Why Was Herod Afraid Of Jesus

Why King Herod Really Feared Baby Jesus

King Herod, or Herod the Great as he preferred to be addressed, was a vengeful ruler who had been installed in power by the Roman Empire. He, like the majority of kings, desired more power rather than less power. From the east come these wise men (or scholars) riding camels, bearing lavish gifts and asking only one question: where could they find the newly crowned King of the Jews? “We have come to worship Him because we have seen His star in the east,” they continued (Matthew 2:2). They didn’t travel all the way here to see King Herod, but rather to see another king.

Is there another king?

Where do I have the upper hand?

When it comes to someone as powerful as Herod, a tiny baby can make a world of difference, and the answer is: a tremendous amount.

Herod Tries To Kill Jesus

When word reached Herod that the wise men were on the lookout for this new king, he dispatched a delegation to meet with them and pushed them to locate the infant so that he might offer his own adoration to him. Herod, on the other hand, was lying. His true objective was to exterminate the infant, out of irrational fear that Jesus would one day usurp his position as ruler of the world. Herod was described as a harsh and power-hungry dictator who destroyed everyone he perceived as a danger to his authority or as attempting to depose him from his throne.

1. When the wise men were told of Herod’s scheme by God in a dream, they went to find Jesus and give him presents, rather than returning to Herod.
2. Herod was filled with more than just envy when he ordered the slaughter of hundreds of kids; he was also filled with terror as well.
3. In addition, his position as king should not be underestimated.
4. He earned and maintained his position of authority by intimidation and trickery.
5. The level of dissatisfaction with his authority was so great that even a single spark might start a revolution that lasted for years.
6. That’s why Herod was so enraged when he discovered that the wise men had played a joke on him.
7. This was merely the most recent in a string of heinous acts of savagery committed by him.

The sad narrative of Jesus serves as the prelude to the complete story of Jesus.

In doing so, he brought attention to the brutality that is all too close to all of our hearts.

It is the tale of Jesus that focuses on the presence of God’s healing kindness throughout the course of human history.

It is precisely because we are embroiled in so much strife that we are in such urgent need of God’s grace.

Along with the tale of Jesus’ birth, the happy song of God among us, there is another song, a horrible song: “A voice was heard in Ramah, crying and loud sorrow, Rachel grieving for her children; she refused to be consoled since they are no longer with us” (Matthew 2:18).

The birth of Jesus, on the other hand, represents a new ray of hope that Herod’s brutality would be defeated.

The good news of Jesus’ birth heralds the beginning of a new era in which God’s bountiful kindness and healing can be experienced.

God’s kingdom is open to each and everyone.

Everyone who wished to come to Jesus was welcomed.

He approached life with a completely different script than those who lived in times of shortage and dread.

Anyone who truly hears Jesus’ teaching will no longer be able to accept Herod’s notion of reality, but will instead pay respect to a king of a completely different kind: the king of peace and harmony, Jesus.

Herod was not the first one to attempt and bring Christ and His own people to ruin.

God’s Word, on the other hand, is reliable. “I intend to construct my church, and the gates of hell should be unable to prevent it from being completed” (Matthew 16:18). Moreover, Christ will return to judge all wickedness, and Satan’s defeat will be finalized at that point in time.

Why did King Herod try to kill Jesus shortly after His birth? After all, what difference could a tiny baby have made?

In response to word reaching Herod that the wise men were seeking this new king, he dispatched a delegation to locate them and pushed them to find him as well so that he might worship him as well, as well. He was deceiving the people, though. Instead, he set out to exterminate the infant, paranoid that Jesus would one day seize control of the kingdom. Herod was described as a harsh and power-hungry dictator who destroyed everyone he perceived as a danger to his authority or as attempting to depose him from his throne, according to history.

1. After receiving a vision from God of Herod’s scheme, the three wise men went to see Jesus, presented him with gifts, and then left without returning to Herod’s palace.
2. As he ordered the slaughter of hundreds of newborns, Herod was not only filled with jealously, but also with apprehension.
3. King Herod was well aware of the precarious nature of his position.
4. Ordinary residents of Jerusalem were unsupportive of his policies and actions.
5. The king of Israel lived in perpetual anxiety because he knew that no matter how many of his opponents he tortured and murdered, their numbers would continue to rise.
6. The young man was outraged, to the point that he “stood over all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or younger and murdered them” (Matthew 2:16).
7. He had already assassinated his two eldest sons, believing they were preparing to overthrow him.

