Matthew
shared what happened when,
“Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying,
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star
in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had
heard these
things,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him”,
and in chapter two and verse four of his book, Matthew shares how
Herod, “demanded
of them where Christ should be born” where
we read:
And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together,
he
demanded of them where Christ should be born.
The
verse reads, “And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people
together, ...”
Matthew began with the words, “and
when”
which means “and at the time and moment” “he
had gathered”
or “Herod drew together, assembled and collected” “all”
or “each, every, the whole and everyone of” “the
chief priests”
which means “the high priests who comprise in addition to one
holding the high priestly office both those who had previously
discharged it and although disposed continued to have great power in
the State as well as the members of the families from which high
priest were created provided that they had much influence in public
affairs” “and scribes”
or
“secretaries, recorders and those learned in the Mosaic law and in
the sacred writings as interpreters and teachers. Scribes examined
the more difficult and subtle questions of the law, added to the
Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its
meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion” “of
the people together”
which means “pertaining to the nation of Israel”. Matthew shared
how “Herod the king” assembled
“all”
of the men who were “chief
priests”
and “scribes”
among the people in Jerusalem.
The
verse goes on to say, “...
he demanded of them where Christ should be born.”
Matthew added the words, “he
demanded”
which means “King Herod inquired, asked and ascertained” “of
them” or
“of the
chief priest and scribes”
“where
Christ”
which means “at what place the anointed One, the Messiah and the
Son of God” “should
be born”
or “was to be birthed and engendered”.
Matthew shared how Herod strongly required that the “chief
priests” and
“scribes”
tell him where the Messiah was to be “born”.
When
we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how paranoid
King Herod wanted to know where the Messiah was to be “born”.
He called forth the “chief priests” and “scribes”
who would know the scriptures which declare the “birth city” of
the Messiah. All these things are in line with God' purpose and
design to send His Son Jesus into the world to be the “Savior and
Lord” for every person who will receives Him, and as we watch this
story unfold, let us be wise enough to understand how Matthew is
proving over and over again that Jesus is indeed the “Messiah”
and “Lord” of all.
Next
time Matthew shares how the “chief
priests and scribes” answered, “in
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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