Herod was a master builder, thinker, strategist, and a manipulator. To win the favor of the Jews, he tore down Zechariah’s temple and build a third temple.  This temple would be label as one of the eight wonders of the ancient world.  Nothing compared to this building in all the Roman empire.  The Jewish people were proud, especially the religious leaders, of their temple.   This one act gave Herod the ability to manipulate the Jewish leadership.  He did. 

 

When Jesus was born, Herod was in the midst of several building projects.  All because he was afraid of losing his kingdom.  The Jewish people supported his projects, after all he gave them a glorious temple.  The Wise Men showed up asking for information of a new king, the Jewish leadership gave away the prophecy and their souls all because Herod had built them a new temple.

 

It is interesting how easily people are manipulated.  Mark Twain once said, “It is easy to make people believe a lie, it is difficult to make them believe the truth.”   It is that way in our society today, in our churches today.

 

Do not listen to people, even me.  Always check everything against the writing in red in the Bible.  Those words are Jesus’s and they are never wrong.  Think about it.