Matthew 2
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Matthew 2
Matthew 2
Matthew continues his narrative of Jesus’ birth by introducing the wise men from the east and their appearance in Jerusalem. Upon hearing about their arrival, Herod questions them to get information about the Christ child.
Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Bethlehem of Judea Located about six miles south of Jerusalem. Bethlehem meaning the house of bread. Jesus being the bread of life.
Herod Refers to Herod the Great, who was from the region of Idumea, making him an illegitimate king in the opinions of many Jewish people. Following the death of his father, Antipater, Herod was made king of Judaea by Rome and ruled from 37–4 BC.
Herod the Great ruled Palestine on behalf of Rome. The first 24 years of his reign were successful: He established peace throughout the land, provided jobs for the working class, and completed a number of large building projects. His final nine years as king were less successful and led to the NT depiction of him as a tyrant. These years were characterized by political intrigue, executions, familial disputes, war, and clashes with Rome. Herod died dishonorably, and his kingdom was divided among his sons (see note on Luke 3:1). Think about how this is a reflection of the Antichrist (coming in with peace and success, ending in tribulation and destruction).
wise men The exact number of wise men (or Magi), their names, and their place of origin are uncertain. Throughout the ancient Near East, the births of extraordinary, savior-type figures were believed to coincide with astral phenomena. When a star appeared over Jerusalem, the Magi believed that it heralded the King of the Jews. Compare note on Matt 2:2.
The Magi (wise men) probably came from the Parthia Empire (a kingdom spanning modern Iraq and Iran). They were likely astrologers and royal courtiers, and are believed to be tied to/descended from the “wise men” we see in the book of Daniel. In Matthew’ they are depicted as foreign dignitaries. It nowhere says they were Gentiles, or that there were only three, or whether they were priests or kings. Bullinger notes that the “adoration of the Magi” must have taken place at Nazareth, for the Lord was presented in the Temple forty-one days after His birth (8 + 33 days. Lev. 12:3, 4. Cp. Luke 2:21–24),
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
The Lord was presented in the Temple forty-one days after His birth (8 + 33 days. Lev. 12:3, 4. Cp. Luke 2:21–24), and thence returned to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). Ap. 169. There, in “the house” (Matt. 2:11), not “in a stable” at Bethlehem, they found the Lord. They are not going to return to Jerusalem from Nazareth (Matt. 2:12); but, being well on their way home, will escape from Herod. Herod, having enquired accurately as to the time, focused on “two years” (Matt. 2:16), which would have been about the age of the Lord. After the flight to Egypt, Christ returned once more to Nazareth (Matt. 2:23). This chapter (Matt. 2) comes between Luke 2:39 and 40.
Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
king of the Jews The Jews were already being ruled by a king—Herod. The political climate and traditional association of the Messiah with the house of David made it natural for Jews to assume that the Messiah would be a king.
star In the ancient Near East, people considered the movements of particular planets, stars, comets, meteors, and other astrological phenomena to be divine signs. The reference to a star connects Jesus’ birth with the prophetic oracle in Num 24:17.
to worship him Implies the level of respect that citizens would pay to a king in antiquity.
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
he was troubled To Herod, the magi’s question indicates a potential rival to his throne. Satan used this for another attempt to prevent the fulfilment of Gen. 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
all Jerusalem with him The city’s residents knew of Herod’s violence and were frightened at the prospect of further trouble. His slaughter of children (Matt 2:16) shows that their fear is justified.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
calling together all the chief priests Herod is not demonstrating respect for the priests in this instance; they functioned as his own cabinet and body of advisers. He requires their expertise to determine the Messiah’s birthplace. This would have been the high priest and other priests who were members of the Sanhedrin, or National Council.
scribes of the people Refers to trained interpreters of the law of Moses. They likely debated among themselves before giving Herod their answer.
Christ should be born Herod’s actions do not demonstrate a hopeful anticipation concerning the coming of the Messiah (Christ = Messiah); rather, he knows that anyone claiming to be the Messiah will be a threat to his rule. Most likely, he fears that someone will use the child as a figurehead in a military uprising. These things show that Herod believed that this child being born fulfilled prophecy and would be seen as the Messiah.
And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
And thou Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
We see prophecy being fulfilled here, with the prophecy coming from:
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
We also see that it says the ruler will come out of Bethlehem, but will come UNTO Jerusalem in:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
privily called (secretly summoned) the wise men All of Jerusalem had already heard of the magi’s arrival. Herod keeps their specific mission to Bethlehem secret and probably also orders the priests and scribes to do the same.
the time when the star appeared Indicates that time had already passed since Jesus’ birth.
And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
when you have found him, report to me The magi likely came to Herod expecting to find the child in his palace
In this verse when it says “young child” the Greek word is paidion which means little child, there is another Greek word, brephos, which means a new born. This again give credence to the fact that some time has passed since Christ’s birth, the wise men did not arrive the night Mary gave birth.
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
went before them /led them This unusual activity demonstrates that the star is a supernatural phenomenon, a divine act, God leading them.