The brutality of power politics was revealed by Jesus.

He goes on to demonstrate to us that God’s gracious kingdom is available to all of us right now in order to break the cycle of spiritual violence that has been established.

In a world of war, this charity makes its entrance.

In His birth, Jesus reveals the brutality of Herod’s reign of terror.

These kinds of lamentations have been a part of human history far too often, both before and after the birth of Jesus.

When it came to kingship, Jesus and Herod represented two very distinct styles.

All persons are included in God’s kingdom.

Everyone who wished to come to Jesus was graciously accepted.

A completely different screenplay from the one that was written for him by shortage and fear shaped his approach to life.

Those who truly hear and understand Jesus’ message will no longer be able to accept Herod’s notion of reality, but will instead pay tribute to an entirely other sort of monarch: the king of peace, Jesus the Son of David.

God’s Word, on the other hand, is reliable. “I intend to construct my church, and the gates of hell should not be able to prevent it from being completed.” ” (Matthew 16:18). Christ will return to condemn all wickedness one day, and Satan’s defeat will be final and irretrievable.

What was Herod worried about?

6 January 2014 | The Feast of the Epiphany | Matthew 2:11–12. The Three Wise Men are a group of wise men that have been around for a long time. The Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany) takes place tonight, marking the conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas. As many of you are aware, the Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany) is one of the outcomes of a compromise reached between the Church in the Western part of the Roman Empire, headquartered in Rome, and the Church in the Eastern half of the Empire, based in Constantinople, on the date of Christmas.

1. The agreement was that Christmas would be celebrated over a twelve-day period, beginning with the celebration of the Birth of Jesus on December 25th and concluding with the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th, with the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6th.
2. In order to better understand this narrative, we’ll be discussing it tonight.
3. Herod asked them to inform him where the incident took place.
4. Their gifts to the newborn Messiah are described in detail by Western tradition, which includes the names of the three men who deliver them: Caspar (from India) provides gold; Melchior (from Iran or Persia) brings frankincense; and Balthazar (from Arabia) brings myrrh.
5. During his travels to Iran about 1270 A.D., the Italian merchant traveler Marco Polo claimed to have visited the tombs of all three monarchs near the current city of Tehran.
6. “The bodies are still completely intact, with hair and beard still on them.” “What did Herod have to be concerned about?” I’ll ask you tonight in my inquiry.
7. Are the daily prayers of the Richmond Hill Community, as well as the Spiritual Guidance and Healing Prayer ministries offered by this establishment, anything Herod would have to be concerned about if he were still living today?

The key to unlocking the mystery lies with the Kings.

Only the Ace, who happens to be God himself, can defeat the King in a card game.

The key to unlocking the mystery lies with the Kings.

Imaginatively, they disperse the haughty in their hearts’ imaginations.

They provide excellent goods to the poor while sending the wealthy depart empty-handed.

According to Matthew’s Gospel, it is the three Kings who are entrusted with the responsibility of bringing wrongs into right, and reorganizing human community from injustice to justice.

Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh are the three gifts of the Magi. These are the three channels of the Holy Spirit’s change, and as a result, these are the three avenues that our camels will eventually travel if we are involved in the ministries of healing prayer and spiritual direction.

• Gold represents the ability to manage, generate, and distribute riches on earth
• Frankincense represents the ability to worship and pray
• And Myrrh represents the ability to die.

They are the three basic areas in which the Holy Spirit’s transforming power is shown.

1. Gold is the power on earth to control, produce, and distribute wealth.

Money is a powerful motivator. There is a universal Golden Rule that states: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Gold is the most important metal. The growth of riches has always been the driving force behind the development of nations. Ancient rulers possessed considerable riches. Kingship is held in the hands of the wealthy. Controlling resources and riches is a significant reason – indeed, in many cases, the primary cause – of battles throughout history. Follow the money, and you’ll get there.

