Matthew 2:1-12
After Jesus was born some magi (or Wise Men or royal astrologers (see footnote in the New Living Translation) or a band of scholars or philosophers) showed up in Jerusalem asking, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." Matthew 2:2 (New International Reader's Version)
When Herod heard what they wanted he was upset. I understand that. He was the King in Jerusalem. If a baby King had been born it was his competition. There are a couple of things about this that I don't get, though. First the Bible says, "Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too." Matthew 2:3 (New International Reader's Version)
Herod feeling threatened, I understand. But what was the rest of the city worried about? Here were some foreign men wandering around town looking for a Jewish baby that had been signaled by celestial events seen in another country! Weren't they ready for one of their own to take the throne? Maybe they were upset because they figured Herod was about to get his shorts all up in a wad, and they were going to be the recipients of his bad mood? Maybe they didn't want to wait for a baby to grow up and deliver them--they wanted the Romans dead immediately?
The other big thing that is weird is the reaction of the religious leaders. "So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born." Matthew 2:4 (New International Reader's Version) What did they do? Did they hem and haw around? No, they quoted the prophecy in Micah 5:2! This blows me away.
They apparently knew and remembered Balam's prophecy to King Balak when Israel was journeying to Canaan from Egyptian slavery. And they associated it with the arrival of the Eastern wise men searching for the new baby King. They also also knew that the Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem, based on what they quoted to Herod.
Miraculous events were taking place in their town before their eyes, and they recognized that the events fit Biblical prophecy. They were expecting and dreaming of the arrival of the Messiah. They should have been overjoyed, but instead they were "disturbed." This I do not understand!
When Herod heard what they wanted he was upset. I understand that. He was the King in Jerusalem. If a baby King had been born it was his competition. There are a couple of things about this that I don't get, though. First the Bible says, "Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too." Matthew 2:3 (New International Reader's Version)
Herod feeling threatened, I understand. But what was the rest of the city worried about? Here were some foreign men wandering around town looking for a Jewish baby that had been signaled by celestial events seen in another country! Weren't they ready for one of their own to take the throne? Maybe they were upset because they figured Herod was about to get his shorts all up in a wad, and they were going to be the recipients of his bad mood? Maybe they didn't want to wait for a baby to grow up and deliver them--they wanted the Romans dead immediately?
The other big thing that is weird is the reaction of the religious leaders. "So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born." Matthew 2:4 (New International Reader's Version) What did they do? Did they hem and haw around? No, they quoted the prophecy in Micah 5:2! This blows me away.
They apparently knew and remembered Balam's prophecy to King Balak when Israel was journeying to Canaan from Egyptian slavery. And they associated it with the arrival of the Eastern wise men searching for the new baby King. They also also knew that the Messiah was prophesied to be born in Bethlehem, based on what they quoted to Herod.
Miraculous events were taking place in their town before their eyes, and they recognized that the events fit Biblical prophecy. They were expecting and dreaming of the arrival of the Messiah. They should have been overjoyed, but instead they were "disturbed." This I do not understand!
posted by Al Weber at
8:04 AM
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