Are You A Herod?

Joey Williams

Christmas • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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Introduction:

Everyone knows the Christmas narrative. Everyone knows that this is the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Im sure when you walked in this morning you were thinking “oh no Bro. Joey is going to tell me a story I already know.” In a way that is true, but today we are going to look at the antagonist of the Christmas narrative. Today we are going to talk about King Herod.

Go over some of the history of “Herod the Great”. How he became king, how many wives he had, what he did to his sons and how he left a will for one of his wives to be killed upon his death.

Matthew 2:1–17 KJV 1900

1 Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

Matt 2:1-17

Transition: Why would I possibly want to discuss a cruel and evil person like Herod at a time when we are supposed to share peace and good will towards men.

The simple fact is God thought it important enough to mention Him here, and that is reason enough.

But more than that there are characteristics and flaws also know as sin that way too many Christians are portraying today that we need to look at and address.

Character flaws of a Herod-

Jealousy- Vs 3

Self-Centered

Attention Seeking

Envious

Hypocrytical- Vs 4 and 7 and 8b

Called in all the chief priests and scribes

Called secret meetings to try and gather information from the wise men

To the outsider it would look like he wanted to seek out the Messiah and worship him, but in his heart was hate and contempt. (

Pretending to worship just by showing up and talking about Jesus, isn’t the same as worshipping Jesus.

Spoiled- Vs 16a

When Herod didn’t get his way he threw a fit

he was livid.

he was used to having people follow his every command

Temper tantrums- I’ll show them, I’ll just quit coming to church. I’ll cause havoc, I’ll make their life miserable. These are temper tantrums of spoiled individuals

Controlling- Vs 8 and 16b

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.

Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." "Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out. The lookout replied, "Steady, Captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship. The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship: 'We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the signal, "Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees." The captain said, "Send: "I'm a captain, change course twenty degrees.'" "I'm a seaman second-class," came the reply. "You had better change course twenty degrees." By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, "Send: 'I'm a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.'" Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse." We changed course.

He loved being in control.

He loved being the bully

He loved the fear in the peoples eyes

In vs 8 he tells the wise men what to do, fully expecting them to do it.

In vs 16 we see the outcome of and the reach that his control had over people. Little did he know that God had already prophesied about this in Jeremiah.

So was Herod really in control?

He had control over things of this world

But he could not control what God had planned for Jesus!

This still happens today: We like to control so much that we get in the way of the Holy Spirit trying to work in our life, in our family, in our jobs, and in our church!

2. What Can You Do to Fix It- (Tips from the Wise Men)

What Can You Do to Fix It- (Tips from the Wise Men)

a. Recognize Jesus for who He is- Vs 2

Recognize Jesus for who He is- Vs 2

b. Truly worship- vs 10, 11a

Truthful worship- vs 10, 11a

c. Avoid the Herods of this world- vs 12

Avoid the Herods of this world- vs 12

d. Eliminate Jealousy, envy, and strife- vs 2 and vs 11a shows unity. they came

Eliminate Jealousy, envy, and strife- vs 2 and vs 11a

shows unity. they came

shows unity. they came into the house together

they worshipped together

c. Realize that we all have our own unique and special gift to offer Jesus as a form of worship

Realize that we all have our own unique and special gift to offer Jesus as a form of worship- 11b

Conclusion:

Herod tried to kill the very baby that God sent to die for HIM!

When you display these Herodian characteristic flaws, you seek to put to death the spirit of Christianity and the spirit of Unity in the church and you kill the opportunity to witness to a lost person.

God still gets all the glory! Jesus came, He was spared, he lived a flawless sinless life and died on the cross to redeem you.

You have an opportunity Herod didn’t have today. Even though you may act like Herod at times, even if you think God won’t forgive you, even if you think God shouldn’t forgive you…He will. Recognize His grace, ask for His mercy, fall at His feet and plead for forgiveness and He will answer your prayer.

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