1. When money is directed to a worthy cause that it does not have to go, it is the result of the activity of the Holy Spirit of God.
2. We may influence the distribution of wealth by public policy, yet the larger the maldistribution of wealth, the greater the ability of the affluent to exploit their fortune to gain even more wealth in the future.
3. You cannot serve God and Mammon at the same time — God and money.
4. The Messiah is on his way to bring about justice.
5. In other words, if the spirit with which we are working is the spirit of Christ, it will educate us to be good stewards of the environment, to rearrange our own use of resources, and will train us to be warriors for the redistribution of wealth.
6. That’s why Herod was so frightened of them.
7. He was well aware that if he did not get adequate spiritual direction, he would lose his opulent, improper fortune and be subjected to stewardship concerns.
8. The infant was adored by the monarchs, who believed in the transformative power of gold.

2. Frankincense is the power of worship and prayer.

Frankincense is an ancient spice that was used in the anointing of kings and the installation of rulers. It is used in healing prayers to bring about healing. In addition to being a sign of vocation, it is also a symbol of God’s call and of healing. In addition, incense has been used as a symbol of prayer for thousands of years. In the temple, prayer may be found anywhere there is incense burning. Beautiful imagery appears in the Book of Revelation, such as this one: As soon as he (the Lamb) had received the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb, each bearing a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are symbolic of the saints’ prayers.

• It is also the spirit of sincere worship, according to some.
• Paul, the Holy Spirit of God is praying in us at all times, with sighs that are too deep to be expressed verbalized.
• The spirit can be present in both public and private conversations and discussions, as well as in private prayer.
• Everything is possible when one has this attitude.
• We have the ability to plan things that would otherwise be impossible to plan.
• The Holy Spirit wakes in us the same thought of Christ, and we become like him.
• It is this moment of reality, this bowing before the throne, that causes King Herod to have goosebumps.
• Just as the Ruach, the Spirit of God, “moved upon the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2) at the beginning of time, so the Spirit alters the world, renewing it via the alteration of human hearts and minds.

It’s no surprise that Herod was terrified of the Holy Spirit! The infant was adored by the kings under the influence of the incense of God.

3. Myrrh is the power of death.

The power of death is the power of destruction, of forgetfulness, of dread, and of time. It is the power of death to bring about these things. Death, on the other hand, represents the ultimate danger of nothingness, whereas gold represents the power of riches. The dread of death motivates more powerfully than any other type of motivation — it is the desire for survival that drives this behavior. For this reason, death is the most effective tool for change. Despotic tyrants maintain control over their followers by the threat of death.

It causes us to become blind to one another.

Nobody should know that his most powerful weapon was being consumed by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit: that his fear of death would be transformed into indestructible courage, that the threat of disease and death would be the crucible in which prayer would be explosively multiplied, and that the commonality of death would be the fundamental democracy that would restore all to a sense of solidarity and brotherhood.

• Death would be able to defeat the passage of time.
• “Life is brief, and we don’t have much time to gladden the hearts of those who journey with us,” Herod says.
• Go in peace, loving and serving the Lord and one another as you have always done.
• This was a terrible, all-encompassing experience because of the myrrh’s strength.
• It’s no surprise that Herod was terrified.
• Whenever the Messiah’s spirit is present, there is a supply of Caspar’s gold available to be used to govern, generate, and distribute prosperity for the benefit of all people.
• Balthazar’s myrrh may be found in places where that spirit is prevalent, and it has the capacity to change the power of death into the eternal power of life.

That embodies the fundamental spirit of service in the ministry. May it be present in this place. AMEN. B. P. Campbell was a minister in the Presbyterian Church. Richmond Hill is a neighbourhood in Richmond, Ontario.

Why was all of Jerusalem troubled at Jesus birth?

Both King Herod and the city of Jerusalem were upset by the birth of the King of the Jews, but for quite different reasons, according to historians. A Jewish monarch of noble lineage (i.e., of the house of David) was born, and this signified to King Herod, who was “of little more than a vulgar family and of no renowned extraction,” 1who had promised Marcus Antonius money in exchange for making him king, 2that he may be robbed of the government. 3Josephus described Herod as “a violent and bold man, very desirous of acting tyrannically,” 4with a “vehement temper,” 5so much so that “when Herod had received the kingdom, he slew all the members of this sanhedrin,” 6in other words, “when Herod had received the kingdom, he slew all the members of this sanhedrin.” Prior to becoming king, the Jews “fought against Herod with great alacrity and enthusiasm, for the entire country had been joined together,” according to the Bible.

