Matthew 2:3-6, King Herod and Bethlehem

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.’”

Comments

King Herod was an Edomite (a descendant of Esau, not Jacob). Appointed by Rome to rule over their Jewish province, he was uniformly despised. When Herod learned about a legitimately Jewish king’s birth, he worried that he would lose his job.

Herod consulted scriptural experts, who pointed him to Bethlehem. David was born and raised there,

and that is where the expected Messiah was supposed to be born.

King Herod hid his shame over his inadequate bloodline and insecurity under angry power, and decided to seek and destroy this infant king before he became a real problem.

Reflection

Shame grows in the darkness, which is why we Christians practice confession. As John writes in 1 John 1:5-10: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Use the confession below to leave any darkness behind and step into the light of Christ.

Prayer

Most merciful God, I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.

[Take a moment to reflect on specific things.]

I have not loved you with my whole heart;

I have not loved my neighbors as myself.

I am truly sorry and I humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on me and forgive me;

that I may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.