Dec. 21, 2025

Series: Journeys of Faith:    12-21-25

Declaring the Truth: Herod

Matthew 2:1–6 (ESV) ¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (or, Herod the King of the Jews), behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 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.’ ”

The Talmudic Rabbis said, “One who has not seen Herod’s Temple has never seen a beautiful thing.” (Bava Batra 4a)

Historians said, “Herod was brutish and a stranger to all humanity.”

Herod was a very complicated person:

• Racially he was Arab from Northern Arabia. 
• Religiously he was sort of __________________.
• Culturally he was Greek.
• Politically he was ___________________. 

• The Herodium was only 2-3 miles from Bethlehem…

Matthew 2:1–3 (ESV) ¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (or, Herod the King of the Jews), behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Matthew 2:7–8 (ESV) ⁷ Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew 2:13 (ESV) ¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Matthew 2:12, 16 (ESV) ¹² And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way… ¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

• Herod had an _______________________ Faith

• Definition of FAITH – Acting like God is Telling the _________.

THREE LEVELS OF FAITH: 

“Graphe” – The Writings        The Word ______________________

Matthew 2:3-5 (ESV) ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled…⁴and 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 (Gk. “Graphe”) by the prophet: 

“Logos” – The Message          The Message ___________________

John 1:1 (ESV) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, (Gk. “Logos”) and the Word (Gk. “Logos”) was with God, and the Word (Gk. “Logos”) was God.

John 1:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ The Word (Gk. “Logos”) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 5:46 (NIV) ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.

Matthew 2:16 (ESV) ¹⁶ Herod… killed all the male children in Bethlehem…

“Rhema” – The Declaration       The Declaration ______________

MARY:

Luke 1:37-38 (NIV) ^37 “For no word (Gk. “Rhema”) from God will ever fail.” ³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word (Gk. “Rhema”) to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

SHEPHERDS:

Luke 2:8–11 (NIV) ⁸ there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby... ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them... ¹⁰ “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:15–18 (NIV) ¹⁵ the shepherds…¹⁶ hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word (Gk: “Rhema” a Declaration) concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

THE SECRET WEAPON OF CHRISTMAS:

Ephesians 6:17 (NIV) ¹⁷ Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (Gk. “Rhema”) of God.