As long as he was king, “no torments could be used to force them to acknowledge his authority” 8because of “their animosity for Herod.” 9To summarize, Herod was worried because he was afraid of being removed from power.

2id., Book 14, Chapter 16, Section 4, 491 2id., Book 14, Chapter 14, Section 4, 382 3id., Book 15, Chapter 2, Section 7, 32 4id., Book 14, Chapter 9, Section 3, 165 5id., Book 14, Chapter 9, Section 5, 185 6id., Book 14, Chapter 9, Section 4, 185 7id., Book 14, Chapter 16, Section 2, 470 8id., Book 15, Chapter 1, Section 2, 9 9id Flavius Josephus was a historian who lived in the first century AD.

• Vol.
• Weidmann & Co., Berlin, 1892.
• Flavius-Josephus, the renowned Jewish historian, has published his complete works.
• Thompson Publishing Company, Chicago, 1901.

Matthew 2:3 – Wikipedia

Matthew 2:3
←2:22:4→
An imagined view of Herod on his throne byThéophile Lybaert
Book	Gospel of Matthew
Christian Bible part	New Testament

Matthew 2:3 is the third verse of the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, which is found in the Book of Matthew in the New Testament. It was in the preceding verse when themagihad notified King Herod that they has witnessed portents indicating the birth of the King of the Jews. In this stanza, he expresses his reaction to the news.

Content

When Herod the king heard these things, he was afflicted, and all of Jerusalem was troubled with him, according to the text of the King James Version of the Bible. According to the Greek language of theNovum Testamentum, it reads as follows: an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an an a

Analysis

It should come as no surprise that the birth of the King of the Jews would cause Herod to be disturbed. When someone claimed to be the heir of KingDavid, Herod was vulnerable, which is why the fundamental issue ofMatthew 1is Jesus’ Davidic position is so important. Furthermore, Herod was well-known for his paranoia, as seen by his execution of numerous of his own sons who posed a threat to him. The fact that all of Jerusalem is upset appears to be at odds with a later point in the Gospel when the people are completely unaware of Jesus.

• T.
• Several other researchers believe that this view is highly improbable.
• This section of Matthew is said to be substantially influenced by the tale of Moses, according to one view.
• As a result, all of Jerusalem must be agitated at the same time.
• Chrysostom held a similar point of view.
• According to Paul L.
• According to R.T.

Matthew confronts his audience’s unfavorable attitudes about strangers by drawing a comparison between the behavior of these foreigners and the behavior of people in Jerusalem.

Gundry points out that this passage makes a point of stating once more that Herod is a king.

Augustine says that, just as the Magi desire a Redeemer, Herod is fearful of a successor.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: When Herod learned that a King had been born of Jewish descent, he was concerned that the kingdom would be restored to local princes, and that he himself would be banished, as well as his descendants after him.

September: If His birth as a newborn causes haughty kings to fear, what will His tribunal as a Judge accomplish?

Herod, thou art concerned without a reason, says Pope Leo I.

In every part of the world, the man whom thou wishedst would not reign in Judah governs.

They would not grant someone the title of King or God unless they first had their approval.

Pope Leo I: Herod represents the Devil, who, just as he inspired him in the past, he now unweariedly imitates him in the present.

In the words of Pseudo-Chrysostom, both Herod and the Devil are envious of one another because they both dread a successor in their dominion; Herod fears an earthly successor, the Devil fears a spiritual successor.

However, they were concerned, since the evil cannot rejoice when the good comes into the world.

Glossa Ordinaria:Jerusalem was worried by him because he appeared to be inclined to favor someone whom it dreaded; the common people usually accord disproportionate honor to someone who tyrannizes over them.

Take note of his thoroughness in his investigation. If he were to track him down, he would treat him as he had shown himself to be later; if he were not to track him down, he would at the very least be pardoned by the Romans.

