Wicked Leaders or Godly Leaders?

March 16th 2025

Matthew 2:4

Last week, we looked at Matthew 2:3, and saw that both Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled by the birth of Christ. In our first point, we learned that Herod was troubled because he was a bloodthirsty Tyrant, willing to do anything he could to remain in power. He was an illegitimate ruler both on Earthly standards (he wasn’t elected to office, but appointed by a foreign power), and on Divine standards (he wasn’t a descendent of David). He sought to placate the people under him by restoring the Temple, appealing to their faith…and then killed countless children in an attempt to kill Christ. We saw the perfect sarcasm of God in that Herod’s leisure Palace was in Jericho. God truly laughs at the kings of Earth who attempt to cast His laws from them (Ps. 2:1-6).  Herod was troubled by the birth of Jesus Christ, because all wicked political leaders are troubled by Christ.

In our second point last week, we understood that all Jerusalem was troubled by the birth of Jesus, because it meant an end to their self-made, works-based righteousness. We look at a number of sections of Scripture to see this, but most importantly we saw that Jesus was accounting to them the blood of the Saints (Mt. 23:35), and then they agreed with Him by saying this His own blood would be on their hands and the hands of their children (Mt. 27:25). We looked at the Chapter long rebuke of Matthew 23, where Jesus is, over and over again, revealing their illegitimate position as the spiritual rulers of His people, because their desire for power and authority led them to replacing God’s laws with their own. 

And finally, we finished last week with the Main Point that all leaders, be they in a family, officially elected or socially influential, have an obligation given to them by God, to point people to Jesus Christ. Every Pastor must point people to Christ. Every politician must govern according to the standards set forth in Scripture, every parent must raise up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), and every Business owner, School leader, or social media Influencer, all of them should be using the power that their position gives them, to lead and govern and influence people to become more and more like Christ. Everyone should be pointing everyone in their life to Christ. Either that, or be troubled by Him.

Point #1: Herod’s Gathering

If we were going to give Herod the benefit of the doubt this morning, it wouldn't be very hard. He did, afterall, go to the people that should have pointed him to Christ. We read that he gathered together all the Chief Priests and Scribes to learn where the Christ was to be born. However, being a descendant of Esau…Herod should have already known this. Being able to recall the prophecy in the next verse (which we will discuss next week), from Micah 5:2, was something that not only every Israelite was able to do, but because he was their leader, it further proves our claims from last Week. Good leaders need to not only point people to Christ, they need to know what the Scriptures teach about Him. This is why we have such a strong statement in James 3:1 → “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we all shall receive a stricter judgment.”. Those of us in this world that are in a position to influence or teach others, will be held to a higher standard than everyone else. 

This is how we have buildings that are called Churches, filled with people who call themselves Christians…being taught false, blasphemous things about God. Because their Pulpits are occupied by Wolves, and their teachings are Doctrines of Demons (1 Tim. 4:1). How is it possible that the unchanging words of God, having been written down for thousands of years, aren't known by everyone in our society? Because the Leaders that our culture has elevated to positions of authority, are nothing but self-righteous, self-centered charlatans who care more about their Pulpit than they do their people. Woe to the snakes and vipers who fleece the flock of God.

Now…extending the benefit of the doubt just a little bit more, the Scribes and Pharisees were the spiritual leaders of Israel. And though Herod was going to them for selfish purposes (we’ll get there), he was unintentionally doing something Biblical. Yes, even within a person's self-serving actions, it is impossible to escape the manner in which God created humanity. He “hardwired” us to seek out authority. To place someone, be it an individual or a group, over ourselves. Plainly speaking, it is human nature to recognize authority.

This could very easily tie in with the truth that God created us to Worship, and all of us Worship something or someone. To explore the hearts and minds of other people, is how we have always functioned. We listened to the snake that day in the Garden (Gen. 3:1-6), when we should have been listening to God, but nevertheless…God designed us to listen to be led. Which shows us the reason why James 3:1 might hit a little harder than we want it to. Before moving on, I must ask: Who are you listening to, children of God? Are they a positive, Godly influence in your life? Is their advice to you grounded in Scripture? Do they point you to what the Bible says about Jesus? Or (with a touch of sarcasm here), are you so special, so strong, that you don't need to listen to anyone else but yourself? If so…if you yourself are the only voice you trust, what do you do when you lead yourself astray? How do you cope with the sins that you have convinced yourself to commit? Thank God for the restraining power of the Holy Spirit in my own heart, and the Godly influence of others in my life. 

And here is where the benefit of the doubt runs dry. While on its surface we can say that Herod did something Godly, but given everything we learned about him last week, this gathering of the Chief Priests and Scribes should raise some red flags.

