The Greatness of Mordecai Esther 10:1-3

The Greatness of Mordecai Raised Esther as his own Daughter Esther 2:5-7, 11, 20 Proverbs 22:6 Ephesians 6:1-4 Helped Protect the King’s Life Esther 2:21-23; 6:1-12 I Peter 2:17; Romans 13:1 Evidently Esther lost her parents while still young. I wonder how old she was when this tragic even occurred. I wonder if she had any memories of her father and mother. If she was old enough to feel the sting and heartache of such a loss. Mordecai, an older cousin, would do his best to fill the great void left in Esther’s life. We witness his love, maturity, and concern when he stepped in as the father-figure in Esther’s life. Like any godly parent, Mordecai loved Esther as his own daughter and cared about her safety and welfare deeply – as evidenced in 2:11 (“every day” he “paced” – the natural worry and concern of a parent). We all know that parents have tremendous influence upon the thinking and development of a child (attitude towards God and His Word; knowledge of God’s law; manners, habits, and morals). No doubt Mordecai had a profoundly positive effect on the young woman Esther. Throughout this story, whenever you read about her strength of character, reflect upon the teaching & training she received from Mordecai. Esther, even as a young woman, demonstrated her obedience to the instructions of Mordecai just as she had done so as a child (2:20). As we raise our children, we must never forget moms and dads that we are shaping young hearts and minds for Almighty God. What a great and noble task has been given to us. How much time and energy are we investing in the lives of our precious little ones? We have them for such a short time. What a great and noble task has been given to us -- to “train up a child in the way he should go”, that “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). To bring up our sons and daughters in the training and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4). Like Mordecai, to teach our children to honor and obey us in the Lord. And as we reflect upon the life and accomplishments of Esther, we never know what great things our children will do in service to the Lord and His people! Another part of this inspired story that speaks to the greatness of Mordecai is that he helped save the king’s life (2:21-23). He was in the right place at the right time to overhear the murderous plot of two of the king’s eunuchs. What if Mordecai had let the matter go? What if he hadn’t of intervened b/c he didn’t want to get involved or possibly endanger his own life? Then Ahasuerus the king would most likely have been killed. By the way, it wasn’t as though this was a Jewish king, but a heathen, Gentile king. That evidently did not matter to Mordecai. He was determined to do what was right. We too are to honor the king (I Peter 2:17), no matter who the king/ruler may be; and to submit to the governing authorities that God has ordained (Romans 13:1). A particular ruler’s morals and policies may not foster our respect; yet we must still show honor for the office and his position of authority. Mordecai was a hero of sorts in his efforts to rescue the king from an assassination attempt. You would have thought that such actions would have led to Mordecai being given a medal or honored in some special way. If nothing else, at least brought before the king to be thanked. But at this time, it seems nothing was said to him or done for him. Later in our story, on a night when the king had trouble sleeping – “one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king” (6:1). Just so happens, that the account of Mordecai revealing the plot against the king’s life was read to him. After being reminded of the actions of Mordecai, the king asked: “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him” (6:3). We further see the outstanding character of Mordecai in that after he was honored, he simply and humbly returned to his former station at the king’s gate.

