“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.”
And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him. Herod's stated intention — that I too may come and worship — is the language of worship applied to the purpose of murder. The lie is the lie of power dressed in religious language: the claim of reverence masking the intent to destroy. Matthew's gospel will return repeatedly to this pattern of religious language serving irreligious ends — whitewashed tombs (23:27), prayer performed to be seen by others (6:5), calling Jesus Lord while doing what he has not commanded (7:21). The Magi are not taken in; verse 12 records that they were warned not to return to Herod.
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