The Three Nativities, Pt. 4 - Matthew and Illegitimacy

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.

Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, 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." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son."

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. there he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Three separate realities mark the beginnings of the tale that Matthew spins. Our first verse notes them all. Herod is reigning in Judea as King of the Jews. Jesus is born in his hometown in Bethlehem. And somewhere in the East, a group of exotic astrologers begins a spiritual pilgrimage anticipating visiting one of the world’s great wonders, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

I

A couple of years ago, Episcopal priest, Joy Carroll Wallis, spouse of the Reverend Jim Wallis of the Sojourners Community penned a provocative essay that was shared widely in progressive Christian circles. Given the “cultural war” rants about putting Christ back into Christmas, Joy spoke instead of moving beyond the traditional sentimentality associated with our celebrations and suggested the need to “Put Herod back in Christmas” as well. She writes:

No sooner have the wise men left….then King Herod plots to kill Jesus. He is so determined that he is willing to sacrifice many innocent lives in order to get to this one baby. Herod recognizes something about Jesus that in our sentiment we fail to see: that the birth of this child is a threat to his kingdom, a threat to that kind of domination and rule. Jesus challenges the very power structures of this evil age. Herod has all the male infants in Bethlehem murdered…..

Geza Vermes also speaks about Herod in an essay that preceded his recent book,

Matthew's Christmas narrative also refers to the providential escape of Jesus from Herod's murder plot. Here, the Evangelist did not need to cite Biblical authorities such as Isaiah. Herod's record of atrocities was a matter of common knowledge. He was responsible for putting to death his favorite wife, three of his sons, his brother-in-law, his uncle, as well as his mother in law and her father, together with countless other Jews. He was certainly capable of murdering small children.

The main plot of this story is court intrigue. Herod who ruled from 73 BCE until 4 BCE where he died in Jericho is a master of political soap operas. He was deeply involved in the disposition of the Hasmonian rule of Israel. He came to power in Judea as client King playing both ends against the middle in Rome after the murder of Caesar.

II

Matthew talks of three different gifts presented by the visitors: frankincense, gold and myrrh. But he does not number the so-called wise men [sic]. By the mid-eighth century, Christian tradition generally assumes there were three visitors and can describe them at length. In the Eastern Church a variety of different names are given for the three, but in the West the names have been settled as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. The names of the Magi derive from an early 6th century Greek manuscript in Alexandria, translated into the Latin Excerpt Latina Barbar (see Wiki)

Scholars point out that these magi are foreign and many make the case that they symbolize the Gentile world worshiping the new-born Christ. Certainly, in our blended pageants, between shepherds and wise men bowing down there can be discerned symbols of the world’s adoration. In Matthew as Matthew, I am not so sure. Certainly, this gospel is emerging at the time of a great influx of gentile believers. Do the wise men symbolize the new Gentile membership in the still Jewish sect?

The church is struggling mightily with how to receive these converts. Matthew, when compared with Paul, represents a more conservative voice in this discussion. Matthew’s Jesus speaks of not abolishing any part of the law. Does his cryptic comment about those who preach the breaking of certain commandments as the “least of us” imply a slam against Paul who also speaks of himself as “the least of brethren?” It seems to me that the jury is still out on these matters.

Our foreign visitors provide a bit of comic relief to what is generally a horrific story. They are religious tourists, making a long pilgrimage to the temple city. They arrive just in time for a party. It will be quite a show. Both Palestinian and Diaspora Jews are making their celebrative journey to the holy city for festival. Three times a year, for those who can, the natural cyclic seasons of harvest are punctuated with 8 day holidays.

Herod is a ruthless ruler, particularly as regards the extra taxation collected by his agents to pay for his massive yet renowned building projects. The temple mount while still unfinished (it will take another 50 or so years to complete and then shortly thereafter, it will be destroyed!) is a sight to behold. Massive stone blocks, gold decorations, huge courtyards with noisy groups of instrumentalists parading like a modern day Mardi Gras celebration. These are days to remember.

Our wise men’s astrological studies reveal a new star (a symbol of royal authority) rising. So in our story, wanting to pay homage, they go to the palace, asking to honor the new “King of the Jews.” I’m not sure this is the smartest question to ask the present “King of the Jews.” But on face value, this seems like the way to go. The problem, of course, is that Herod and his family are not of the lineage of David. Neither, we should note were the Hasmonian rulers, who were Levitical priests, but not in line to be Davidic princes.

