“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6)

The idea of Jesus being a ruler of His people is multi-faceted. In context, Micah’s prophesy (quoted in Matthew 2:6) was intended for the Jews. A ruling king in the dynasty of King David would come, and in the gospel accounts this points to Jesus Christ. Christians debate, though, how this applies to us today, whether the kingdom of God (or “kingdom of heaven”) is now or future. Is Jesus reigning over the earth now or does this refer to the millennial reign of Revelation 20:4? While resolving this issue goes beyond these meditations, we can all agree God still reigns over all the earth, both now and into eternity future. He was, is and always will be the Ruler.

The actual Greek word (“hegeomai”) used in Matthew 2:6 to describe Jesus has a broad field of meaning, but all major English translations translate it as “ruler.” It is where we get our English word “hegemony.” Webster defines this as “influence or authority over others.” Further, it conveys this sense: “the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group.” While we don’t want to read the English meaning of hegemony back into the Greek word, we can agree that the definition of that English word captures the truth of Christ’s rule over us.

Following Christ should affect our social interactions. His listing of the second greatest commandment (after loving God) is a foundational statement on social interactions: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:31).

Are not disciples of Christ to influence the surrounding culture?

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt 5:13–14)

Does not Christ’s hegemony extend to the ideological areas of our lives?

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ …” (2 Cor 10:5)

Finally, are our financial lives not shaped by the truth that “God will supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19)?

Lord, You are the ruler over every area of my life, I humbly submit to You.