Herod took swift and thorough measures, as he thought, to crush his new
rival. He called the priests into his counsel and demanded to know where
the Christ should be born. Too often has the priest been subject to the
beck and call of the king. Bad men will use the church for their own
evil purposes when they can, and will then grow condescending and
complaisant towards the minister and liberal in their gifts. We must be
ready to receive and help any man, but we must beware of men that push
their way into the church for sinister ends. The church is no man's
tool, and when it is thus prostituted its power and glory are gone.

The priests knew their Bibles and, in answer to Herod's question, put
their finger on the very text and town. They knew where Christ was to be
born, but they did not know Christ when he was born. We may have an
exhaustive knowledge of the letter of the Bible and yet not know its
spirit; we may know many things about Christ and yet not know Christ.

Herod, having gained knowledge of Christ, immediately turned it against
Christ. He sent searchers after the child, falsely and wickedly
pretending that he also wanted to come and worship him. There is no
truth, or means of good, or gift of God so holy and blessed that men
will not turn it to evil ends. Afterward Herod, in blind but impotent
rage, sent soldiers and thrust a sword through every cradle in
Bethlehem; but the Child, sheathed in omnipotence, had escaped, and
Herod could sooner have crushed the earth flat than have hurt a hair of
his head.

Herod was the forerunner of a long line of enemies who have endeavored
to kill this Child. Pagan Rome poured the fires of ten dreadful
persecutions on the heads of his followers, but they could not
extinguish his name in fire and blood. Often have the fires of martyrdom