Matthew 2:11-13 Herod’s Efforts to Kill the Christ Child

Introduction: Herod was determined not to allow Jesus to take his throne. He would do anything to stop Jesus.

I. His effort to use the wise men.

A. Herod had instructed the wise men to return from Bethlehem and to inform him where Jesus was.

Verse 8

1. He already knew the town; he just did not know where in town.

2. The wise men would be expected to return thru Jerusalem in route back to Persia.

B. But God knew the danger and warned the wise men. Verse 12

II. God’s instruction to Joseph. Verse 13

A. God’s warning to the vise men gave only temporary safety since Herod knew that Jesus was in

Bethlehem.

B. Therefore God sent Jesus out of Bethlehem to Egypt. Verses 13-14

1. Why Egypt? Why not Persia where the wise men were?

2. Because there was a prophecy that He would come out of Egypt. Verse 15

a. The prophecy in Hosea 11:1 was about God bringing the infant nation Israel out

of Egypt.

b. But this was a prophecy in type of God bringing His own Son, Jesus, out of Egypt.

III. Herod’s efforts at Bethlehem to kill the Christ.

A. He waited at Jerusalem for the return of the wise men.

(When he learned that they had bypassed him, he was very angry. Verse 16)

B. When Herod got angry somebody got hurt.

1. He had once ordered the death of his favorite wife.

2. This time he ordered the death of the Christ child.

3. But being unable to know which child, he ordered the death of all males two years and under.

(Greek – males)

C. There was mourning in Bethlehem and this, too, had been foreshadowed in prophetic type.

Verses 17-18.

1. The prophecy was in Jeremiah 31:15.

2. The occasion was the weeping at Ramah, the camp where the Babylonians headed the

Israelites when Judah fell to Babylon.

3. Jeremiah said that the weeping at Ramah was like Rachael weeping over her children.

4. Matthew says that the weeping at Ramah was a prophetic type of the weeping at Bethlehem.

5. It was as though Rachael, who was buried at Bethlehem, was weeping from her grave for

the children.

IV. Herod’s death and Joseph’s return to Canaan. Verses 20-21

A. Matthew’s account of Herod’s death is very simple. Verse 20

B. According to historians, it was not simple.

1. Just five days before his death, he ordered one of his sons executed.

2. Also, he invited the leaders of Israel to visit him.

(Upon arrival, they were arrested. He ordered that upon his death these men should all be

executed so that somebody would weep at his death.)

C. Matthew makes no big deal of it, but all Israel must have rejoiced at his death.

D. Joseph and his family returned to Canaan, after but a short stay. Verse 21

V. Some important observations.

A. While from the human point of view Herod was the enemy, the real enemy was Satan.

1. Satan wanted to thwart God’s plan of Jesus being the Savior of men.

2. The redemption of all mankind hinged on the safety of this child.

(If He should be killed by Herod none could be saved.)

B. God was rather reserved in the way He protected Jesus.

1. He sent an angel to warn the wise men and to warn Joseph.

2. He could have sent an angel to kill Herod.

C. God allowed Herod to live out his wicked life and do his wicked deeds.

1. He let him live to murder the children.

2. God allows men the opportunity even today to reject Christ and to live wickedly.

Conclusion: God wants men to be saved today and He wants the saved to serve Him. But He will not force the lost to be saved and He will not force the saved to serve.

Preached at Pleasant Hill M.B.C. 1-10-82 A.M.