Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, 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 inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:1-6)
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (Hebrews 4:14)
Thoughts: The chief priests were called in by Herod to find out where the prophets say the king will be born. They knew the answer- Bethlehem. They told the king who told the wise men. But there was no indication that any priest went with the magi or went separate from them to Bethlehem to check out their story. Perhaps they did not believe the wise men, and thought they were superstitious star gazers.
Indications are that Joazar, son of Boethus was the high priest from 4 BC to 6 AD. The Boethus were Saducees. They believed in the Old Testament Law, but not in the other books of the Bible. They did not believe in miracles or the interaction of God with life. Joesphus xiii.1 indicates that this high priest was very secular and heavily influenced by the Romans. Every pattern of his before would indicate that he would not believe that God could intervene in history. There have always been religious leaders who knew what the Bible said, but refused to really believe it or act on it. There are many today who know the content of the scriptures well, they just don't follow the way of the Lord found in scripture- making up their own secular- non-God-way. It is terribly sad and amazing that the Jewish high priest could not recognize the great high priest-- Jesus.
We should not deny the power or ability of God to act in life. Nor should we know the facts of scripture but not believe the truth of scripture. Scripture is not a fact book, but a book of faith.
Indications are that Joazar, son of Boethus was the high priest from 4 BC to 6 AD. The Boethus were Saducees. They believed in the Old Testament Law, but not in the other books of the Bible. They did not believe in miracles or the interaction of God with life. Joesphus xiii.1 indicates that this high priest was very secular and heavily influenced by the Romans. Every pattern of his before would indicate that he would not believe that God could intervene in history. There have always been religious leaders who knew what the Bible said, but refused to really believe it or act on it. There are many today who know the content of the scriptures well, they just don't follow the way of the Lord found in scripture- making up their own secular- non-God-way. It is terribly sad and amazing that the Jewish high priest could not recognize the great high priest-- Jesus.
We should not deny the power or ability of God to act in life. Nor should we know the facts of scripture but not believe the truth of scripture. Scripture is not a fact book, but a book of faith.
Prayer: Help us, O Lord, to believe this Christmas.
(Saduccees)
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