Herod Threatened by Baby Jesus - Matthew 2
The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and paranoid was that the wise men from the east had come looking for a king.
Notice it was not only Herod who was worried about Jesus but all of Jerusalem with him. Why was all of Jerusalem troubled with him? Charles Spurgeon says it this way,
"This trouble is again testimony to the greatness of Jesus, even as a young child. “Jesus of Nazareth is so potent a factor in the world of mind that, no sooner is he there in his utmost weakness, a now-born King, than he begins to reign. Before he mounts the throne, friends bring him presents, and his enemies compass his death.”
Herod didn't stop there he also went to the chief priests and teachers of the law. He asked them when and where the Messiah was to be born. Of course he wasn't sincerely interested but plotting for Jesus' demise. Again we see Matthew's desire to connect Jesus with Messianic predictions from the Old Testament. Also because we know King Herod is an actual historical figure it gives more credence to the historical Jesus. It shows he was truly a man and then will soon show he was truly God.
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