I know, it’s after Christmas, so I’m supposed to move on from the birth of Jesus.
But I’m not done yet!
Something in Matthew 2 struck me as odd. Or rather, it was the absence of something that stood out.
Recall that the arrival of the magi in Jerusalem stirred up the city.
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ 3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.” – Matthew 2:1-3
Herod wasn’t expecting a competitor to his throne, and he was in no mood to tolerate one. Recovering his wits, he tried to learn what he could about this development.
“When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.” – Matthew 2:4
Up to this time, little in Jerusalem had given Herod cause for concern. His rule was secure in the main city of Judea. If there was a rival, he must be elsewhere.
But where?
“‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: 6“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”’” – Matthew 2:5-6
That’s God’s promise, spoken by the prophet Micah about 700 years before Herod’s query.
But who’s to say the magi were right? Before their arrival, Israel had had its share of messianic pretenders. No one would accuse a baby of impersonating the Christ, but others might grant him that honor. And what are the odds they’d be right?
Again, Herod was taking no chances.
“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’” – Matthew 2:7-8
You know how the account goes. Back on the road, the magi see Christ’s star once more and follow it to Bethlehem (about six miles away) where they meet Jesus, Mary and Joseph. God tells them to avoid Herod, so they go straight home without conferring with the king (see Matthew 2:9-12).
Livid and vengeful, Herod wasted no time eliminating his perceived enemies: infants and toddlers.
“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.” – Matthew 2:16
Motivated by power and pride, the king acted on what he’d learned.
The priests and the scribes?
That’s what’s surprising.
They knew the Scriptures; they explained Micah’s prophecy to Herod. And as residents of Jerusalem, they must have been aware of his unease at the request of the magi.
Herod acted; the religious leaders didn’t.
Why?
The Bible doesn’t tell us, but we can read between the lines.
The priests and the scribes were comfortable. They’d established themselves in the religious hierarchy of Judea and were doing pretty well for themselves. They had job security, income flowing in from the temple, and the respect of the commoners. As long as these leaders didn’t alienate the Roman authorities, their status looked solid.
For God to send the Messiah now would mess up their cushy situation! The priests believed the Scriptures, but only to the degree it didn’t conflict with their plans.
Yet that’s not how the Lord operates!
Jesus is God’s great gift to His people. But to receive Him, one must want Him.
Herod didn’t want Christ, and tried to kill Him.
The priests and the scribes didn’t want Jesus either, so they ignored Him. They lived as though the report of the magi was irrelevant. The furor would die down, life would go back to normal, and they could resume business as usual.
Yet they knew the Word!
Wasn’t it worth a trip to Bethlehem? To make sure one way or the other?
Not to them!
How about us?
I’m not knocking the study of the Bible. It’s great to immerse ourselves in the thoughts of the Lord. It’s wonderful to grasp something of His plans and purposes.
But the Word of God leads us to the Son of God. And what we learn about Jesus through Scripture makes demands on us. It calls us to action. Like Christ’s brother James says, “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
As we see 2023 come to a close, and as we prepare for a new year, let’s be mindful to practice what God tells us. Living this way, we draw closer to Jesus Christ and we grow as His disciples.
For 2024, be a learner. God’s Word will teach you.
React to it; be a doer, too! Jesus will reward your efforts to live His truth.
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