Season 4 Podcast 15 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter Two”
Season 4 Podcast 15 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter Two”
One of Christianity’s favorite stories is the story that is known as the Three Wise Men.
Matthew 2:1-2
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa 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.
Do the scriptures actually use the number three? Is it because three very expensive gifts were given of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that we think there were only three? Such wealthy men would probably have an entourage of servants.
We are introduced to the dynasty of Herod. They were astute politicians managing a delicate balance of power between Rome and Jerusalem, but they were not nice people. All the signs of the times pointed to the meridian of time when Christ would be born. One can only imagine the excited conversations about the birth of the Messiah on the lips of those from every walk of life. Such excitement probably filled the court of Herod, making Herod rather nervous. It is doubtful that Herod believed in the divinity of Christ, but he understood politics and a movement like that among the Jewish nation could topple his throne. Herod’s own counselors would have been of the highest education in astronomy, astrology, and ancient Biblical prophecies. He would have consulted with the best bible scholars around. Such a thing could not be hidden. When Herod heard of the Three Wise Men he summoned them to his court.
The Wise Men appeared about two years after Christ’s birth and they stirred up in Herod a fear that his power was going to be challenged by a peasant. He looked at things only through political eyes. He probably didn’t believe in Christ as the true King of the Jews, but he understood the threat to his dynasty if a man called Christ was preferred by the people. There would be civil war, and he would lose. After all religious fanaticism is a powerful political force. People will die for their God. The Romans were idol worshipers and many Jews had adopted the culture of their conquerors. Roman gods were necessary for the longevity of the state. Herod could not afford to have a man among his people calling himself God. Though it doesn’t excuse his ruthlessness, it explains it. Like all people of total power, Herod understood how to gain power and how to hold power. It was people like Herod that inspired Nicolo Machiavelli to write The Prince centuries later.
Matthew 2: 3-7
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 Judæa: 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. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Notice that the chief priests and scribes all knew of the prophecy in great detail for the Children of Israel had been looking for the coming of Christ for two thousand years. All of the ordinances of the Mosaic law pointed toward Christ. All of the prophets prophesied about him, especially Isaiah, religious leaders of the Jews were the ones who later would crucify him.
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