MORDECAI'S FAITHFULNESS

Passage: Esther 2:21-3:4

Key verse: 3:2b

NIV

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana[a] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers(A) who guarded the doorway, became angry(B) and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled(C) on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals(D) in the presence of the king.(E)

Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews

3 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite,(F) elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?”(G) 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply.(H) Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

Footnotes
  1. Esther 2:21 Hebrew Bigthan, a variant of Bigthana
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, (A)Bigthan and (B)Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, (C)and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows.[a] And it was recorded in (D)the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

Haman Plots Against the Jews

3 After these things King Ahasuerus (E)promoted Haman (F)the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, (G)and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. (H)But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were (I)at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress (J)the king's command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.

Footnotes
  1. Esther 2:23 Or wooden beam or stake; Hebrew tree or wood. This Persian execution practice involved affixing or impaling a person on a stake or pole (compare Ezra 6:11)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Mordecai uncovers a conspiracy (2:21-23)

Mordecai spent a lot of time walking back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was. After she was crowned queen, he still spent time sitting at the king's gate, keeping his eyes and ears open. One day he overheard Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers, plotting the assassination of King Xerxes. He reported this conspiracy to Esther, who told the king, giving credit to Mordecai. The conspirators were hanged, and this event was recorded in the king's journal.

2. Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman (3:1-4)

King Xerxes elevated Haman to a high position. Haman was a descendant of Agag, an Amalekite. The Amalekites were ancient enemies of the Jews (1Sa 15:32-34; Dt 25:17-19). All the royal officials at the king's gate knelt and paid honor to Haman, but Mordecai refused to do so. He was faithful to God and to his people, and he would not compromise.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live by principle, and do what is right. Help me not to compromise with a godless culture.

One Word: Be faithful to do what is right