And when it says they departed, they would be headed to Nazareth, not Bethlehem. See Companion Bible appendix 169.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
when they saw the star, they rejoiced Their reaction implies that the star had disappeared previously and had only now reappeared. They also were joyful because the star’s stopping place indicated the Messiah’s location. We tie it back to the previous verse to see that it is saying “when they saw the star, STANDING OVER WHERE THE YOUNG CHILD WAS”. The star disappearing and reappearing, as well as leading them to Christ shows the divine nature. Perhaps disappearing to keep Herod from being able to discern the location.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
gold and frankincense and myrrh These were costly luxury items suitable as gifts for the birth of an important or royal figure.
Note that it says “into the house”. The word used for house in the Greek denotes a dwelling place, again this is in Nazareth, not at the stable in Bethlehem. Time has passed and Mary, Joseph, and Jesus have returned to their dwelling in Nazareth. These ideas of the wise men at the stable the night of the birth show how men’s traditions and wives tales work their way into the scripture and our interpretation of it.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
being warned Matthew does not identify the warning’s origin. Throughout his narrative, he commonly ascribes dreams to God and His messengers.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
angel of the Lord As in Matt 1:20, Matthew clearly identifies the messenger here.
flee to Egypt Recalls the Israelites’ time in Egypt. This situation also reflects Jeroboam’s flight into Egypt when Solomon wished to kill him (1 Kgs 11:40). God promised Jeroboam kingship; when Solomon died, Jeroboam returned from Egypt and became king.
“Lord” here is Jehovah, the divine name of God, connecting this all the way back to the covenant laid out in Genesis and showing diving intervention and guidance leading the family.
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
would be fulfilled The ordinary expectations of the Jewish people regarding the Messiah would not have included fleeing into Egypt, but Matthew presents even this as fulfilling prophecy. He sees an analogy between Israel—the children of God (Exod 4:23)—and Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus emerged from Egypt just as Israel had during the exodus (Exod 9–14). In addition, the rulers in both narratives order the slaughter of infants (Exod 1:22; Matt 2:16).
And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Out of Egypt I called my son Quoted from Hos 11:1 again showing the example that was set by the children of God (Israel) coming out of Egypt being representative of the Son of God (Jesus) coming out of Egypt after these events.
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, And called my son out of Egypt.
Just another example of the two fold nature of so much of the Bible. The exodus of the children of God coming from Egypt, and the Son of God returning from Egypt.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
he was mocked/he had been deceived The Greek word used here, empaizō, usually means “to mock” or “to ridicule,” indicating that the magi’s noncompliance was disgraceful to Herod.
two years old and under This detail implies that the wise men (Magi) first saw the star long before they came to Jerusalem. It also suggests that Jesus was probably more than a year old at this time.
So this shows again that time has passed and the wise men found a small child not a new born, unlike the shepherds we see in Luke 2:16
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Be careful to remember that the shepherds in Luke, and the wise men/magi in Matthew are NOT the same.
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Jeremy meaning Jeremiah
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
A voice was heard in Ramah Matthew quotes Jer 31:15; the context of children being slaughtered and Jesus’ family being uprooted parallels the context of Jeremiah’s prophecy.
All of the weeping for all of the lost children.
Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children Refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Herod had died After Herod’s death, his kingdom was divided among his sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip. See note on Luke 3:1.
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
The word life here in the Greek is psuche which means “soul”. The spiritual life, not just the flesh. Satan trying to destroy Christ because of the spiritual ramifications it would bring.
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
he was afraid to go thither Joseph’s fear is justified; Archelaus was as cruel as his father.
being warned in a dream The Greek text here does not identify a specific messenger. There is no warning given against Antipas, Herod the Great’s son, who ruled in Galilee; this region is portrayed as a safe place for Jesus throughout Matthew’s Gospel.
Galilee being the region north of Samaria.
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
He will be called a Nazarene The source of this quotation is unknown and it seems that Jewish people at the time did not expect the Messiah to come from Nazareth (see Matt 2:4–5; John 1:46). Some believe that Matthew might have had the Hebrew word netser (“branch”) in mind from Isa 11:1, where it is used to describe a messianic figure descended from Jesse, the father of David.
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
However this is probably not the case, as the verse says that it was “spoken” by the prophets, not written. So Matthew may simply be referencing something that we don’t have a written record of.
The wise men were not Israelites, prophets, or priests. They were outsiders — scholars and stargazers from distant lands. Yet, when they saw a sign in the heavens, they set out on a journey that would change their lives. They followed the light they were given until it led them to the Light of the World.
Their story in Matthew 2 reminds us that the sincere search for truth always leads to Christ, because He is Truth itself (John 14:6).
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The wise men’s journey wasn’t easy — it required leaving home, crossing deserts, facing uncertainty, and risking misunderstanding. But their pursuit was fueled by faith: they believed the light they saw pointed to something — Someone — worth finding.
How often do we still looking for meaning, purpose, or peace — but we end up just using false “stars” to guide us: success, relationships, self-discovery, status, or even pain. But this chapter shows us that true wisdom is not found by looking within or around, but by following the light that points to Christ.
Jesus still reveals Himself to those who seek Him earnestly — through Scripture, through prayer, and through the unexpected.
The question is not whether Christ can be found, but whether we are willing to follow Him.
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Matthew 2
Matthew 2
