31 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman , the son of Hammedatha the Agagite , and advanced him and established his authority over e all the princes who were with him. 2 All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman ; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage . 3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai , " Why are you transgressing the king's command ?" 4 Now it was when they had spoken daily to him and he would not listen to them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's reason would stand ; for he had told them that he was a Jew . 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage . 6 But he disdained e to lay hands on Mordecai alone , for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews , the people of Mordecai , who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Esther 3:1-6
Commentary on Esther 3:1-6
(Read Esther 3:1-6)
Mordecai refused to reverence Haman. The religion of a Jew forbade him to give honours to any mortal man which savoured of idolatry, especially to so wicked a man as Haman. By nature all are idolaters; self is our favourite idol, we are pleased to be treated as if every thing were at our disposal. Though religion by no means destroys good manners, but teaches us to render honour to whom honour is due, yet by a citizen of Zion, not only in his heart, but in his eyes, such a vile person as Haman was, is contemned, Psalm 15:4. The true believer cannot obey edicts, or conform to fashions, which break the law of God. He must obey God rather than man, and leave the consequences to him. Haman was full of wrath. His device was inspired by that wicked spirit, who has been a murderer from the beginning; whose enmity to Christ and his church, governs all his children.