In the trial 3 years later, 2 former policemen were convicted. One was sentenced to 309 years in prison, reduced to 89 years after retrial (even though Brazil has a 30-year limit on incarceration).

Some suspected the crime was part of a plot by police officers to earn extra money from shopkeepers by getting rid of street children, who commit petty crimes against the merchants. However, the defendant testified the killings happened because some children had thrown stones at a police car the previous day—as if that made the reaction excusable.

History is full of cruel ironies, and here’s the one in this story: the name of the defendant given the 309-year sentence was Marcus Emanuel! A man whose surname means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23) repeated the crime Herod had sought to commit against the true Immanuel—the baby Jesus.

We may not know the true reason for Marcus Emanuel’s crime, but Herod’s motive was clear. He was so intent on eliminating threats to his kingship that he recognized no ethical or moral boundary to ensure his continued rule. Such is the power of sin that Jesus came to destroy.

Visual for Lesson 4. Use this visual to start a discussion regarding the ways people try to maintain a middle ground concerning Jesus today.

19, 20. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

Matthew does not provide a time frame, but it seems that the death of Herod follows his Bethlehem massacre quickly, likely within the year. We know from other sources that Herod dies in 4 bc and that his death is met with great joy among the Jews of Judea. [See question #4, page 152.] Joseph, Mary, and Jesus have migrated to Egypt, having fled Bethlehem just in time as the result of an angelic dream (Matthew 2:13–15).

Now another dream assures Joseph that he can return to Jewish territory, for the threat is gone. Herod probably goes to his deathbed thinking that he has killed the baby king.

Joseph is a skilled craftsman. Thus he is able to find enough work to provide for his family almost anywhere he lives (compare Acts 18:3). He does not remain in Egyptian territory, however. The land of Israel is where his family belongs.

22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee.

When Herod the Great dies, his kingdom is divided as we noted in the Lesson Background. Archelaus is given the provinces of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. The Romans do not allow him to have the title king, instead giving him the lesser title of ethnarch (meaning “ruler of a people,” which is also the meaning of his name Archelaus).

Archelaus is every bit as evil as Herod the Great, but not as skilled politically. He eventually is exiled to Gaul (modern France) in ad 6 by the Romans. After this, Judea is ruled by Roman governors such as Pontius Pilate, Felix, and Festus.

Although Herod is dead, God knows that the unstable Archelaus also poses a threat. So Joseph is directed to go farther north and settle in Galilee. This is the territory of Herod Antipas, the brother of Archelaus. Galilee is traditional Israelite territory, but has become heavily Gentile in this period. This provides a safer place for Joseph to raise his family, far from the mainstream of Jewish affairs. [See question #5, page 152.]

23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

The city that Joseph chooses, Nazareth, is insignificant as far as the ancient world is concerned. The New Testament often describes Nazareth as being within Galilee to give the readers a point of reference as to its location (Matthew 21:11; Mark 1:9; Luke 2:39).

Matthew later portrays the Galilean origin of Jesus as a fulfillment of prophecy (Matthew 4:13–16). We know from Luke’s account of Jesus’ birth that both Joseph and Mary have roots in Nazareth, so safety is enhanced by the presence of family (see Luke 1:26, 27; 2:4).

We do not know the exact source of the prophecy He shall be called a Nazarene. There is probably a connection between the name of the village and the Jewish custom known as a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:1–21). Later, the followers of Jesus sometimes are called by the designation Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).

Modern Nazareth is a bustling little city in northern Israel. Its focus point is a vast church built over the traditional site where Mary was thought to have received the visit from the angel Gabriel to tell her that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. Inside the church are several huge pictures of Mary and baby Jesus as portrayed by different nations. It is striking to see a Korean Mary and Jesus, a Chilean Mary and Jesus, an African Mary and Jesus, etc. This is not sacrilege, but the reflection of a natural impulse.

Each culture wants to imagine Jesus as one of its own. This is not a denial of the Jewishness of Jesus, but something much deeper. It is the result of the fact that the appeal of Jesus transcends any nationality or ethnicity. Jesus was sought by the wise men, who were pagan Gentiles from a distant country. Ironically, he was rejected by Herod, the master of the Jewish world.

Today, all peoples and every individual can find fulfillment in Jesus and only in Jesus. The book of Revelation pictures Heaven as a place where the people of the Lamb will be drawn from every tribe, every language, every people, and every nation (Revelation 5:9). This description crosses all possible divisions of humanity. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

God, You who led the wise men to Jesus, who protected Jesus from Herod, who directed Joseph to Egypt and Nazareth, to You do we offer our hearts. May they be filled with exceeding great joy when we remember the blessing You have granted us in the person of Your Son, Jesus the Messiah. May the Christmas story be ever new to us. May the wisdom and persistence of the Magi be ours as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.