Herod - faith without repentance

 

Herod – faith without repentance

Matthew 2:3,4,7,16
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.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, 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.
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 Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

King Herod is right in the middle of all this, as was Pilate at the crucifixion. He was not Jewish, but being in Jerusalem, he would have been familiar with Jewish ways, practice, beliefs, and hopes; and he would have heard about the Coming One. So, when the wise men appear in Jerusalem and cause a stir asking about Christ, he was troubled. He knew who to ask too – he “demanded” of the chief priests and scribes, Where is Christ to be born?

This is interesting. Herod does not appear to have the hope of Christ, yet he believed the wise men that Christ had been born. He believed the chief priests and scribes that Christ was to be born in Bethlehem. He had faith, yet this faith had no affect on him - he was not moved to obedience as Joseph; he was not moved to worship as the wise men. He was moved to seek Christ, but not directly and, it turns out, with evil intent. What’s going on? How can he have faith but receive no blessing from God? This is powerful: Herod had faith without repentance.

He loved his position as king, he loved wielding power, he loved indulging his passions. Joseph was minded to divorce Mary, but when the angel said, “Marry the girl”, he changed his mind and said, Yes. The wise men were living a fine life in the east, but when they saw the star they left that life and came to worship Christ. Yet when Herod heard of Christ, rather than bow to the King, he sought to slay Him so he might continue as sovereign; rather than turn from his iniquity, he sought to kill Him so he might continue in his sin. He believed but to no avail, because he refused to repent.

This is why the Bible everywhere speaks of turning to the Lord.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Be converted sounds passive, like it is something that happens to you or is done for you, but this word is actually an imperative, just like repent: Repent and turn. As in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 ...in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad... how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Their faith in God moved them to turn to God and away from their idols, that they might serve God and wait for his Son from heaven (see v 10).

What does Herod tell me about Christ? Christ is king. He is a mighty king - simply by being born He is a threat to Herod. He brooks no competition. I cannot be king, He is king. I cannot be lord, He is Lord. I cannot be my own savior, He is Savior!

What then does Herod teach me about faith? If I would have faith that avails with God, that secures His blessings and grace, it must be accompanied by repentance, a turning from self and sin. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. If I persist in my own way, living my life my way, my faith is empty; if I continue in my sin, my faith is vain. Repentance should be a recurring theme in my life.

Depth of mercy! Can there be
Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.

Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.
(Charles Wesley, 1740; to Take My Life and Life and Let it Be; repeat final line)


TUESDAY: The chief priests and scribes