The Priests were those responsible for maintaining the Temple and the sacrifices, with the Chief Priest being the one who would enter the Holy of Holies once a year. And the Scribes were the official interpreters of the Old Testament, telling people how to apply the Law in their daily life, knowing it in and out by their continually copying of it. These two groups of people, each wanting the final say over the spiritual affairs of their Nation, and each ignoring God’s words to remain in power (Mt. 23), found a common enemy in Jesus Christ.

Nothing unites unregenerate people

more than a common hatred of Christ.

This hints at Point #2 this morning, but before we get there, we need to look a little more into this gathering that Herod called.

Because The Bible is real History that really happened, we can look at (as we have the past few weeks) “extra-Biblical” sources to help us move forward. The ancient Historian Josepehus writes that Herod made numerous changes to the Priesthood in Israel, out of his fear of losing power.  He would stick his fingers into the God-established Levitical Priesthood to politick his way into remaining in power. He would remove some from power, forcibly if needed, and appoint others who he could keep in his pocket.

Do we see this in our current world, brothers and sisters? Do we see Pastors and Politicians taking action and making claims contrary to what the Bible says, to gain power, remain there, and then increase it? Do we see injustice being used by those over us, to keep them on their throne? Do we see them allowing wickedness to appease the people beneath them...because to stand on the Word would mean they lose their position? Should our leaders take advice from the spiritual authorities in our culture? Yes, of course. But should they do it to remain in power, when the Bible itself says they ought not be? Because that is exactly what Herod was doing. Meaning, that Herod did something Godly for selfish and wicked reasons.

He was lying when he said he wanted to go and Worship the new King, and the Chief Priests and Scribes helped him stain his hands with the blood of the Israelite children. One final thing before moving into Point #2. The Chief Priests and Scribes did something Biblical by telling Herod the Prophecy of Micah 5:2, but did so, just like Herod, for selfish reasons. They sought to remain in power, knowing that that long-promised King would destroy their self-made authority…and they were the ones who should have known better. They had the Law and the Covenants (Rom. 9:4), but ignored it all to stay in power. Those who should have known the right thing…didn't do it. Then, we can look at what the Wise Men did. Those outside the people of God, the Gentiles, those who didn't know of the adoption, the glory, the Covenants, the Law, the service of God, or the promises (Rom. 9:4), did the right thing…by deceiving Herod (Mt. 2:16).

This happened, because God does everything that He says He will do. His “saying” is His “doing.” He promised to call people who weren't His, out of darkness and into His glorious light. To rescue His children from every side of every border. We read this truth in Romans 9:25 & 26 → “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.” [26] “And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.”

Point #2: What unites a people?

As we just saw in Herod and his gathering, when people use their free will to act in wicked ways for selfish reasons, God still reigns supreme, using them to accomplish His will. We can look at numerous examples in Scripture, such as Joseph and his brothers (Gen. 50:20); Pharaoh in Egypt (Ex. 9:16); and even in the wicked choice of Pilate to Crucify the Lord of Glory (Acts 4:27-28). Over and above everything and everyone, Jesus Christ is sovereign. Doing all that He pleases, for His reasons and His alone. 

And before our stone hearts are replaced with ones of blood, we hate this. We want to be the final decider of everything pertaining to life and Godliness (2 Pet.1:3), and we are willing to do everything that we can to hold on to our impotent power. One of the actions we take to do this, to try and usurp God’s sovereignty over our life, is appointing leaders to rule over us in accordance with that same desire. This is exactly what Herod was doing when he meddled with the Priesthood. We officially elect or socially recognize Leaders who will do what we say, instead of what God says; people who will bend to political pressure, family pressure, or economic pressure. Our sin nature loves it when rulers can be bought and bribed, because it means we can continue to behave however our sin nature wants us to. This truth is seen in several places: (Italics added)

Hosea 8:4 →  “They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves— That they might be cut off.”

Amos 5:26 → “You also carried Sikkuth your king And Chiun, your idols, The star of your gods, Which you made for yourselves.”

Deuteronomy 28:36 → “The Lord will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods—wood and stone.”

1st Samuel 8:19 & 20 → “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, [20] that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.

Appointing wicked leaders over ourselves happens not simply

because of a unifying hatred towards God…

but because it gives the illusion of righteousness.

How easily can someone here in America claim that their actions are moral and righteous, because their leaders approve of them? “How dare you Christians say I am in sin…our Governor says I’m not!” How easily can a Church member claim they didn't sin…when their Pastor approves of their actions? “How dare you say that Divorce was unbiblical…our Pastor says it was ok!” When we set up wicked leaders over us, who endorse and encourage our sins, and then a Christian comes along and says otherwise, it is a religious attack against them, because we are attacking their self-made gods. This is why we are met not with logical and Scriptural responses, but religious zeal. You are waging a Holy War, children of God.