Notes

1. R.T. France’s The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary is a classic work of biblical scholarship. Page 70 of the Inter-Varsity Press edition of France, R.T. The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. Page 70 of the Inter-Varsity Press edition of France, R.T. Brown, Raymond E., The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke (Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985)
2. Brown, Raymond E. John Chrysostom’s Theology of the Church (London: G. Chapman, 1977)
3. Homilies about the life of Matthew. A Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art, Homily VI, section 6, around fourth century
4. AbGundry, Robert H.Matthew, a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art, Homily VI, section 6, circa fourth century
5. Maier, Paul L., “Herod and the Infants of Bethlehem,” Chronos, Kairos, Christos II: Chronological, Nativity, and Religious Studies in Memory of Ray Summers, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982
6. Maier, Paul L., “Herod and the Infants of Bethlehem,” Chronos, Kairos, Christos II: Chronological, Nativity, and Religious Studies in Memory of Ray Summer (Ray Summers, Jerry Vardman, eds.) Mercer University Press, 1998, p.184ISBN978-0-86554-582-3
7. R.T. France, “Herod and the Children,” Novum Testamentum, 21, 1979, p.112
8. Craig S. Keener, “Herod and the Children,” Novum Testamentum, 21, 1979, p.112
9. Matthew’s Gospel is discussed in this commentary. Levine, Amy-Jill
10. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1999. p. 98
11. Levine, AmyJill In Women’s Bible Commentary, Matthew is titled “Matthew.” Carol A. Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe are the editors of this volume. The Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 1998.

Why was Herod intimidated by the birth of Jesus?

R.T. France’s The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary is a classic work on the New Testament’s first chapter. p. 70; France, R.T., The Gospel According to Matthew: an Introduction and Commentary, Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985. p. 70; In 1985, Raymond E. Brown published The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke, which was published by Inter-Varsity Press in Leicester. Brown’s book is available online. Chrysostom, John (ed.

Chapman, 1977; Matthew-centered sermons Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art, a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art, abGundry, Robert H.Matthew a Commentary on his Literary and Theological Art, circa fourth century In “Herod and the Infants of Bethlehem,” Paul L.

• Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982.
• Keener.
• France, Robert T.
• Matthew’s Gospel is discussed in this book.
• B.
• p.
• Carol A.
• Ringe are the editors of this volume.

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Many Are Afraid- Herod’s Fear

Jesus. What kind of kid is this? Afraid of Herod is a common fear among the populace. Matthew 2:18 – 23. Fear, I believe, is one of the most intriguing feelings that humans may experience. It’s a fluctuating emotion that comes and goes all the time. Sometimes we enjoy it and actively seek it out (movies, roller coasters, extreme sports), and other times we despise it and actively avoid it. We all have some sort of fear or apprehension. It’s possible that we’ll attempt to appear strong, but I have no doubt that you’re afraid of something.

• I’d like to share these with you as soon as possible.
• Some real concerns have been voiced, on a more serious level.
• There are an infinite number of things for you and I to be afraid about.
• What if you didn’t know anyone who was terrified of Jesus?
• We’ve encountered folks who are afraid of God.
• God causes devils themselves to quiver in dread of Him, according to James 2:19, yet you won’t hear anybody say that about Jesus.
• There were millions of people who feared him in the Bible, and there are millions more who dread him now.

They are afraid of him because they do not fully comprehend who He is or why He came to the planet in the first place, which is understandable.

They observe a large number of “believers” who do such a poor job of modeling Christ and teaching what the actual Gospel is about that they tend to group all Christians into their unfavorable ideas that have been developed as a result of witnessing a small number of poor witnesses.

I’d want to investigate into why people were afraid of Jesus when he was born, and why many people are still afraid of him today.

Matthew 2:18-26.

According to Balaam’s prophecy in Numbers 24:17, “I see him, yet he is not here and now.” It’s like I’m seeing him, but it’s in the far future.

The movement of the star itself suggests that this star was not a natural phenomena, but rather a supernatural occurrence of some sort.

No matter what it was, this is a prophesy that is being fulfilled that all Jews who have studied the Torah would have recognized as being fulfilled.

