The Result of Never Being Told No

 When you read Matthew 2, you’ll soon discover a dangerous parallel with the kings of old and powerful influential men today. In case you didn’t know, this is the chapter when the birth of Jesus occurs. It reads,

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Here we have Herod the king also referred to as Herod the Great, the Roman Jewish king of Judea being notified of the birth of Jesus by wise men from the East. And though we have heard the story of how these men came and worshipped Baby Jesus (and rightfully so), we need to take a closer look at the king.

Herod initially came into power because his father had a close relationship with Julius Caesar, a Roman dictator. Caesar placed Antipater the Idumaean, Herod’s father, in charge of what would be the equivalent of the Department of Justice, Department of the Interior, and the US State Department of Judea. His father then appointed him ‘provincial governor of Galilee’ ^[1] but some sixteen years later, he was later appointed King of the Jews by the Roman Senate.

This is the man, who upon hearing of the birth of Jesus, made inquiry and troubled because of his birth. But let’s ask the question why? Why was a king, whose kingdom spanned well over 3,438 miles, with oversight of all religious affairs, along with overseeing every cultural and social institution in society, who also held absolute military command, political governance and judicial authority over some 780,000 citizens, why is he troubled about the birth of Jesus?

• Why is he gathering the chief priests and scribes to inquiry about when His birth was expected?

• Why is he so perturbed that he sends ‘…put to death all the male children…two years old and under?’

It’s because this king doesn’t see kids like he should. Set aside the fact that he is the king. He is also a son. A brother. A husband, and a father. Yet the father in him still wants to unalive Baby Jesus.

Again, lets set aside the fact that this is Jesus he wants to unalive. This man was a father to fourteen kids. 14. Yet the birth of a newborn sets him off on a murderous spree. So much so that he unalives all male children under the age of two years old and under. What type of father is he?

I don’t know.

Let’s ask his many wives because he had ten. One of which, Doris, who he banishes from the kingdom so that he could marry Mariamne I.

Why would ten women, count ‘em, ten women excuse or overlook the fact that their husband called for the death of not only the newborn King of the Jews but the deaths of toddlers?  The answer to that question is simple.

He’s the king. He has money. He has power. He has influence.

Anyone, especially a man with money and power, can get anything he wants…even if he wants to unalive toddlers. But as his wife, the mother of one of his fourteen children, how do you sit idly by and do nothing because, girl! What are you doing?

You can’t say anything to your man.

You can’t ask him, “Bae, you alright?” or “My lord, the king, our servants mentioned something about toddlers being killed. Do you know anything about that?”

Because girl - why are you not loving on that man? Why are y’all not building Judea? Do something. Anything, but when I asked myself those questions I realized it was not the misses job.

This was Antipater’s and Cypros’ (his mother’s) job. It was the brother he lost in the war. It was the job of those who came in contact with him during his formative years - relatives, Pastors, teachers, coaches, classmates, managers, supervisors, colleagues, ex-girlfriends…somebody needed to tell this man no. But that is the thing about the rich and powerful – no one ever does.

No one tells them no you can’t use children in your illegal endeavors.

No one tells them no you cannot date underage girls.

No, she doesn’t like you.

No, you cannot talk to her.

No, you cannot watch her without her permission.

No, you cannot grab, grope or touch her, and…

No, you cannot have sex with her.  

No one ever tells the rich and powerful…

No, you did not win the election.

No, you are not qualified for the position.

No, you cannot speak with his supervisor.

No, we don’t have to solve your problems.

No, you cannot have your way.

No, you cannot buy your way out of this.

No, no and just no.

Take this no with you and put this no in your back pocket for later on.

If I may for a moment get on my paper soapbox…

How are you tough but you cannot take a no?

How?

You know why? Because the rich and powerful are taught to never take no for an answer which means the rich and powerful, if unchecked, will do nefarious things to children, including call for the deaths of toddlers. Herod even went so far as to execute three of his own sons.

What we are seeing today has already been written. Men like those being accused of heinous crimes involving children are nothing new to God.

There were the Herod’s of the day but that doesn’t have to be the case today.

As a child of the Most High, whether male or female, wife or single, Black or White, it is our responsible to give people their no’s. Just like we go out of our way to give people their flowers, hand out some no’s too. Because if we don’t, we’ll have Herod Archelaus’ to deal with in the future.

Yes, that’s right. Herod Archelaus was the son of Herod which means not only did Herod die wanting to unalive toddler Jesus but his son was reigning over Judea instead of his father, and he too sought His death.

Get comfortable with no. Delivering them and receiving them. It is up to us to say no and to vote no because if we don’t we’ll continue to see injustices done at the hands of those who have not been dealt their fair share of no’s.

Be sure to check out my No! Collection. They might come in handy.

Sources

1- Wikipedia contributors. "Herod the Great." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Apr. 2026. Web. 27 Apr. 2026.