This event is only recorded in the book of Matthew.

1 – Predictable wrath (vs. 16)

There is the man who wants to protect his thrown and there is the one (Satan) behind the man who wants to kill the Saviour of the World.

• He instigates the wrath against the young children. Herod thought that the Wise Men had tricked him. Herod thought that the Wise Men had tricked him. He wants to kill all the children in Bethlehem. Some people are so evil that the world is a better place when they die! In the Old Testament when Nabal died things were better for David. See 1 Samuel 25:39. & Proverbs 11:10. There are shouts of joy when an evil person dies. Herod was insanely jealous about holding on to his throne. God looks after Jesus Christ.
• Intensity of the wrath. Herod was hot and bothered. Herod could not control his anger. Anger can be a very difficult thing. You need to learn how to control your anger. How can you control your anger?

1. Stop trying to justify.
2. Confess it to God.
3. Yield it to the Holy Spirit.
4. Get rid of some of the stress in your life. Stress is a joy buster. One of the ways of dealing with stress is to do regular exercise. Heart disease is bigger killer than cancer. It is important to eat right and exercise.
5. Learning how to laugh. Laughter makes you less stressful. A merry heart is medicine to the soul. See Proverbs 17:22.
6. Stay in the Word of God.

2 – Profound wickedness (vs. 16-18)

The decision has been made to get rid of all the babies.

• His attempt – Herod things he can foil the very plans of God. He is out to get rid of Jesus. It is not going to happen.
• His action – Herod calculates and murders those two years and under. The soldiers are butchering young children all over town. They go from house to house killing little children! This kind of butchery is unthinkable but this is what happened. Who is killing the children today? Some children are being killed before they are born by abortion. There are many young people being killed by drugs and alcohol. Our children have children when they are only eleven or twelve years of age. Our children are being killed by listening to rap music that incites them. Do parents care what their children are up to? We have to take responsibility before it is too late. Nobody wants to go the funeral of a child. It is harder to raise a child today. It will be harder in the future as perilous times come – as the Bible predicts.

Categories: Matthew