A vast number of attendants would have been required, and their journey may have lasted up to two years in total.

Herod has ordered the execution of all boys under the age of two.

Consequently, when they arrived, Jesus would have been out of the manger and residing in a house, not as a newborn but rather as an older child.

This is the point at which Herod appears to be terrified.

Every everyone in Jerusalem was extremely distressed when they heard what King Herod had to say about it.” Why?

What was he scared of?

1.

Herod is alarmed because a new king has arrived in town, and Herod was THE KING at the time.

Herod was well aware that, according to Jewish tradition, he wasn’t the lawful successor to the throne of Israel, and he was no likely concerned about the safety of his family in the face of this kid.

Herod was a descendant of Esau’s family line.

Additionally, rather than being anointed by God, he was appointed to rule by the Roman government. If this infant turns out to be the true successor to the kingdom of Israel, Herod may find himself in difficulty with the Jews, who may wish to proclaim this child as their new king.

The wise men visit Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12) – The identity of Jesus – CCEA – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – CCEA

Jesus. So, what kind of child is he or she? Part 1: Many Are Afraid—Apprehension Herod’s The Gospel of Matthew 2:18 Fright is, in my opinion, one of the most fascinating feelings that people can experience. Every day, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions that rises and falls constantly. Movies, roller coasters, extreme sports, and other forms of entertainment are examples of things that we enjoy and seek out. There is something that we are all terrified of. We may put up a strong act, but I have no doubt that you are afraid of something.

• Instead, I brought some photographs to show you of things that I believe many people, and perhaps even many of you, are fearful of and wanted to share with you.
• PICTURES OF TERROR: 1.
• Mice, 3.
• Clowns, 5.
• We are terrified of the recession, terrified of dying, terrified of the end of the world.
• Let me pose a question to you, though, Know somebody who is terrified of Jesus?
• It is likely that you have heard many people make fun of Jesus, use his name in jest, or refer to him as a wonderful teacher, but it is likely that you have not heard many people express fear of him.

There is a dread that God will curse them, destroy them, or damage them in some way.

People are afraid of Jesus, that is a fact.

They, on the other hand, are terrified of him for all of the incorrect reasons.

Numerous people believe that following Christ is a route that will lead to their destruction.

The truth that they will confront if they choose to come to terms with who Christ is and what He wants to do in their lives is something that they are likewise afraid of facing.

In Matthew 2:18-26, the Bible says: 2nd and 3rd verses We observe the fulfillment of a prophesy regarding the messiah very immediately.

” It is in the far future that I sense him.

The movement of the star itself suggests that this star was not a natural phenomena, but rather a supernatural occurrence of some kind.

Whatever it was, we are witnessing the fulfillment of a prophesy that would have been comprehended by any Jew who had studied the Scriptures.

They would have had a great number of attendants with them, and their journey may have taken them up to two years.

Herod orders the execution of all boys under the age of two years.

Consequently, when they arrived, Jesus would have been out of the manger and residing in a house, not as a newborn but rather as an older child.

Herod seemed to be afraid at this point.

Everyone in Jerusalem, including King Herod, was extremely distressed when they heard this.

So, what was it about the Jewish prophesy of the impending Messiah that made Herod the Great so concerned about its fulfillment?

First and foremost, you are not the legal heir.

Herod is fearful of the new ruler.

Herod was well aware that, according to Jewish tradition, he wasn’t the lawful successor to the throne of Israel, and he was no doubt concerned about the safety of his family in the face of this child’s appearance.

He was a descendant of Esau, who was his great-grandfather.

Additionally, rather than being anointed by God, he was appointed to rule by the Roman Senate.

Herod may get into difficulty if this infant was indeed the true successor to the kingdom of Israel. The Jews could seek to declare this baby to be their new king, which would put Herod in a difficult situation.

Background

Bethlehem was a little village about six miles outside of the city of Jerusalem. It served as King David’s residence for a while. Therefore, it is noteworthy that Jesus was born there, since the Jews were expecting the Messiah, as predicted in the Old Testament, to arrive from the same location as King David’s birthplace. When these prophesies are fulfilled, Matthew loves to remind his readers of it, and he does it frequently. King Herod was descended from Jewish ancestors to a certain extent.