The Greatness of Mordecai Refused to Worship a Man Esther 3:1-6; Exodus 34:14; Acts 10:25-26; 14:8-15; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9; Acts 5:28-29 Firmly Believed Deliverance would Come for the Jews Esther 3:5-6, 8, 13-14; 4:1, 3, 14; 8-9 Psalm 33:18-22; 37:37-40; 79:9-13; 2 Cor. 1:8-10; 2 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 13:5-6 3. You may say, “Well of course he should have refused to bow down and worship some man.” Yes…while that’s true, he was the only one who wasn’t bowing and paying homage to Haman. Furthermore, the king of Persia had commanded that all of his servants do so. Thirdly, the king’s servants spoke to Mordecai “daily” to try to pressure and persuade him to comply with the king’s command. Finally, they reported his refusal to Haman himself, and Mordecai still refused to bow down. You see, Mordecai was a Jew. A Jew that was determined to remain faithful to the Law of Moses (Ex. 34:14). If no other god was to be worshiped than the Lord God, then surely no man was to be offered such reverence either. Peter refused to be worshiped, telling Cornelius to “Stand up; I myself am also a man” (Acts 10:25-26). Paul and Barnabas rejected the attempts by those of Lystra to worship them. “They tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you” (Acts 14:14-15). Twice in the Book of Revelation John is told by the angel not to offer him worship. “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant” (Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9). The Bible tells us that mankind has been made a little lower than the angels (Heb. 2:6-7). Think about it! If angels (who are superior, powerful, spiritual beings) are not to be worshiped, then no man (regardless of who he may be) is to receive our worship! Throughout the ages, certain men crave adulation and worship (Acts 12:20-23). Men covet exalted titles and positions, and recognition of such. Even Jesus warned against the wearing of special religious titles/names. “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9). Don’t you think our present society is somewhat infatuated with revering and idolizing certain people? The media certainly feeds and encourages this sort of thinking. Look at the way certain sports figures are revered; movie and TV stars; musicians; politicians; and even religious figures. Has not the RCC been guilty of bowing and paying homage to a man for centuries? Is the so-called “pope” not mere flesh and blood? Peter was not the first pope of the church as Catholics believe and teach. But even if he was, even the apostle Peter absolutely refused to be worshiped! Now…let’s get back to the greatness of Mordecai. His refusal to worship Haman, set off an incredible chain of events. His courage and conviction to do right endangered the very existence of his people (3:6). “Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus”! Not only is not always easy to do the right thing; it can also bring troubles and trials (Joseph in Gen. 39; Daniel in Dan. 6). Regardless of the consequences, it’s always right to do right. There very well may be circumstances that arise in our country, that will test the both the genuineness and depth of our faith. If our govt. forbids us to condemn the practice of homosexuality, will we comply? If our govt. forbids parents to “spank” their children, will we submit to such an edict? Or will we stand with the likes of Mordecai and the apostles and declare: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

In his Introduction to the his Commentary on Esther, Keil said: The Persian empire, in its whole extent from India to Ethiopia, must have contained a population of at least 100,000,000, and the number of Jews in the realm must have amounted to from two to three millions. A people of from two to three millions would include, moreover, at least from 500,000 to 700,000 capable of bearing arms, and these might in battle against their enemies slay 75,000 men. (see Esther 9:16-17)

The Greatness of Mordecai Refused to Worship a Man Esther 3:1-6; Exodus 34:14; Acts 10:25-26; 14:8-15; Rev. 19:10; 22:8-9; Acts 5:28-29 Firmly Believed Deliverance would Come for the Jews Esther 3:5-6, 8, 13-14; 4:1, 3, 14; 8-9 Psalm 33:18-22; 37:37-40; 79:9-13; 2 Cor. 1:8-10; 2 Peter 2:9; Hebrews 13:5-6

The Greatness of Mordecai Reminded Esther of her Position & Role Esther 4:13-17 Ephesians 5:15-17; Philemon 15-16 Sought the Good of his People Esther 10:2-3 Romans 12:10; 15:2; Galatians 6:9-10; Philippians 2:4; I Thessalonians 4:9-10

The Greatness of Mordecai The Theme of the Bible is Jesus Christ “Since the Bible presents one unified story of God’s provision for the salvation of mankind from sin, the Savior is central to the entire story.” Overview of the Bible, p. 6, David Dann

Since Christ is the overall theme of the Bible, the book of Esther relates to him in some important ways. In order for God’s promise that a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 12:3), Isaac (26:1-4), and Jacob (28:13-14) through the tribe of Judah (49:10) and royal line of King David (2 Sam. 7:12-13) would someday come into the world as the Savior of mankind, it was absolutely necessary for Israel to remain as a distinct people at least until the birth of the Savior, and Esther records the story of the preservation of the descendants of Abraham throughout the

Medo-Persian Empire in the face of near extinction Medo-Persian Empire in the face of near extinction. The story of Esther is significant, in light of the fact that, had the wicked plot of Haman succeeded in destroying all of the Jews in all the provinces of the Medo-Persian Empire (Esth. 3:8-13), the promise that Christ would come through the seed of Abraham could not have been fulfilled (cf. Matt. 1:1). Additionally, as the deliverer of her people, Esther, whose name means, “star,” foreshadows Jesus, “the bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16), who would save mankind from sin (Matt. 1:21).

The Greatness of Mordecai Esther 10:1-3