And when a people, be it a Family, A Church, or a Nation, is united under a leader that approves of their sin, it won't be long before that Family, Church, or Nation, falls apart. This is why Babylon fell, this is why Israel fell, this is why Rome fell, and this will be (unless we turn and repent) America will fall. 

“Time-Out”

Now, it must be said that there are numerous reasons why any group falls apart. Yes the leaders can be to blame, however, it belongs to the people as well. There is a shared blame, both on the Leader and the People, when any group falls. This is seen in 2nd Chronicles 20:32-33 when we read this → “And he (Jehoshaphat) walked in the way of his father Asa, and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. [33] Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers.” 

Jehoshaphat did “what was right in the sight of the Lord”...but there were still altars to pagans gods in his Nation. Wicked people can have Godly Rulers, and Godly people can have wicked Rulers. Which means then, that if any group, be it a Family, Church, or Nation desires to live a Godly life, it must be from the bottom-up, not the top-down. 

“Time In”

Without dragging this Sermon into a multi-hour dissertation on what unites people, for the sake of our text this morning, we can understand that Herod and the Chief Priests & Scribes had a common enemy, and a common enemy unites people. And before God saved us…we were His enemies (Col. 1:21). Before God saved us, we surrounded ourselves with others who hated Him in all of the specific ways that we hated Him, chose from amongst ourselves Leaders who aligned with our hate, and sought to overthrow and rebel against any that might hold us accountable to the Word of God. This is exactly what we read in 2nd Chronicles 36:14 → “Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.”

The wicked Priests of the Old Testament did what their wicked people desired. And the wicked Priests of the New Testament, did the exact same thing. The people and their leaders are both accountable to God. The Leaders for how they rule, and the people for why they appoint them. (As a quick aside - this is how we came to the definition of a Christian Nation being: “One whose laws, and the process by which they are codified, are loved and approved of by God.) Both the people, and those over them…and how they got that position to begin with, must be in alignment with what God says about people and about Rulers.

Before we move into our Main Point this morning, I would be remiss to only speak of the evil that unites us, and not mention the good. To quote Longfellow: “And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said; "For hate is strong, And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men.” ”

Hate is strong, but our God is stronger. Evil is strong, but our God reigns supreme over all of it. Over every evil action that evil men could ever enact, God not only allows them, but uses them as the means by which His sovereign will unfolds in our life. We saw this in Point #1 where the wicked actions of Joseph’s brothers, Pharaoh, and Pilate, were all used by God for His intentions.

And when hate seeks to unite,

the love of God divides.

It divides dark from light, evil from good, and the children of the Devil (Jn. 8:44) from His children (Jn. 10:27). This is why Christ Himself said this, in Matthew 10:34-37 → “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. [35] For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; [36] and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ [37] He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

The love of God divides evil from good…and then unites the good in a bond that can never be broken. We, brothers and sisters of Christ, if indeed you have repented of your sins and believed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the grave He refused to remain within was one time reserved for you…then you are united in a Family that can never, and will never be broken. We are bound to one another with flowing streams of golden blood, drawn from divine veins. It is blood that can never be washed away, but on the contrary, it is blood that will wash away everything else, and it will remain on us for all eternity.

When we reach that land of endless Sun, where death and sorrow dare not dwell, when our faith gives way to sight and we behold with tired and sin-sick eyes the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2), we will join with one voice the mighty chorus of angels and elders who all fall before the Throne (Rev. 4:10) and we will worship forever the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World (Rev. 13:8). We will worship Him for saving us despite our sin (Ro. 5:8); we will worship Him for His Law (Ps. 119:164); we will worship Him for His grace (Eph. 1:6); and we will worship Him simply for who He is (Rev. 4:11).

Side by side with other redeemed sinners, with those who have sinned in ways we have, and those who have sinned in ways we never would have imagined, our voices will sing one single song of praise and glory to Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords. Where will you stand in that Heavenly choir, you child of God? Will you be buffeted by Moses and Mozart? Will the voice of Nebuchadnezzar ring in one ear as the harmony of Nicodemus fills the other? Will you stand beside your Grandparents in that mighty family circle in the sky, with your Grandchildren to the other?

There is far more that unites the Children of God,

than there could ever be that divides us.

 So when we go about our good Christian lives, living as Sheep amongst Wolves (Mt. 10:16)  and Wheat amongst Tares (Mt. 13:24-30), working and loving and evangelizing and doing all of those things that our King has instructed us in (Col. 3:17)...without ignoring the truth from last week that all of us influence others, we need to understand that the Leaders we place over us, officially or socially, have a standard that ought be met. 

