THESE verses complete the short account which Matthew gives of the birth and early life of Jesus. Like all the gospel writers the focus of the accounts are on the ministry of Jesus, the three years before his death, giving the largest portion to the account of his suffering and death for us. Matthew takes us to the childhood of Jesus by the end of this chapter but we are only told that which is important concerning the purpose of God for our salvation.

In these verses the conflict between good and evil stands out. Jesus had come to save people from death and hell and from Satan’s dominion. Straight away Satan is desperately active to seek to prevent this saving work of God. He sees his kingdom threatened and so he mobilises his agents to thwart the saving purpose of God. The actions of Herod so graphically told here are not properly understood unless we see this underlying warfare which Satan engages against God. It was Satan that brought sin into the world as we are told in the opening chapters of the bible, and it is Satan that does all he can keep human beings under his cruel rule. We will never have an answer to the problems in the world if we refuse to believe the biblical testimony to sin and Satan.

Herod illustrates the awful result of a person given over to sin and Satan. Herod coveted power and glory, riches and easy, and he gave himself to this, and so was overcome by evil. Such was his love of earthly ease and glory he would do even the most evil act to keep his power and ease. We can’t imagine how anyone could kill every baby boy under the age of 2 just because he sought to kill one who he felt threatened his wealth and position. Such is the power of evil in a person’s life. What is so tragic is that this evil in the heart blinds people and prevents them from thinking sensibly. If Herod had stopped to think her would have realised that the kingship of Jesus was no threat to his earthly ambitions, but in his blindness and fear, he let his anger take over to do such a terrible evil. We should not be surprised at this, for all down history people in power have acted in the same way, and we see it in our own world today in many countries, and even in Great Britain when people in power will do almost anything to remain in power. It is our blessing in Great Britain that through our Christian heritage we have a system of government and laws that prevent the excesses which occur in other countries.

We are told here that eventually Herod died. He had sought earthly glory and ease, and committed great evil to retain it. He lived without thought of the fact that he had to die, and afterwards was the judgement. When we see evil people flourishing and bringing suffering, let us remember that their life has to end, and so their evil stopped, and their just punishment brought upon them. Let us never envy those who are rich and in power. This life and its glory are only for a short time, and then comes eternity. It is better to be poor and insignificant, but to have been brought to repentance of our sins, and faith in Jesus, and so possess the gift of eternal life. The sufferings of this world are so small compared the with joy and blessing of the life in eternity which God has prepared for all that love him.

We read the pain in the homes all around Bethlehem and the locality with sympathy, but such things have always happened, and we have to learn from this that it is not God we have to blame, but the sinfulness of fallen human nature. We need to see from these verses that God has always acted to bring his love and mercy and salvation to this suffering world. While sin was killing, God was saving Jesus that he may suffer in our place to save us, so that we have a share in what Paul calls the ‘glorious liberty of the children of God’ which Jesus has won for all who believe on him.

Let us also see the heart warming and comforting proof that God is in this world for good, and he does guide and keep his people, and his plans for salvation can’t be overthrown by evil or Satan’s power. While Herod was plotting God was working for the protection of the Saviour of the world, and the completion of his plans to save. Before Herod could act God had acted to save Mary, Joseph and Jesus, and they were safe in Egypt before Herod moved to work his destruction. Then we see that when the danger had past God was still with the holy family to bring them back to Palestine. Even then, so that they would be safe Jesus could grow up in safety, God directed them to make their home in Nazareth. Let us learn from this that God is always watching over his people for good, and that he is guiding us throughout our lives. His plans for us are sure, and none will be allowed to be overthrown. Even in our failures and sufferings God’s purposes are still sure and being worked out. We need not be afraid, and for all circumstance he is there to keep us in his way, and strengthen us for all he plans for us. It is true that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

Let us learn also that God’s time is not our time, and that when things do not seem to be happening this does not mean God has deserted us, or that his plans have failed. Jesus grew up in Nazareth, and for the next 30 years or so it would seem that the purposes of God for salvation had been forgotten. It was not so. As Paul tells us in Galatians 4:4 God’s time is sure and the best - “When the time was fully come, God sent forth his Son ....” Everything was and is planned by God down to the last detail, and all will happen at the right time, and this is true for each individual believer. Let us take comfort from this.

Let us see two things revealed in these verses that are such a strength and comfort to us. One is the ministry of angels, and the other the evidence of God’s working in history fulfilled. Matthew mentions both here.

Matthew shows how all these events in the life of Christ were foretold. God had already planned them, and in spite of all the powers of sin and evil, each plan was fulfilled as prophesied. Jesus is not taken by surprise by events in history. He knows all about them and has taken them into account, and his victory in all things, and for each of his saved ones, is sure.