Herod Slays the Children - Matthew 2:16–18

     Herod’s horrid attitude towards Christ resulted in some horrible conduct in which he ordered the slaying of young children in Bethlehem. Creed and conduct go hand in hand, and those who reject Christ are not going to be known for their noble behavior.

1. The Provoking for the Slaying (Matthew 2:16)     Herod intended all along to get rid of the Christ-child; the provoking here has more to do with the timing of his murderous conduct than just his murderous conduct.
     The mocking of the wise men. “When he saw that he was mocked of the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). The mocking of the wise men was not by their talk but by their travel. They did not travel back to Herod in Jerusalem as he wanted them to do; but instead they traveled home a different route, as we have already noted. They obeyed God in not going back to Herod, and obeying God always mocks evil. And evil does not react to this mocking kindly, of course. This action mocked Herod’s authority and Herod’s plans and to him it threatened his throne. And being extra sensitive to slights, he took quick action.
     The madness of the king. “Herod … was exceeding wroth” (Matthew 2:16). The history of Herod’s rule is filled with his mad rages at any thing that opposed him—even his own family. And in his madness, he became brutal and shed much blood. Many rulers in history have been like Herod. Their madness will be tamed in the fires of hell, however.

2. The Place of the Slaying (Matthew 2:16)
     “Slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof” (Matthew 2:16). Herod ordered the slaying of young children in the town of Bethlehem and the surrounding areas (“coasts” means borders or surrounding neighborhoods). This area was about five miles from Jerusalem where Herod abode.

3. The Persons for the Slaying (Matthew 2:16)
     Herod had a special target for his murderous acts in Bethlehem and its vicinity.
     The age of the persons. “Two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men” (Matthew 2:16). As we noted earlier, Herod “inquired of them [the magi] diligently what time the star appeared” (Matthew 2:8). That would tell the approximate age of the child “born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2) and help Herod to know what age of children to slay.
     The amount of the persons. Since the population of Bethlehem and its “coasts” was small, the number of male children “two years old and under.” would not be many. The typical reader often thinks in terms thousands being slain by Herod here. But scholars say the slain would not number more than twenty. The small amount does not lessen the tragedy, however.

4. The Purpose of the Slaying (Matthew 2:16)
     “He was exceeding wroth” (Matthew 2:16). Why did Herod get so upset that he would kill all these young children? The answer is rather obvious. Herod wanted no rivalries to his throne. He was also a “king” (he had gotten the title of “king” from the Roman senate by political manipulation); so because of the area he ruled was Jewish, he was virtually the “king of the Jews.” Thus the announcement of a babe being born who was “King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2) did not set well with him. So knowing only to kill his enemies, he ordered the slaying of the young children. Since the magi did not return to him, he had to slay all children two and under to make sure he got the Christ-child.

5. The Prophecy About the Slaying (Matthew 2:17, 18)
     “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet” (Matthew 2:17, 18). This is the second of the three fulfilled prophecies mentioned in this second chapter of Matthew.
     The site in the prophecy. “Rama” (Matthew 2:18). This town is Ramah, which is located near Jerusalem. It was a town especially associated with the prophet Samuel (I Samuel 19:18. 25:1). When Nebuzardan of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, he brought all his prisoners to Ramah and there disposed of them as he pleased. Some were permitted to stay in the land but many others were carried away to Babylon. Thus the town would be associated with much sorrow; and being close to Bethlehem, it would suffice for the fulfillment of prophecy.
     The symbolism in the prophecy. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning” (Matthew 2:18). This prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15 had its primary reference to the Israelites in the sorrow of their being taken captive to Babylon. Thus the prophecy, like the previous one about coming out of Egypt, was one of typology or symbolism about Christ. Many prophecies in the Old Testament had two applications—one to some specific event for the Israelites and the second to Christ in the form of typology. This gives us a precedence to see much of Christ in the Old Testament.
     The sorrow in the prophecy. “Lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (Matthew 2:18). The sorrow of going into captivity is as bad as death in terms of separation. The sorrow described here is extremely great. It would especially be bad for the mothers to see their children separated permanently from them and shipped to a foreign land. The mothers are spoken collectively and fittingly as Rachel in the text; for when she gave birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem, the birth was very difficult and she died as a result of the birthing experience. In the sorrow of her dying moments, she named the son “Benoni” (Genesis 35:18), which means son of sorrow. Jacob changed the name to Benjamin.

