Matthew 2:3-4

Matthew 2:3-4

And after King Herod heard, he was distressed – and all Jerusalem with him.  And after calling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people he was inquiring from them where Christ is being born.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Isn’t this an interesting opening passage?  The magi see a star and come a long way to worship.  But King Herod has Jesus born underneath his nose and he doesn’t even notice.  What is worse is that when Herod does notice he is distressed!  Herod’s reaction to the birth of Jesus isn’t worship.  Herod doesn’t want a Messiah.  Herod is only worried about himself and his life.  He’s focused completely internally.  he misses what God is doing in his midst because he is only concerned about himself.

Do you ever miss what God is doing in your midst because you are too focused on your own desires?  Are you ever distressed when God doesn’t something cool in your presence but it doesn’t involve you?

Second Thought:

What does Herod do in his distress?  He turns to the chief priests and the scribes.  But here is the interesting thing – and we’ll talk about it more tomorrow.   They don’t seem to know Jesus was born, either!  Herod turns to the priests and the scribes not looking for a spiritual assessment but simply for an academic pursuit.  It should say something to us that the people weren’t turning to the priests and scribes for a spiritual understand but rather for an academic understanding.

Do you ever fall into the trap of pursuing God academically rather than spiritually?  Why is it easier to know facts and figures about Jesus than to actually know Jesus?

Third Thought:

Let’s look more deeply into this.  Herod turns to the chief priests and the scribes.  The chief priests were the aristocracy.  The scribes were the experts in the written law.  What do we see?  Neither of these groups of people really have any interest in Jesus.  Now, of course, this is a very generic statement and shouldn’t be taken to the extreme.  But what it shows us is that relationship with God does not come from one’s place at birth nor one’s academic reasoning.  Relationship with God comes from Him and our willingness to receive Him.

What do you think of this point?  Is it still true today?  Do you think this point plays out in the rest of the story of Jesus as well?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 2:5-6