In the eyes of many, Herod was an unacceptably authoritarian dictator because he performed precisely what the Romans commanded him to do.

Thus, Herod was in a precarious situation and was anxious about having his authority taken away from him.

According to the Roman Emperor Augustus, it was safer to be Herod’s pig than it was to be his son.

Understanding the text

The visitors are referred to as “Magi” (wise men) by Matthew, and it is possible that they were astrologers who followed the sign of an unique star in the sky. They were most likely from the Persian Empire. The Magi may have paid Mary and Joseph a visit weeks or perhaps months after the shepherds paid them a visit, if they had found lodging in a home during that time (verse 11). Some traditions make mention of the Magi’s inquiries. A great ruler is described in the Old Testament as bringing presents to him (Psalm 72:10-11), and monarchs will come to Jerusalem to honor God’s light, according to the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:3).

• People sometimes believe there were three guests since there were three presents, however Matthew does not specify how many visitors there were or how many gifts there were.
• He obtained this information by consulting with the leading priests and instructors of the law.
• Accordingly, the conclusion was reached that the future monarch would be born at Bethlehem (or Israel).
• As part of the birth tale, the Magi have a symbolic responsibility to fulfill.

They are coming from the east. They also depict those with a different social position in society than the lowly shepherds, who are worshipping Jesus in a same manner. The gifts of the Magi are also very symbolic of Jesus’ future existence, since they signify the king, the God, and the human being:

• Gold is a valuable metal that symbolizes monarchy and authority. There is a strong focus on Jesus’ status as the ruler of the kingdom of God. The color gold depicts Jesus’ monarchy
• The color silver represents the kingship of Satan
• And the color blue represents the kingship of God. Frankincense is a resin derived from a tree that is utilized in temple worship for its fragrant scent (and still used in some churches today). When Jesus is regarded as God, Frankincense signifies this. Myrrh was an oil that was used to anoint the deceased before they were buried. Christ’s humanity and death are symbolized by the myrrh.

Gold is a valuable metal that symbolizes monarchy and wealth. As the ruler of the kingdom of God, Jesus’ position is emphasized. Jesus’ reign is symbolized by the color gold. When people go to temples, they will burn Frankincense, which is resin from a tree that has a pleasant scent (and still used in some churches today). Jesus being adored as God is represented by frankincense. When the deceased were anointed before burial, myrrh was used as a perfume. Christ’s humanity and death are represented by the myrrh plant.

King Herod. was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.

Hespeler, Germany, January 6, 2019 Scott McAndless is a writer who lives in the United States. When you read Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14, Ephesians 3:1-12, and Matthew 2:1-12, you will understand why King Herod is terrified. Isaiah 60:1-6 That, to my mind, makes complete and utter logic. A group of strangers has shown up in one of his beautiful palaces, and the king has invited them in. They’ve journeyed from a faraway land in the far east, and they surely come off as intelligent folks in their travels.

1. Herod, on the other hand, will not be pleased.
2. Even his own sons were not safe from Herod’s wrath, and a number of them were executed as a result of his arrogant attitude toward his own family.
3. However, I have always been perplexed by the small detail that Matthew included in his description of Herod’s reaction.
4. What about that particular piece of news would cause a whole city to be terrified?
5. I’ve always understood Jerusalem’s apprehension in terms of the way we tend to think about how politics works nowadays.
6. However, this is not the case (maybe even more so in the current political climate) since everyone in Washington admires and respects the president.

(And I’m not going to make any specific observations on the current political climate at this point.) This has been true of numerous presidents throughout history.) So frequently, when strong individuals become fearful, the people around them get fearful as well, but not always for the same reasons as the powerful person.

The people were apprehensive about Herod’s repercussions.

As part of a series of lectionary readings, we heard it read aloud.

These lessons have reminded me that today is the Feast of the Three Kings (Epiphany), and that Epiphany is more than merely the day when we commemorate the coming of the three wise men, as we frequently presume.

You may have noticed that the readings this morning have a strong emphasis on outsiders, strangers, and gentiles who are exposed to the good news about the Hebrew God in a variety of ways.