Lest we forget, it is important to remember that the notion of a hereditary Davidic monarchy with the centralization of worship in Jerusalem was not the only political model ascribed to by the Jews The Davidic line ruling the 12 tribes of the nation only lasted for two generations finally deteriorating into civil war between the more traditional divisions of Northern and Southern Kingdoms with the Northern commitment not to hereditary succession, but to the emergence of charismatic leadership in each generation. Many were still skeptical of monarchy at all, preferring a rule of council. However, with the destruction of the north and the resettlement of that territory by others, a people that would in time become the Samaritans, one model survived.

Our text notes that Herod was afraid, shook up about the idea that a true King of the Jews might have been born. He knows that he is illegitimate and so he consults those who might understand asking for more information only to be told what every body already knows that such an heir would be born in Bethlehem, the birthplace of King David himself.

Herod pretends interest in paying homage himself and sends the wise men to investigate. All the while, he makes ready troops who will eliminate this challenge to his power and legacy.

I suppose that there is a sub-plot with an ironic twist on the question of legitimacy given the questionable circumstances and explanations surrounding Mary’s pregnancy. We have grown sensitive to the fact that there are no illegitimate children, just illegitimate relationships between parents. But if there is any question about whether Jesus might be properly understood as an heir, the star erases doubt as it hoovers like a spotlight hanging over the house where our family resides.

Following their visit to the newly born monarch, in a dream, the wise men leave town by another route. There is no angel for them, but even naïve wise men get the message right sometimes. Herod ain’t a nice guy. As Homer Simpson regularly exclaims, “Duh!”

As troops descend into town slaughtering male toddlers under two, much like Pharaoh who claimed legitimacy in his rule subjugating the Israelites, Joseph is warned by an angel again in a dream and departs for sanctuary in Egypt. Returning only later to Nazareth because Archelaus has succeeded his father and the danger persists. Because of his brutal policies, he is disposed by Rome who then begin a long period of Roman rule of Judea by proconsuls, the most notorious of which will be Pilate.

In a satirical reversal of expectations, Matthew has emphasized Herod’s illegitimacy by crafting a tale where danger lurks in the Promised Land and safety and hospitality is extended in the land of previous occupation and mistreatment.

When our story points out that Herod is afraid, it also mentions that so too are the people of Jerusalem, now destroyed at the time of Matthew’s writing. His gospel narrative is in fact bookmarked by the birth and murder of the rightful King of the Jews. It does not take much speculation to see that Matthew’s hostility toward the some of the people of Jerusalem with their accommodation with Rome especially in the lynching of Jesus as part of the cause of the destruction of the Temple city. I make this comment carefully, for at this time the struggle between the Judaism of the Pharisees and the proclamations of the Christian apocalyptic Jews aligned with Jesus is an intra-religious dispute. As Judaism and Christianity became separate religions, these texts take on a more sinister meaning and Jews become labeled Christ killers.

III

The question of legitimacy has not faded over the years. In our election and public policy debates the question rears its head more often than not. Closely associated with this struggle is the issue of authority. In my preparations of adult curriculum materials for laity, I am struck at how often Jesus is asked, “By what authority do you say and do the things that you say and do?” Do my diplomas and six years of graduate study make what I say more legitimate? Can I speak with greater authority?

Human consciousness has shifted radically in light of the changes we have experienced in our world and in our relationships. Once parochial and rural in lifestyles, we are now global and urban people in outlook even if we live in rural areas. Our spirituality has shifted from religious consciousness where meaning is transcendent to a secular-religious consciousness where the sacred is found in the midst of our experience.

Questions of authority have now become questions of authenticity For example, the Bible is not important because it is seen as having some sort of abstract authority, it is important in our lives because it is authentic, because it is real, because it speaks of our day to day experience of profound living and faithfulness.

While monarchial titles for God (Yahweh) speak less to many of us in a world not ruled by Lords and Kings, Matthew’s story can still speak because it wrestles with the daily struggle we all have with legitimacy.

Joy Carroll Wallis reminds us that, “Herod represents the dark side of the gospel. He reminds us that Jesus didn't enter a world of sparkly Christmas cards or a world of warm spiritual sentiment. Jesus enters a world of real pain, of serious dysfunction, a world of brokenness and political oppression.” In this Christmas season, as we worship Jesus as God’s participation with us in this dangerous world, we can celebrate that indeed, the sovereignty of Yahweh is never in question, repentance is always welcome and salvation is surely at hand.

See also:

The Three Nativities, Pt.1 – Introduction

The Three Nativities, Pt 2 - Lineages

The Three Nativities, Pt. 3 – Matthew and Gospel

This essay is part of a series written in memory of Judy Sparks Montgomery

© John C. Montgomery – All Rights Reserved 2007

Photo used by permission: I-Stock Photo

Blog entry cross-posted on 7 Villages