Herod the Great was a usurper. He had no right to the throne of Israel. Herod was an Edomite, though he converted to Judaism. He was a brilliant politician, builder, fabulously wealthy, and desperately wicked. He died of a combination of kidney disease and venereal disease and was nearly insane at the end of his life. He guarded his throne with a ferocity that cost many their lives, including two of his sons – Alexander and Aristobulus – and his wife, Mariamne. Part of his madness was the result of his guilt for ordering her execution.

Because he knew his unpopularity with the Jewish people, Herod ordered the execution, upon his death, of prominent chief priests and rulers of Israel so the people wouldn’t celebrate his death. He stands in Scripture for tyrannical power.

Matthew sets forth the royal claims of Jesus of Nazareth as Israel’s Messiah King. He describes the threat Herod felt when he heard the news that Israel now had a Born King. When the wise men entered Jerusalem, they didn’t ask, “Where is the one who will become king of the Jews.” They asked, “Where is he that is born king of the Jews?” As Herod was a usurper, the claim was not lost on him.

It would be incorrect to mollify Herod with suggestions that Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. Matthew lays out a clear case for Jesus Christ to be Israel’s eternal king. Jesus came to dethrone tyrants like Herod. The prophets foretold the same.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:7)

No surprise: when Herod heard of the birth of one with a legitimate claim to David’s throne, he was troubled. Matthew excels at understatement. Herod immediately started plotting how he might find this baby and kill it. After all, killing babies has always been the practice of evil tyrants.

Continue reading “The Birth of Jesus a Threat to Tyrants” →