Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 6:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
“Mirror, mirror on the wall . . .”
These are famous words of the Wicked Queen in the Snow White story as she daily inquired who was “the fairest of them all”. And the Queen was absolutely violently evil when she learned that she was not the fairest.
Today’s Daily Lesson is that moment for King Herod, as he learned of some other king of the Jews besides himself. And the Scriptures were his mirror of truth.
But it was not only the Scriptures themselves, but also its interpreters who dared to tell the truth. And it’s stunning that they did so.
These Priests and teachers were not corrupted. They were not his “spiritual advisors” or “faith cabinet” or his anything. The Scriptures say they were Priests and teachers OF THE PEOPLE. They were Priests and teachers of the law FOR THE PEOPLE. They did not work for Herod. Nor had they sold their souls to him. And when he asked, they did not tell him what his itching ears wanted to hear. They told him the truth.
Would that we had more like them today.
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