6. The Portrayal of the Slaying (Matthew 2:16)
     While Herod’s deed was atrocious, our day is more bloody; for abortion makes Herod’s deed look tame in comparison. Abortion has killed millions upon millions, while Herod only killed a couple dozen at the most. Because of the refusal to stop abortion, the rulers of our land have more blood on their hands than Herod. The same goes for the doctors and other people involved with abortion. Even the gas chambers of Nazi Germany look tame in comparison to abortion. God’s judgment is the most certain sequence of all the abortion activity.

Joseph Warned & The Flight to Egypt - Matthew 2:13-15

     Herod’s evil intent regarding the Christ-child was not only revealed to the magi, but it was also revealed to Joseph. And in both cases the revelation involved travel orders. Men may think they can conceal their evil; but God knows all and can broadcast the most secret of evil conduct to the whole world, if He so desires. The revealing of Herod’s evil to Joseph resulted in Joseph, Mary and the Christ-child staying in Egypt for awhile.

1. The Warning for the Staying (Matthew 2:13)

     The revealing of Herod’s evil design against the Christ-child was given in a warning to leave Bethlehem and head for Egypt.

     The promptness of the warning. “When they were departed” (Matthew 2:13). When the magi left from their visit of the Christ-child, then a warning was given to move the Christ-child to Egypt for safety. It was necessary that the warning be given quickly, for soon Herod would learn of the magi going another way home rather than through Jerusalem and their requested visit with Herod. God always warns of evil in ample time. God is prompt with His warnings. But though the warning always comes in adequate time it often does not always come with time to spare. We must act promptly or it may be too late.

     The person given the warning. “The angel … appeareth to Joseph” (Matthew 2:13). The man given the warning was the head of the home and thus the one chiefly responsible for the care of Mary and the child. Often men want recognition as the head of the home but do not want the responsibility of the head of the home.

     The perception of the warning. “The Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream” (Matthew 2:13). Joseph perceived the warning through a dream. God used the dream method at least four times with Joseph. First, Joseph was given a dream to inform him about Mary’s pregnancy (Matthew 1:20–22); second, Joseph was given a dream to move to Egypt with the Christ-child (our text); third, Joseph was given a dream in Egypt to move back to Palestine (Matthew 2:19); and fourth, Joseph was given a dream to go to Galilee because of Archelaus evil reign (Matthew 2:22). God does not speak to people via dreams today; for we have the Scriptures, which are a much better revelation to us than any dream. Wanting dreams today reveals ignorance of the greatness of the revelation in Scripture.

     The pace in the warning. “Flee” (Matthew 2:13). The moving to Egypt was not to be sluggish. The angel indicated it was to be speedy. “Flee” is not the language of a normal trip to Egypt. “Flee” is necessary to get away from a lot of evil. If we do not move at the pace God orders, we will experience unnecessary peril.

     The place in the warning. “Flee into Egypt” (Matthew 2:13). Moving Christ to Egypt reflects the judgment of God upon Israel. Israel did not receive Christ well. Some did respect His coming, but most did not. Therefore, privilege rejected will be privilege lost.

     The period in the warning. “Be thou there until I bring thee word” (Matthew 2:13). Both our starts and stops are ordered by the Lord. Joseph was ordered to move to Egypt, but he was also ordered to stay in Egypt until word came from the Lord.

     The purpose in the warning. “For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13). God does not always give us the reason for our orders, but here He did give Joseph the reason. The reason or purpose for our orders are given to encourage and prompt us to obey. They are not given to satisfy mere curiosity.