Point #3: The Main Point

With our Verse keenly in mind this morning, let us draw to a close. We looked at the wickedness of Herod as he sought out the sycophants who would say things he wanted to hear; and the perverse Priests and Scribes who said it. We looked at the truth that evil unites a people in their common hatred of God, but also, that the Holy Spirit living within us binds us so much closer to other believers than human blood ever could.

Nevertheless, however, we still live in a World with Leaders and Followers. There are those among us with more influence, more power, and more authority, and we need to recognize and accept this truth. Yes, all of us influence the people in our life, but the truth remains that God created spheres of authority in this World that we all fall into. As a child, you have a Father. As a wife, you have a Husband. As an adult, you’ll have a Boss, a Governor, a President. As a Christian, you’ll have a Pastor & Elders. He gave us these authorities for our good and His glory (1 Pet. 2:11-17),  which means that God elevating some to positions of authority and not others…is a blessing. 

It is a good thing that we are able to go to someone else who is wiser, smarter, more powerful, or more influential, because it is how our “days may be long” (Ex. 20:12). It is how we are sanctified, and grow into the men and women that God has destined us to become. Which means then, that to refuse that there are others who are wiser or more educated than we are, is to set ourselves up for failure. To never confide in another blood-bought Saint, whose own sin stained that old rugged Cross just as much as ours did, is to let the iron of your heart remain dull (Pr. 27:17), and thereby fuel your own sin. We all need another voice beyond our own, to ensure that ours is in-line with the Bible, because our hearts, even though they have been made new, are still home to our sin nature (Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7:15-24). Willingly, and enthusiastically submitting to others you admit are wiser, is how our iron is sharpened and how our minds are transformed (Rm. 12:1&2). It is how, when the slings and arrows of our enemy come barreling towards us, we can hide behind the shield of faith that other believers have been carrying for longer than we have.

But, that truth can only be seen when we reject the example of Herod, and go to someone who will hold us accountable to God. When we cut off the hand, or gouged out the eye that has caused us to sin, we need to go to someone else. Go to the one with a missing hand, before you have to cut yours off. Go to the man with a missing eye, before you gouge yours out…and learn from his mistakes. Also…go to the one with both hands and both eyes, asking him how he still has both. We all need someone who has been through life, to learn from their failures and from their successes. And if we don't, if we assume that we ourselves are “just fine thank you very much”, and that everyone in a position of authority over us is either corrupt, or attained it through underhanded and wicked ways, then it won't be long until we think the same things about God. This is why God gave us numerous commands to obey our authorities:

Romans 13:1 → “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

Titus 3:1 → “...be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work”

1 Peter 2:13-16 → “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, [14] or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. [15] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— [16] as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. [17] Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

We Christians should be the best citizens, the best “Followers”, the most Law abiding, rule following people in every population we find ourselves living within. Now, before any projectiles come flying towards this Pulpit with examples of my own life, because everyone who knows me will agree that I can have a problem with authority from time to time; and without getting too far off track; we are to only obey the authorities over us until they command what God forbids, or forbid what God commands. This is why we all love the story of Daniel and the Lions Den; Rack, Shack, and Benny in the Furnace; the Disciples in Acts 5, and Paul running from the cops in 2nd Corinthians 11:32 & 33. And therein lies our Main Point today:

Good Leaders act like God, while pointing

people to the God they admit they aren't. 

This is what Herod should have done all along. He should have kept his nose out of where it didn't belong, leaving the Priesthood alone, even if it meant he lost power. The Chief Priests and Scribes should have taken a hint from Rahab in Joshua 2, the Jewish Midwives in Exodus 1, or the Wise Men who deceived Herod in Matthew 2:16. They had plenty of examples to follow. 

Good leaders point people to God, through word and deed, with everything in their life. They repent when they sin (2 Sam. 12:13; Neh. 1:6-7);  they use God’s laws to guide their people (2 Ki. 23:1-3; Ps. 2:10-12); and they seek to continually, day by day, transform their thinking (Rm. 12:1&2). They are “God’s Ministers” (Rm. 13:4), who are worthy of “double honor” (1 Tim. 5:17) and should be held in the highest regard (1 Thess. 5:12&13). Godly Leaders, like Paul before them, can say: “Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1), which brings our Main Point better into focus.

While our Leaders ought to be obeyed, honored, and held in high regard, with God giving us several commands to make this clear, they themselves are not the Standard. Jesus Christ, His life and Word, are the Standard. The Bible is the Standard. God tells us this plainly, in Malachi 2:7 → “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

The Pastor, the Elder, the Priest, should be speaking what God has to say about life, and the people under him should be going to him to seek the Law of God from what he has to say. Herod did a superficially righteous thing in gathering the Chief Priests and Scribes, knowing they were in his pocket. But we go to those who will never not point us to Jesus Christ. Don't be like Herod you children of God. Neither follow his example, nor his words.