Year 9, Day 176: Matthew 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

One of the major themes of the Gospel stories is leadership.  In fact, it might be better said that this is one of the major themes of the Bible.  The main difference between the Gospels and the rest of the Bible is that while the Bible is about developing strong leadership within yourself and the community, the Gospel stories are additionally critical of the contrast between worldly leadership and godly leadership.  There is constant conflict between God’s leaders in the Gospels – primarily Jesus – and the worldly leadership over the regions of Jesus’ ministry.

For example, take Herod.  Herod meets the wise men, who have come simply to pay respects to the coming of the Hebrew Messiah.  Keep in mind that these are Magi, probably in the Persian tradition.  They aren’t even coming to see their messiah.  They are simply coming to pay respect to an important birth in another culture.  In this context, Herod meets with them.

Herod tells them to come back to him when they have found the Messiah so that he can worship, too.  It’s an outright lie.  Herod wants to kill the competitor, not worship.  Lesson number one about human leadership?  Human leaders with human agendas need to be vetted.  Far too many of them have their own agendas and are willing to outright lie to accomplish their vision.  Welcome to the world.

When the magi don’t come back to Herod, he goes around killing any child 2 years or younger.  Lesson number two is just as bad.  Human leaders with human agendas are also willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish their vision.  Even infanticide is not outside of Herod’s perspective.

Against Herod, contrast the leadership of Joseph.  God warns Joseph about what Herod is about to do and he listens.  He flees to Egypt.  He is willing to pick up his whole family and move to a foreign country in order to follow God.  He is happy to be a servant and follow God’s plan, not his own.

Furthermore, upon returning from Egypt he goes to Galilee instead of returning to Judea where his family would have been.  Once more he acts because of the Lord’s will.  Once more, he makes a decision based upon God ways instead of what would make sense or what he might desire.  Once more, Joseph thinks about what is best for Mary and Jesus.

Worldly leadership is self-centered.  Worldly leadership is about accomplishing its goals.  Godly leadership is about sacrifice and putting God’s will for our life first.

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