Sermon on the Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Exodus 1:8-22, Matthew 2:13-18
December 28, 2025
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear saints, in a dispute with some Jews, Jesus tells them that the devil was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. As we read Scripture, we see this play out over and over. Of how the devil influences and guides people from God to evil. From the snake in the garden to sin crouching at the door and desiring Cain. To a people bowing before a golden calf, to arrogantly thinking the city of Jerusalem was safe because the Temple was built in it.
Perhaps, however, the greatest and most vile treachery of the devil is his targeting of children. The demonic practice of child sacrifice. Not only in the lands of ancient Babylon and Assyria, but even in the cultures of Central America. Human, and specifically child sacrifice, was…is common around the world. The blood of the young and innocent is shed to feed the desires of demons masquerading as gods. To serve the self as a god. To buy favor with a man or a false god.
It is not only the devil and his minions who are bloodthirsty. Many kings and generals through the centuries have been as well. They would conquer and slaughter for the sport of it. Or, perhaps it was out of fear, like when a group of your servants starts to grow larger than you are comfortable with. Or when you convince yourself, there is a rival heir to your throne.
These are the fears we hear this morning. A new king arises who is ignorant of or simply despises history. Does not know or care how, centuries ago, a man came to Egypt as a slave, was wrongly imprisoned, but saved the entire region from a severe famine. We also hear of a tyrant who feared any challenger. And when he hears of a newborn king, he fears this infant with a violent response.
Some 1500 years before our Lord’s birth, the devil is working to thwart God’s plan to redeem His creation. When a severe famine brings the chosen family to Egypt and the land of Goshen, the Lord blesses them greatly. They grow great in number. And now, the devil uses Israel’s size to scare the new Pharaoh. And as we heard, the lives of Israel are made miserable. They are mistreated and abused. But it was not enough to oppress God’s people. The devil had greater goals.
For God promised a seed from Abraham. But if the line is broken, if Abraham’s line is ended, the Messiah cannot come. God’s plan and promise to save mankind would be derailed, and you and I would be forever under condemnation. The devil uses Pharaoh as his vessel. The goal was to end the line of Israel. To systematically kill all male Hebrew children. To force the girls to marry into Egyptian families and end the line of the Patriarchs. So, the command to the midwives was to kill any male child immediately after he was delivered and to allow any girl to live.
Yet God will not be thwarted. Although a Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or fear God, so also were there faithful and brave midwives. When choosing between honoring God and the command of Pharaoh, Shiphrah and Puah chose their Lord and your Lord.
Their faithfulness was rewarded, but the devil did not give up. He intensified. Rather than killing the boy at birth, Egyptians were commanded to find Hebrew boys and throw them into the Nile, to drown them. The very river that gave life and symbolized fertility was to be the agent of death.
We do not know how many children were tossed into the Nile nor how long this decree lasted. We are not sure what the age cutoff was, for Moses’ brother Aaron was about three when this began. But we do know that not all male children were drowned. A Levite family has a son, and when they can no longer hide him, they place him in a basket. They place it in the Nile. And the basket, like the ark during the Great Flood, protects the precious cargo. None other than Pharaoh’s daughter draws the basket and baby out of the water. She adopts and names the child Moses. And though it takes decades, through Moses, the devil is finally thwarted. God’s people are saved from their slavery and affliction. Egypt and her gods are judged. And the promise to Abraham and the Patriarchs is preserved.
We also hear this morning of another king. One whose reign at first was of building and relative peace, but devolved into depravity, paranoia, and tyranny. And when magi from the East arrive, reporting the birth of the King of the Jews, that paranoia went into overdrive. A man who was willing to kill his own kin to protect his throne had no qualms about having an infant murdered, either.
This jealousy and fear gave the devil another opportunity. While he failed to prevent Christ’s birth, he could still go after Him as a baby. And because the devil hates God and His creation, he was willing to kill any child he could while going after God’s Son. Like the Hebrew children in Egypt, we do not know how many boys were killed by Herod’s order. We do not know how many parents had their infants and toddlers ripped from them by the murderous will of Herod and the devil.
But we know God acted to preserve His promise. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were hidden away and safe in Egypt when Herod’s evil decree was carried out. They stay until Herod dies. In this time, the devil causes grief and sorrow but fails to accomplish his evil agenda.
Horror and turmoil persist today. People suffer at the hands of other people. People suffer from accidents and other natural occurrences. People still suffer from the devil’s antics and plans. When this occurs, weeping and lamentation are appropriate responses. The desire to comfort the afflicted and the suffering is good and natural. For we rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Pray for all who are suffering, that they may know peace.
Today, we remember the children and their families who suffered due to the actions of the devil and evil men. We lament the lives that were cut short. But we also remember that God’s will and promise are still accomplished. He loves those children and families just as He loves all children and families. It is for them and for you that He comes as a baby. For them and for you, He dies. Not the victim of Satan, but as the victor over Satan. The schemes of the devil are ultimately all overcome by your God.
And so, we thank God that He delivers all His martyrs and saints from the great tribulation of this world. For all who have had their robes washed in the blood of the Lamb. Who are made pure and holy on account of the death and resurrection of Christ. Let us take refuge in all His promises. Rest in the knowledge that He will not let you be put to shame. Remembering that Jesus hands over the Spirit so that He may reside in you, delivering you from evil. Amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Originally posted at What does this Mean? Blog: https://whatdoesthismean.blog
The posts in the blog What does this Mean? are now available at What does this Mean? | Rev. Robert E. Smith | Substack
Rev. Brent Keller
Trinity Lutheran Church
Guttenberg, Iowa
and
St. Paul Lutheran Church
McGregor, Iowa
©2025 Brent Keller. All rights reserved. Permission granted to copy, share and display freely for non-commercial purposes. Direct all other rights and permissions inquiries to cosmithb@gmail.com.
