Herod and the Jewish Leaders

December 12, 2022

Herod & the Jewish Leaders

Luke 10:1-12 talks about peace being offered to a household, a home and those within it. Whether peace is received depends upon the recipients of the offer. Not everyone receives God’s peace.

Not everyone received the Prince of Peace when He first arrived either. 

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Matthew 2:1-3 ESV

Herod was “troubled.” He felt threatened by Jesus’ arrival and reacted with fear and defensiveness. His inquiries to learn more about this newborn King were only asked to attempt eliminating his opponent.

“Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.”

Matthew 2:16 ESV

His actions, born out of fear, did nothing to bring himself peace. And only brought sorrow and death to those around him.

Unlike Herod, the Jewish leaders had very little reaction to the arrival of the Prince of Peace.

“…and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:4-6 ESV

After revealing where the Messiah would be born to Herod, so he can tell the wise men who have stirred up all Jerusalem with their seeking, the Jewish leaders … are not even mentioned again!

You would think after all the recent miraculous events, they would have been waiting for some sign, or seeking Jesus out for themselves. After all, they had:

• Zechariah, who had a vision in the Holy of Holies, and came out unable to talk

• Elizabeth, his wife, who became pregnant in old age and gave birth to a prophet

• Further testimony by Zechariah, whose voice returned in prophecy when his son was born

• Elizabeth’s relative, Mary, also rumored to have a miraculous pregnancy

• Shepherds who reported angels in the field, announcing the Savior’s birth

• Simeon, a devout man who identified Jesus as God’s salvation in the Temple

• Anna, a prophet who further testified to Jesus’ identity in the Temple

• And now, wise men from the east speaking of a star and a new King of the Jews

All this, and they did nothing?! These are events that should have at least stirred their curiosity and sparked at least a little investigation. But we see nothing at all from them, despite many of these events taking place in the Temple, where they were sure to see and hear about Jesus.

The Jewish leaders were dismissive at best, and in denial at worst, when it came to the arrival of the Prince of Peace.

Defensive, dismissive, or in denial—not everyone is ready to receive the Prince of Peace.

Consider:

Have you ever felt defensive when Jesus entered your world?

Have you ever tried to ignore Jesus?

Remember:

When you see the wise men in the Nativity scene, remember that even as some people seek to find Jesus, others only seek to maintain their fragile power or ignore His coming and pretend nothing has changed.

Share:

Look around your world.

Who is seeking Jesus?

Who is threatened by Jesus’ arrival?

Who is ignoring Jesus?