Matthew 2:1-12 - Herod & All Jerusalem

Alright, before we go on to Herod and Jerusalem, I want to say something about intended meaning. As I mentioned last time, I don't think that providence is the main point of the passage, but it is in there. In fact, God's providence over all things is a clear theme throughout the bible. The thing to keep in mind as we go along is that there are layers of meaning in most texts, especially in Matthew. What do I mean by layers of meaning? There is truth that can be gleaned by the novice student, kind of like a surface meaning. Then there are things that can be seen by people with a little broader knowledge of the Scriptures. Then there are things, huge things, which can be found by those completely eaten up with the Word. To illustrate, the first time I watched Star Wars with my son Jackson, we were watching Episode 1. He was two. He loved it. It was the only thing on the planet that could make him sit still for two solid hours. (I was so proud.) He could see what was going on. He learned the characters, which ones were good, which ones were bad, and the sequence of events. He was seeing the movie as it was, but at a very surface level. He had never seen the original trilogy. So when we would watch the movie together, we were seeing things at very different levels. I had seen the original trilogy 1.53million times. So I was picking up things that he couldn't have because he was not familiar with the original movies. I was making connections all over the place, seeing the significance of certain lines, noticing the development of different characters, picking up on the irony of several relationships, noticing repeated themes and phrases, and basically enjoying the movie on a much deeper level. Jackson's interpretation of what he was seeing was not wrong. He just wasn't seeing as much as I was.

It is the same way with the Scriptures. John MacArthur has a bit better grasp on the Bible than I do. When we study the same book, we'll come up with different levels of stuff. He will see and understand far more than I will.

I say this simply so that as I'm pointing to a number of different things going on you won't freak out. My goal is to hit things on the surface and things a little deeper - like close-up shots and big picture shots. So far, in chapter 2 we've seen that Matthew is establishing Jesus' credibility as the Messiah. That's a big picture thing. We've also seen the Magi and their journey and the significance of what they did and said. That's more of a close-up thing. We're about to look at Herod and Jerusalem, another close-up thing. Finally, we'll look at a couple of big picture things to finish up this passage. It's the big picture stuff that you might not pick up on the surface.

Okay. Herod. We'll try to follow roughly the same pattern we saw with the Magi. What he knows, where he is, and what he does about it. What he knows: Well, he knows what the Magi told him - they were led there by a star, a Jewish king has been born, and that the baby is to be worshiped. It should be striking that a group of Magi from the other part of the known world are the ones filling Herod in on this. Which brings us to Where he is: he is in Jerusalem, in Israel. He is in the best place in the world stay up to speed on things like this. But he didn't have a clue. And he freaks out. And he's not alone: v.3 "When Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (This is pointing to one of the major big picture things that we'll talk about later. But I'll force myself to wait.)

Why would Herod be bothered by the birth of a baby King of the Jews? It's obvious - job security. But it's most likely deeper - he doesn't want anyone to be king over him. Why would Jerusalem be bothered, too? Honestly, I don't know. If you have any ideas let me know. I have a big picture answer, but on a human level I'm not sure. Maybe they were afraid of a revolution. Maybe they preferred to not rock the boat. I don't know. One thing is certain, they were the most likely people on the planet to seek Him out and worship Him. Paul referred to the Jews as the "Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all..." (Rom. 9:4-5; By the way, take a look at Romans 9-11, if you have time, for a hint about the big picture of Matthew.) They were in the perfect position to accept Him and worship.

What he did: what the Jews did with what they knew will be seen through the rest of the book. This chapter, though, tells us clearly what Herod did with what he knew. He brought in the experts to find out where to look for the boy. Notice that their response not only tells him where to look, but it confirms to him who the child is. So he knows that this is the Christ, but he proceeds with his plan anyway. He lies to the Magi, telling them that he wants to worship the child, too, so that they will find the boy for him. Later in the chapter, he will do the unthinkable in his attempt to destroy the boy. What did Herod do with what he knew?

This is a huge question. It's the most important question for every person who ever lived. What have you done with what you know? Romans 1 indicates that the knowledge of God's creation alone is sufficient revelation to make us culpable before God. His creation alone tells us that He is and that He is to be worshiped. To fail to do that is to be condemned. So, no one will be able to stand before God and say, "but I didn't know."

But those of us to whom much has been revealed will be all the more culpable. Jesus says to the Jews in Matthew 11:21-22 "...if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you." For Herod and the Jews, who knew who Jesus was and rejected Him, hell will be all the more unspeakable.

Speaking about the issue of what one does with what one knows, the writer of Hebrews wrote:
"For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Heb 10:26-29)

What have you done with what you know?

Alright, next time - big picture things.

Until then, drink deep.
Greg