The Magi’s Question that Troubled Herod

"Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." 

(Matthew 2:2, NASB).

This chapter in the Gospel of Matthew opens with the “Magi [wise men] from the east” asking a very pertinent question: “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” This question had quite an impact upon king Herod and all Jerusalem. For verse 3 tells us that Herod and all Jerusalem “heard this” question, and it troubled them all. Imagine, Jerusalem, known as the “The City of Peace” was troubled at the news of the “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). It is interesting to note that king Ahab had this in common with king Herod, for “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?"” (1 Kings 18:17, NASB). Ahab was troubled at the sight of Elijah, a prophet of God, who had peace with God. Now we read in today’s passage of another “troubler of Israel.” Only this time, we are not dealing with a prophet of God, but the very Son of God! It is this Son of God who the prophets prophesied of His coming into the world in the flesh, this “King of the Jews” that troubled Herod and all of Jerusalem. So it is with man. He may proclaim he has peace, but is troubled at the good news of the Gospel that teaches that only Christ can give true lasting peace. For apart from Christ, man can never know true satisfying peace. On hearing this troubling question, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”  Herod “gathered together all the chief priests and scribes of the people” to find out where the “Messiah was to be born.” Four truths can be drawn from this scene: 

First, we read that Herod and all of Jerusalem were troubled about the news of Christ, whereas the wise men rejoiced (see Matt. 2:3, 10-11)! 

Second, we see Herod enquiring about the birth of Christ through the religious rulers. The religious rulers were not the wise men who sought and knew about the birth of Christ. They could quote Scripture, but they did not seek His coming. So it is with religious man, he knows what Scriptures say about Christ, but do not know Him personally as Lord and Saviour (see Matt. 2:4; John 3:3, 7; Rom. 10:9-10). 

Third, we note that Christ was not found, nor was He born in Jerusalem, this supposed city of peace. So it is with man. As long as man erects his own “city of peace,” the true peace of Christ will never be found there (see John 14:27).  The human heart can know no true peace until it finds peace with God. 

Fourth, just as “Bethlehem” [house of bread] was the birth place of Christ, so it is with the believer who has trusted Christ. His heart is a “little Bethlehem” where Christ dwells. Because The Lord Jesus is “the Bread of life” (John 6:35) the believer has bread to share with those who hunger for God’s salvation that satisfies.

 Five, finally we read of Herod’s deceptive reason for wanting to find the Christ child. He told the Magi he wanted to “worship Him” (Matt. 2:8), when really he wanted to kill him (see Matt. 2:13). So it is with the natural man. The flesh cannot reign beside Christ in the heart, neither will Christ share the throne of a man’s heart with the flesh. Either man dies to the flesh or he dies to Christ. The truth is man needs to die in the death of Christ in order to truly be dead to his flesh. Only then, can we have our Bethlehem, were Christ is born in our very heart!

Lord God, we are challenged by today’s passage that is often read at Christmas time. Are we troubled at the good news of Christ coming into the world like Herod was? Or do we rejoice at the news of Christ like the Magi did? How we answer such questions reveals where our heart is with God. We can never have true lasting joy and peace in our heart, if we do not have peace with God. Thank you dear Lord, for sending Christ into the world to die for our sins; in Jesus name I pray. Amen.