As they waited in the king’s antechamber, the scribes and priests had a variety of legitimate reasons to be dissatisfied.

Second, the king was making them wait as he always did, which was one of his favorite methods of reminding people that he was in charge.

It had something to do with the reason why they had been summoned in the first place.

The rumor was that they believed they understood something essential about the Jewish faith – that is, the faith that was ruled over by these same scribes and priests – and they wanted to share it with others.

These outsiders believed that they were better knowledgeable about these people’s religious beliefs than the leaders themselves!

Anyone who identified as a Jew had the most essential hope and anticipation in the world.

For one thing, if there was to be a messiah, they would want to be certain that it was the messiah declared by a real old-fashioned Jew, and not by some outsider.

In addition, the query posed by these so-called wise men had pushed them to consult their own scriptures in order to come up with a response that they could share with the king when he inquired as to what all of this was about.

In the prophets, there was a line that seemed to allude to the idea that the messiah may truly come into the world and that, if he did, it would almost certainly take place in Bethlehem.

Not only had these strangers compelled them to read and study their own scriptures, but they had also driven them to find something they had never before comprehended, and it turned out that the foreigners might just be correct after all.

They were not about to be instructed on how to do their duties by a group of outsiders!

They refused to acknowledge that these wizards were knowledgeable about rulers or messiahs.

That group of foreign magi had no chance in hell of teaching them anything vital about the Jewish messiah, and they knew it.

But there is something else that religious leaders, and by extension the communities that they serve, are concerned about.

That is the risk that the wise men are supposed to warn us about.

We believe that we have identified our messiah – our Jesus Christ – and that we understand who he is.

After all, Christians have been thinking about and discussing about Jesus for hundreds of years.

However, in reality, knowledge of the messiah does not operate in this manner.

Furthermore, if the Bible is the best resource we have for learning about Jesus, we might conclude that because we have had it for such a long time, we have absorbed everything it has to teach us.

It appears that Jesus is continuously providing us with fresh insights, new epiphanies, and that we are missing out if we do not embrace these new revelations.

They were certain that Jesus wanted those pastors to be males in particular, and they were right.

All twelve of Jesus’ followers were male, as did Jesus himself.

But then something occurred, and it didn’t really happen within the church, at least not at first, and it didn’t really happen outside the church, either.

As time progressed, these wise.

Then there were others who remained stuck in their dread of change, while others were moved by this thought from the outside, and they returned to their scriptures.

Female disciples and even apostles were mentioned in sections that had previously been overlooked, and a few of passages had even been purposely mistranslated for years before they were discovered.

The church, on the other hand, eventually agreed that Christ did not intend us to exclude women from the ministry.

As a result, our churches have benefited enormously from the ministry of many accomplished and gifted women ever since.

persons outside of the church who encouraged us to think in new ways.

Some people explain it in a quite straightforward manner, stating that it is the time of year when we commemorate the visit of the three wise men to worship the infant baby Jesus.

That is not a one-time occurrence, though, as I’m coming to see, even if you consider the entire period of time during which the gospel was originally proclaimed to the gentiles in its entirety.

God is constantly on the lookout for fresh persons to whom He might show Himself.

The gospel will continue to have an impact on the lives of new individuals in fresh and innovative ways.

Because when the gospel begins to touch new people in new ways, it is likely that they will not be exactly like us in every way.

They will not be satisfied with simply doing things the way they have always been done, and they will eventually force us back into our scriptures in order to uncover new ideas and new ways of looking at things.

And it might lead to us making a change, which we are not particularly adept at doing.

The phrase “I just had an epiphany” may be used to describe the realization that if two persons on opposite sides of the world dropped a piece of bread at the same time, the entire world would temporarily transform into a sandwich.

When you have an epiphany, you have a truly life-changing insight.

The reality is, though, that shifting your perspective on everything is a frightening notion.

No one knows what new insights God may be sending our way, but I am confident that if this church (and the church in general) is to grow, it will only do so by attracting people who are significantly different from those who are already here.

And when they arrive, they will ask us some embarrassing question that will make us uncomfortable and force us to return to our texts. That is exactly as it should be. What we discover there, as well as our response to it, may easily lead us to the next big insight that God has in store for us.