Emo Tenorio Shomer

I humbly submit that the Pharisees were well aware of the prophecies to some degree concerning the coming of Messiah, as they answered, after Herod inquired. But they missed the signs of the times because of their sinful human nature. 
(Matthew 2:4; Matthew 2:5; Matthew 16:3; Matthew 16:6; Acts 23:8)

Herod's uncontrolled ambition led him to murder his father-in-law, several of his ten wives and two of his own sons to maintain his position with Israel's conquerors and as a skilled politician he also introduced Greek culture (Hellenization) for Rome. The hall marks of his reign and life would be intrigue, architecture, paranoia and tyrannical cruelty toward any threat, real or imagined. (Acts 12:3)

Herod the great was a schemer who clawed his way to the title of king of the Jews placed on him by Octavian who later became the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar. Herod was not completely Jewish, as his father was an Idumean named Antipater and his mother Cyprus was the daughter of an Arab sheik making him an Edomite.
(Note; Jewish kings come from the tribe of Judea) 

During this time Israel was a buffer zone of sorts between the Roman and Parthian empires. Herod had fled to Rome and was appointed king, but three more years of war would past, ending with a five month siege of Jerusalem before Herod could safely enter the city protected by the Romans as their client king. 

On to this crowded stage a caravan of strangers appearing from the East, (friend or foe) knocking over the apple cart, inquiring about a new born king of the Jews (the real one). (Matthew 2:2)

Knowing Herod's temperament well, they and everyone else were very cautious in their ways, for they knew it would not end well for anyone within his reach to upset him and much less for anyone delivering very bad news to their sadistic appointed false king.
(Matthew 2:3; Matthew 2:16)

In the Lord's freedom and loving kindness always..................warrior on

January 27 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Wambui Mburu

Shalom
I agree with all the answers above and add what the Lord later said Himself:

John 5:38-40
38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Even then they searched the Scriptures but they did not have Abba's word abiding in them, were still 'not willing' to receive the Giver of life. 

As it is written in John 1:11 He came to His own,[c] and His own[d] did not receive Him,

We pray that even now amongst His peope Israel that many will receive Yeshua the One they pierced, and be given in His amazing mercy and grace, the right to become chidren of God.

April 03 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lena Wms Student @Christ Gospel Church, S.S.Teacher, Observer

Wow, my Brother you have stepped into a proverbial den of bears! Herod called for the Pharisees when the Wise men from the East arrived. They were the ones that searched the Scriptures, found all the writings of the prophets. They are the group that instructed King Herod where to seek the Child. 

Why did they not go and seek Him themselves? Position, power, greed, and the fear that they will lose everything if a new Power from God came to take their places. Even if it was just a little Boy sent from the Father above! 
Glory to God in the Highest! Wise men still seek Him!

Be Blessed
Ms Lena

January 27 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kenneth Heck

The question revolves around the nature of the Star of Bethlehem. If it had been an objective miracle then everyone would have seen it and, no doubt, the Pharisees would have also searched for the king of the Jews after the wise men arrived.

It is more likely that only the wise men saw the star - it was a subjective vision visible to them alone. In this case the likely response would be to let the wise men search for the baby to verify their vision since they alone knew what they saw. If they were able to verify the vision then the authorities (Herod and the Pharisees) would take the opportunity kill the baby, according to their way of thinking. But, as we know, God was several steps ahead of them.

January 27 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report