     The perniciousness in the warning. “For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13). Herod’s pernicious attitude towards Christ illustrates the fact that “the rulers of this world are seldom friendly to the cause of God” (Ryle). Many governments in our world today are aggressively persecuting Christians. Even our government is becoming more and more anti-Christ. And it will get worse. Courts forbidding the mention of Christ in school papers and the forbidding of Christmas carols in some places are just the tip of the iceberg of the anti-Christ attitude in our government and land.

 

2. The Work for the Staying (Matthew 2:14)

To fulfill the orders from God, Joseph had much work to do. God’s orders will not appeal to lazy folk.

     The promptness in the work. “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (Matthew 2:14). The word translated “When” is simply a connective showing transition. It does not indicate that after the dream Joseph laid in bed awhile; and it was only after he got up, that he began to obey the command. The thought in this text is that immediately, after receiving the warning, Joseph got up and got busy making the move. He was prompt in doing what the Lord had ordered him to do. Traveling in the dark also emphasizes the promptness, for the dream-warning came at night and Joseph got going immediately before it became daylight.

     The perspiration in the work. “He took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (Matthew 2:14). It was no easy task for Joseph to get his family ready for moving to Egypt. Many things would have to be done and quickly. Perspiration would be flowing freely.

     The people in the work. “He took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (Matthew 2:14). Three times in our text for this chapter there is a reference to Joseph taking the “young child and his mother” (Matthew 2:14, 20, 21). That the child is always mentioned first shows Christ was the most important. But the fact that the mother was always mentioned too is another emphasis on the important place of the mother in regards to the care of the child.

     The precaution in the work. “By night” (Matthew 2:14). Going by night not only showed promptness but it also showed precaution. Traveling in the dark helped conceal their escape. God does not protect us supernaturally when we can protect ourselves by wise conduct

3. The Wait in the Staying (Matthew 2:15)

     “Was there until the death of Herod” (Matthew 2:15). The patience to stay in Egypt until Herod died may have been the hardest part about staying in Egypt. However, had Joseph not waited “until the death of Herod,” it would have been a fatal mistake.

4. The Word in the Staying (Matthew 2:15)

     The trip to Egypt and back was no surprise to God nor did it frustrate any of His plans. Rather, it helped confirm His Word.

     The recording of the Word. “Fulfilled” (Matthew 2:15). Three times in this second chapter of Matthew regarding events that were related to Herod, Matthew speaks of fulfillment of Scripture (Matthew 2:15, 17, 23). Each of the three events, which followed the visit of the magi, all end in a reference to fulfilled prophecies. All of these fulfillments of prophecies, which occurred as a result of Herod’s evil, illustrate that “surely the wrath of man shall praise thee” (Psalm 76:10). As we have noted earlier in our study of Matthew, Matthew, being written especially for the Jew, has more quotes from the Old Testament than any of the other Gospels. Matthew had some 93 quotations from the Old Testament, while Mark quotes the Old Testament but 49 times, Luke 80 times, and John only 33 times.

     The reliance on the Word. “Fulfilled” (Matthew 2:15). The fulfillment of these prophecies emphasizes the great reliability of the Word of God. You can depend on the Word of God unlike any other word. What God says will happen, will indeed happen. Circumstances may seem so adverse that fulfillment will appear impossible, but never discount the power of God’s Word to overcome any circumstance in the fulfillment of its prophecies and promises.

     The reference in the Word. “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15). The prophecy referred to here comes from Hosea 11:1 which says, “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.” The literal and primary reference here is to the exodus of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses from the Egyptian bondage.

     The representative in the Word. “Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:15). The fulfillment of the Word in Christ’s return from Egypt is a fulfillment of typology. Christ is represented by the nation of Israel in this typology example. Such typology, of which there is much in the Old Testament, reminds us that Christ is seen in shadow in the Old Testament but in substance in the New Testament. Scripture culminates in Jesus Christ.