Response of Herod

Herod’s Response

Matthew 2:1–12 ESV

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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘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.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Introduction -

Our lesson tonight is entitled “Herod’s Response”

Herod was a key player in the story about Jesus Birth.

Tonight as we look at Herod I want you to keep in mind that all of us have a little bit of Herod in us. I’m afraid that Herod was a nasty unsavory character.

Who was Herod?

The name Herod means Hero or Warrior. Herod the Great means The Great Hero, The Great Warrior.

Herod the Great was a very complicated man. He was a talented leader, harsh governor and amazing builder. He reigned over Judea, including Jerusalem during the time of Jesus.

Herod was appointed by Rome to rule over Jerusalem and Judea.

This was a very important area for Rome. Rome’s popular general Pompey conquered Jerusalem and place the jews under Roman rule.

Herod the Great was to rule over Jerusalem and Judea given the title by the Roman Senate - “King of the Jews”

Part of Herod’s complications was his appetite to feed his carnal desires and his paranoia of losing his Kingdom to a political or family insider.

I. There is a King greater than I.

Herod valued holding on to control or power so much that he was willing to kill his own family members.

Herod’s favorite wife Miriamme the 1st (Herod had 10 wives) had a temper and spoke her mind. After Herod had her family killed (for their influence over her) she continued to protest and speak her mind. Herod had her killed too.

Herod feared that 2 of his sons would lead a mutiny against him. So he executed them.

Being a man who loved to keep control over his life - it is no surprise that Herod was known as a tyrant of a Governor.

Herod was even a Tyrant at his death.

Herod eventually fell ill. He knew he would die. So he ordered that upon his death.

-Recently imprisoned Jewish Elders and a 3rd son Antipater would be executed.

-He wanted to make sure all the community was grieving during his funeral.

This is the man that the Bible speaks of in our text tonight.

Read with me Mathew 2:1-4

Matthew 2:1–4 ESV

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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Herod was troubled. He has heard of a threat to his throne. He could not accept the fact that...

I. There is a King greater than I.

Matthew 2:1–4 ESV

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 saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Herod could not accept a ruler that would take his place as “King of the Jews”.

He could not accept a ruler that would challenge the control he had over his life.

He could not accept a ruler that would redefine His identity.

He could not accept a King to rule over him.

Application - Spiritually, this is our great dilemma.

This is where we have a little bit of Herod in us.

The question that we ask ourself tonight is...

Will I accept a King in my life greater than I?

One who I will give control to.

One who will redefine who I am and what I value.

One who will transform me into a different person.

Who is this King Jesus?

Matthew 2:6 ESV

6 “ ‘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.’ ”

He is a ruler and a shepherd.

Jesus is the ruler of the universe and the ruler of our lives. He is the boss. Something we tend to bristle against.

Jesus is also a tender Shepherd.

-He works all things together for our good.

-He nurtures and cares for our lives both physically and spiritually.

-Jesus has our best interests in mind.

-He is a good father and shepherd to us.

-He helps us grow and change.

If you are a Christ follower, you know that God is in the transformation business.

He grows us, He changes us, He transforms our heart and life to be more like Him.

He does this when we give control to Him.

If you are not a Christ follower one of the greatest steps to following Jesus as King and having your sins forgiven is believing that Jesus as God is greater than I.

Herod the Great was a very complicated man. He was a talented leader, governor and builder. He reigned over Judea, including Jerusalem during the time of Jesus.

Herod was appointed by Rome to rule over Jerusalem and Judea. This was a very important area for Rome. Their popular general Pompey conquered Jerusalem and place the jews under Roman rule.

Herod the Great was given the title by the Roman Senate - “King of the Jews”

Part of Herod’s complications was his appetite to feed his carnal desires and his paranoia losing his Kingdom to a political or family insider.

Herod’s favorite wife Miriamme the 1st had a temper and spoke her mind - after Herod had her family killed (for their influence over her) she continued to protest and speak her mind. Herod had her killed too.

Executed 2 of his sons he feared would lead a mutiny against him.

Play this against Christ coming to be the great Hero.

Being a man who loved to keep control over his life - it is no exaggeration that Herod was known as a ruler who was a tyrant.

Herod was even a Tyrant at his death

Herod eventually fell ill. He knew he would die. So he ordered that upon his death.

-Recently imprisoned Jewish Elders and a 3rd son Antipater would be executed.

-He wanted to make sure all the community was grieving during his funeral.

Herod over his lifetime had 10 wives.

Paranoid of loosing His kingdom and a tyrant.

-Recently imprisoned Jewish Elders and a 3rd son Antipater.

-He wanted to make sure all the community was grieving during his funeral.

Matthew 2:

Matthew 2:3 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

If this child was a new King - there was a threat to His throne.

Herod was troubled because there was a threat to His throne.

If he lost the throne He would lose:

Transition - One of the most difficult parts of our spiritual walk to deal with is ....

2. I will resist the King.

Illustration - I was talking with a friend who many look up to spiritually. She was frustrated that others hold her up and admire her walk with the Lord. She said I don’t like that people look up to me spiritually, “I fight with the Lord every day.” (X2)

Herod certainly fought against the Christ Child.

Matthew 2:13–16 ESV

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” 16 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.

Herod hated a challenge to his throne. He resisted King Jesus.

The baby, the new King of the Jews, was ultimately a challenge to control of his life and his identity.

When we give our lives to trust and follow Jesus ...

He controls, He gives us a new purpose, He gives us a new identity.

We have 2 choices:

-Follow the King, Trust the King

-Attempt to rid ourselves of the King (like Herod did)

-We rid ourselves of Jesus by:

Ignoring Him.

Being religious, but not surrendered to Him.

Declaring he is not God.

While we cannot kill Jesus, we can attempt to kill his effect on us.

Question - How would you describe yourself? As a Jesus follower or a Jesus resister?

Transition - If I am going to follow the Kind I must ...

3. I must replace myself with Jesus as the Savior King

Herod the great was no Great Hero and Great Warrior.

Great Hero’s do not put to death babies.

Great Hero’s do not reject one (like Jesus) who righteous.

Great Hero’s do not reject a King who will bring peace on earth.

Great Hero’s are not about self.

Illustration Regained-

I mentioned earlier about a friend of mine who is admired, and frustrated with the admiration because she, “fights against the Lord everyday.”

Let me tell you a secret, (Download this on your flash drive).

The reason she is so admired, “She wrestles with the Lord” everyday … in the end she always bends her knee and follows Him.

People follow her spiritually, because she follows the King.

Her life shows this daily transformation of surrender.

Question - Would you say right now that you are surrendered to the infant King?

Closing -

God is calling you right now in this very moment to bend your knee to the Savior King.

A Savior would replace a Hero

Play this against Christ coming to be the great Hero.

Herod over his lifetime had 10 wives.

Paranoid of loosing His kingdom and a tyrant.

Play this against Christ coming to be the great Hero.

Herod over his lifetime had 10 wives.

Paranoid of loosing His kingdom and a tyrant.

Executed 2 of his sons he feared would lead a mutiny against him.

Herod’s favorite wife Miriamme the 1st had a temper and spoke her mind - after Herod had her family killed she continued to protest and speal her mind. Herod had her killed too.

Herod fell ill and died - he ordered upon his death.

-Recently imprisoned Jewish Elders and a 3rd son Antipater.

-He wanted to make sure all the community was grieving during his funeral.