Books Jesus Read

Chapter 1: Spiritual Rebellion – Mattathias

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Mattathias and his sons tore their clothes, put on sackcloth and were burdened with grief ( Gen 37:34 ). Meanwhile, the king’s officers who compelled Israel to sin arrived in Modein to oversee the sacrifice. The compliant Israelites came to the sacrifice but so did Mattathias and his sons. Recognizing the well-known priest, the officers called out Mattathias. “You are a great leader, sir, honored in this town and supported by your sons and your brothers. So then, take the lead and be first to come and do as the king commands, just as the Gentiles and those left behind in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be called friends of the king and will be honored with silver and gold and other gifts.” Mattathias replied loudly enough for everyone in the town to hear. “Even if everyone else obeys the king’s command and forsakes the faith of their ancestors,” he shouted, “my family and I will always live by the covenant of our fathers! How can we desert the law of Moses and his ordinances? We will not obey the king’s words, and we will not turn aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left.” As Mattathias finished his speech, a fellow Jew came forward to offer the sacrifice as commanded by Antiochus, since he was too frightened to disobey the king’s order. Mattathias burned with righteous anger as he watched the man bow down at the pagan altar. So, he struck the man down and killed the officer overseeing the sacrifice.