The Recognition of the King

The king, having been born, now needs to be recognized as the King. Matthew details three people or groups of people that recognized Jesus as King or Messiah for themselves and on behalf of their group.

The Magi were Gentiles guided by a star

The Priests and Scribes were Jews guided by Scripture

Herod was guided by a threat and had an interest in Israel but was not Jewish

Matthew 2:1–11 NKJV

1 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, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 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 may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Herod

Matthew refers to him as “Herod the king”, it was the Jewish historian Josephus that gave him the title Herod the Great.

Herod: A Brief History

Herod was actually from Idumea, south of Judea and roughly the area of Edom (the land settled by Esau, Jacob’s brother).

Herod was an able soldier, builder, and governor who spread Hellenism—essentially Greek culture—as he established his influence in Judaea as governor, beginning at the age of 25!

After his father’s assassination, he fled to Rome where he was officially crowned king of Judaea. He returned and continued his reign beholden to the Roman Empire.

As a builder, he was responsible for the Port of Ceaserea, the fortifications of Herodium and Masada, and the rennovation/rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.

As a man, he married 10 wives and sired 15 children. He killed—or had killed—several of each when he feared they might compromise his reign. Three of his children ruled various areas in and around Judaea after his death. It should be noted that he was of neither sound mind nor sound body late in his life.

Herod: Guided by a threat

Matthew records that Herod was troubled when he heard mention of another king. He mentions that all Jerusalem was troubled with him. He might have utilized understatement in his description.

He urgently sought for a general location, from the Jewish religious leaders, 4

He urgently sought for more specific details (possible age, actual location), from the Magi,7-8

He stated that he wished to worship (prostrate, bow) to this new king. Yes, that was a lie, but it was his stated desire. He recognized this new king, if only as a threat.

The Priests & Scribes

Herod summoned them to find out where the Christ—the Messiah, or King—was to be born. He rightly reasoned that surely the Jewish Scriptures would mention the birth of their Messiah.

On the basis of Micah 5:2, quoted in verse 6, these men immediately recognized where Messiah was to be born.

As a side note, it is interesting that the priests and scribes had absolutely no question that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The need for an informed faith—also known as Biblical literacy—is not a new need, according to John 7:27

John 7:27 NKJV

27 However, we know where this Man is from; but when the Christ comes, no one knows where He is from.”

The Magi

Certainly the stars at Christmas time, they represent multiple mysteries.

The Mystery of Who and Where and Why and How Many

There is decent evidence that they were from Babylon or Persia (both to the east) but they could have been from Arabia (which was south and a little east).

How many, we cannot possibly know. Though it is reasonable to suspect there were more than the three featured in the Christmas poster.

Why is interesting: while in the East (notice the capitalization of East in verses 1 and 9) they observed a star which they believed to be His (the new King’s) star

The Mystery of What Star

A Mysterious Star

Despite our advanced astronomical modeling systems, there is not “A Ha” star that has been positively identified.

A Mysteriously Misbehaving Star

And speaking of mysteries, this one moved, disappeared, reappeared, moved some more, and then stopped

A Misidentified (or Metaphorical) Star

Is it possible that the star was actually an angel posing as a point of light in the night sky. It fits the description. And it fits the Scripture.

Revelation 1:20 NKJV

20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

The Mystery of Why Gifts

I guess it would have been bad form to have travelled all this way and brought nothing as a gift. While the gifts were both immediately useful and imminently symbolic, we don’t really know why they brought these specific gifts.

Recognize the King

The King was recognized by Gentiles, Jews, and those in between.

He was recognized as a threat by a peer.

He was recognized a promise by His people.

He was recognized as regal by foreign dignitaries.

Matthew well captures the birth and the recognition of the King.

As interesting as the past was, what the future will be is more pressing. These three will not be the last to recognize the King for who He is.

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We will all bow in the future and recognize Jesus as King. Some of us will bow voluntarily and be blessed. Many will be bow forcibly and will be condemned. The decision as to which group you want to be in is a matter for the present, and it is of utmost importance. That scene will be a scene of judgment for what we do with our time now.

Romans 14:10–12 NKJV

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

The Christmas song We Three Kings declares Jesus as King and God and Sacrifice. It is an appropriate declaration. Will you recognize Him today? Or will you risk that being compulsory on your way to condemnation?

If you have recognized Him as your King, remember that you get to Herald His arrival to the rest of the world!

Questions for Further Review (Courtesy of Logos AI)

What made the Magi's journey significant in recognizing Jesus as King?

How did the Priests and Scribes demonstrate their Biblical literacy regarding the birth of the Messiah?

In what ways did Herod's recognition of Jesus as a threat influence his actions?

What do the gifts the Magi brought symbolize about Jesus?

What is the central message of the sermon regarding how we should recognize Jesus as King today?