Our regular Thursday feature at Bible Rebel is called ‘What’s The Big Idea’, where we’ll introduce and explore larger biblical themes and go deeper into biblical teaching through commentary, research, and even creative writing from guest writers.

We start today with a look at the book of Matthew and it’s major theme of the King and the Kingdom.

A Tale of Two Kings

In Matthew 2:1-3 we get a snapshot of the impact the birth of our Lord had on wicked King Herod and on the capitol city of occupied Judea, Jerusalem.

Matthew 2:1-3 (NIV):
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Do you see the contrast between the two kings there? The Magi asked about the one who had been ‘born King of Jews’ and they asked it of ‘King Herod’, the false king of Jews .

Craig Keener’s Socio-Historical Commentary puts it this way: ‘The “king of the Jews” title given by the Magi contrasts with Herod’s illegitimacy as a ruler, appointed by Rome rather than descended from Davidic lineage.‘

And from Matthew Henry’s Commentary: ‘Herod’s reaction reveals his fear and jealousy. Rather than rejoicing at the fulfillment of prophecy, Herod sees Jesus as a threat to his power.’

No wondered he was ‘disturbed’. He must have thought, “Who do these so-called Magi think they are coming up in here and asking me, the reigning King, about some other baby king? We’ll see about that! No one is taking my throne.”

Political Trouble

Matthew 2:3 – “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.“

We know why Herod was disturbed by the news of a baby king, but why was all Jerusalem also troubled?

From the Expositor’s Bible Commentary: ‘Jerusalem’s disturbance highlights the tension of living under Herod’s volatile leadership.’

‘Volatile leadership’ indeed.

The citizens of Jerusalem certainly had reason to be worried, because their ruler was known to be vicious and cruel – and those concerns were confirmed by his later actions when Herod ordered the execution of all male children who were two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem, where the true King was born – a demonic level of evil that is almost unimaginable.

Questions and a Final Answer

The question of why a loving God would allow such evil to occur, doing nothing to stop the slaughter of innocents, is a subject to be explored in-depth in future ‘What’s The Big Idea’ posts.

I’ll conclude here by pointing out that Matthew 2:1-3 affirms that God does watch over His own and will bring His purposes to full fruition, even in the midst of a dark and dangerous world filled with evil kings and political turmoil.

And the one true King will return in due time to set the world right.