Matthew 2:7, 8

Matthew 2:7, 8

⁷ Then Herod when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I my come and worship Him also.”

“That I my come and worship Him also.” I find the statement a bit ironic. We have previously learned through this journey that Herod had killed several priests. In fact he had also killed members of his own family in an attempt to solidify his rule of the kingdom. How is it that any ruler or king would welcome a new born king into the area in which he himself ruled?

John in the book of Revelation looks back to the time of Christ’s birth were in chapter 12 verses 1-5 states. ¹ Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a women clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a garland of twelve starts. ² Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. ⁴ His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. ⁵ She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

This statement is part of a prophecy in the book of Revelation, but at this point in the prophecy, John is reviewing events that had taken place for better understanding of what was coming in the future. Some may consider it a stretch, but John was referring back to the birth of Christ and Satan was the ones that planted within the mind of Herod the desire to kill the New Born Baby. After all if Satan could eliminate Christ before the appointed time, then he Satan could continue to be the ruler of this world.

Herod shielded his intentions by secretly calling the wise men before him. Why? To determine from them how long ago the star had appeared before them, so he could begin to plot a way to kill the New Born King.

After determining how long, he directed them to Bethlehem as the priests and scribes had given witness to the prophecies that foretold where Jesus would be born. He let them go with instructions to carefully search for the young child and then upon finding Him, come back to me and tell me where he is that I may come and worship him.

It is at this point that Matthew interjects a new theme into his book. The first theme is Jesus, Messiah and King. The second theme is, a call for all to worship the King. Matthew spoke in Jewish terms to a Jewish audience yet also wrote with the gentiles in mind. The gentiles were used to worshiping many gods. Now Matthew introduces the theme of worship, in that all should worship Jesus the Christ. Why, because He is the Creator God.

Many claim to want to worship Him as Herod did. But they only claim to worship Him for the reward they believe they deserve by worshiping Him.

God desires worship, not because of what we receive, but out joy and love that wells up within us when we bow before our Creator in reverent worship.

And when heard the King . . .