Mat 2:6 | KingComments | STEP | Herod sees a threat to his position in what he hears about a newborn King. That is understandable with this wicked king. But not only is Herod troubled, all Jerusalem is troubled with him. Instead of jubilation there is consternation when they hear of His birth! Their whole attitude is dismissive. The religious leaders have made their choice. They are on the side of Herod, not on the side of Christ. The newborn King is an unwanted intruder and not the fulfilment of a cherished hope. The Messiah is still a Baby, He has done nothing. Yet they feel that His coming will mean a disturbance to their pleasures. All who live in Jerusalem are the descendants of those who once returned from Babylon to Israel. They should have looked forward to the Messiah. But the Savior has been among them for over a year and they have not noticed it because their hearts do not go out to Him. Herod lets “all the chief priests and scribes”, the religious leaders, come to him and asks where the Christ – in Hebrew Messiah ; the meaning of both words is ‘anointed’ – would be born. It is the first appearance of the chief priests and scribes in this Gospel. Here they are still indifferent, but that indifference will grow into hatred as the Lord does His work in Israel. The leaders know how to answer the question immediately and precisely. They know the Scripture, at least as far as what the letter says, and only use it as that which provides information. What they know, they put at the service of the adversary. With the help of Scripture, they tell Herod the way. They themselves refuse to take even one step down that road, even though that way leads to the Bethlehem of their prophet. While the magi have come to honor the Messiah, they are conspiring together with Herod who has the plan to kill the King. After being led by the star, the magi are now led by the Word. The leaders indicate the place of the Messiah’s birth by citing what the prophet Micah has said ( ). Micah speaks of him as a Ruler Who will simultaneously shepherd His people, so He will be a Shepherd. Both aspects of this magnificent combination come only fully into their own in God’s Son (cf. ). Herod now knows the place of birth, but he wants more information to carry out his murderous plans as effectively as possible. He therefore deceptively enquires of the magi the course of the birth. He subsequently sends them to Bethlehem and they unintentionally become a signpost to the Child. He wants them to come and tell him when they have found the Child. He asks them with the hypocritical statement that he also wants to honor the Child.

‏ Matthew 2:6

Reaction of Herod

Herod sees a threat to his position in what he hears about a newborn King. That is understandable with this wicked king. But not only is Herod troubled, all Jerusalem is troubled with him. Instead of jubilation there is consternation when they hear of His birth! Their whole attitude is dismissive. The religious leaders have made their choice. They are on the side of Herod, not on the side of Christ. The newborn King is an unwanted intruder and not the fulfilment of a cherished hope. The Messiah is still a Baby, He has done nothing. Yet they feel that His coming will mean a disturbance to their pleasures.

All who live in Jerusalem are the descendants of those who once returned from Babylon to Israel. They should have looked forward to the Messiah. But the Savior has been among them for over a year and they have not noticed it because their hearts do not go out to Him.

Herod lets “all the chief priests and scribes”, the religious leaders, come to him and asks where the Christ – in Hebrew Messiah; the meaning of both words is ‘anointed’ – would be born. It is the first appearance of the chief priests and scribes in this Gospel. Here they are still indifferent, but that indifference will grow into hatred as the Lord does His work in Israel.

The leaders know how to answer the question immediately and precisely. They know the Scripture, at least as far as what the letter says, and only use it as that which provides information. What they know, they put at the service of the adversary. With the help of Scripture, they tell Herod the way. They themselves refuse to take even one step down that road, even though that way leads to the Bethlehem of their prophet. While the magi have come to honor the Messiah, they are conspiring together with Herod who has the plan to kill the King.

After being led by the star, the magi are now led by the Word. The leaders indicate the place of the Messiah’s birth by citing what the prophet Micah has said (Mic 5:1). Micah speaks of him as a Ruler Who will simultaneously shepherd His people, so He will be a Shepherd. Both aspects of this magnificent combination come only fully into their own in God’s Son (cf. 1Chr 11:2).

Herod now knows the place of birth, but he wants more information to carry out his murderous plans as effectively as possible. He therefore deceptively enquires of the magi the course of the birth. He subsequently sends them to Bethlehem and they unintentionally become a signpost to the Child. He wants them to come and tell him when they have found the Child. He asks them with the hypocritical statement that he also wants to honor the Child.