KJV Matthew 2:16 “Then Herod when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men …slew all the children that were in Bethlehem.”

NASB Matthew 2:16 “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi …slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem.”

KJV Matthew 27:31: “And after they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him… and led Him away to crucify Him.”

NASB Matthew 27:31: “After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him … and led Him away to crucify Him.”

All of the Gospel records display the same feature: balancing statements and events at the beginning and the end of each writer’s account. For example, here in Matthew, we read of the chief priests and scribes being gathered together in Chapter 2 to enlighten Herod as to the place of the Lord’s birth (2:4-6). Then, in Matthew 26:57-59, they are once again gathered together to arrange His death. Such balance is not the result of chance or literary ability on the part of the author but the skillful arrangement of material by the Divine author.

Similarly, the Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with the reaction of two different individuals to being mocked. We read that Herod’s attempt to deceive and to use the Magi to lead him to the new rival King was frustrated by the Divinely sent dreams. Realizing that his ruse did not work, Herod was furious. “His anger lashed out in all directions—at the Magi, at the birth of a potential rival, and at the children in Bethlehem.” Giving vent to his anger, he murdered all the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area.

Those who attempt to find inconsistencies in  Scripture are quick to point out that there is no record of this in secular historical accounts. This has been answered by the fact that so brutal, murderous and bloody was Herod’s reign that the slaughter of perhaps 30-35 infants was hardly noteworthy.

In stark contrast, the Lord Jesus endured mockery from Pilate’s soldiers as well as from the soldiers and servants in the high priest’s palace (Luke 22:53). This mockery was intentional, unjust, demeaning, and spiteful. The Roman soldiers, especially, would vent their frustration and hatred of the Jewish people on the Lord Jesus. Here were men whose vocabulary would contain every foul word, whose repertoire of shameful acts would know no limit, and to whom nothing was too lewd and crude. Yet, amidst this mockery, there is no thought of anger or frustration on the part of the Lord. “When He was reviled, He reviled not again … but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:23) He left the halls of mockery to ascend to Calvary to die for the very men who had mocked Him and the very sins they had just perpetrated upon Him.

Consider:

Can you find other balancing events between the early chapters of Matthew and the final chapters?