Who we are

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

WHO WE ARE

Matt 2:1-8

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

NIV

There is no happenstance with God. Everything is happening here according to his preordained plan. The Magi were there for a purpose. These were men from afar off in a different land. They were not Jewish. From traditions, some scholars are of the opinion there may have been more the three Magi or kings. Some think as many as eight, some think two, but the three is based on three gifts. The thought again from traditions is these magi came from Persia, India and Babylonia. It is not all that important exactly which of the world they came from except to show us although Jesus came into the world as a Jew, other parts of the world were celebrating his birth. This shows us again Jesus came for us all. This portion of the narrative also reveals the truth about mankind's self-centered attitudes. King Herod was not even a Jew, he was an Edomite, but was raised as a Jew. Nevertheless he came from the line of Esau which also gives us some insight as to why he would not what anyone heralded as the king of the Jews to live. It may stem all the way back to the differences between Jacob and Esau. Here we have a descendant of Esau ruling Jacob, Israel, under the authority of Rome. This is a setting for disaster, but God has more authority than anyone and his will is always accomplished. Here the Magi do stop and seek directions from Herod. That would have been the respectable thing to do. They would have visited the local king seeking where this king of the Jews was born. Did they know Herod was an Edomite and thus not really king of the Jews? Whatever the reason, Herod acted deceitfully. He had no intentions to worship this king of the Jews. We know from the next portion of this narrative his intent is to have this king of the Jews killed while still an infant. We have been warned about people like him. They are called wolves in sheep’s clothing.

Matt 7:15-20

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

NIV

This is Herod all the way. He presented himself as one who would like to worship this king, but inwardly he was a ferocious wolf. We are not sure he was even truthful about being an Edomite as the reigning monarch over Israel. We need to be careful of such type of people in our society today. There are so many who appear to be people of God, clergy, as it were and are nothing more than ferocious wolves looking to devour the flock. They use just enough of the right language in order to deceive some believers into following after them. They, like Herod are not truly interested in worshipping the King of the Jews, Jesus. Their motives are self-serving, just as Herod’s were. This should also give us pause to meditate on whether we present ourselves to others in somewhat the same way. Are we one person when we are with one group and another person when we are with another group? Are we like Herod in some sense with self-serving motives even in our worship of the Lord? The Magi were sincere in their seeking this king of the Jews to worship him. It was not for their own purpose. It did not improve their position in their culture or among the Jews. But Herod was not like them. We need to be more like the Magi then like Herod. We worship the Lord because he is worthy of worship. We should be who we are, like the Magi, no matter who we are with. We are the light of the world. We are the salt of the earth. We are who we are and we worship the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the creator of all that is created. As the Magi presented gifts to Jesus, we present ourselves as living sacrifices, a gift to our King. That is who we are.