MATTHEW 2
OPENS WITH...WISE MEN FROM THE EAST, ESCAPE TO EGYPT AND BACK AGAIN
Verses 1-2 tells us The wise men from the east arrive in Jerusalem.
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."
AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem…
Matthew actually tells us little about the birth of Jesus; Luke 2 records these familiar details. What Matthew tells us regards something that happened AFTER Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Instead of giving us the details of the nativity, Matthew had another purpose. The main purpose is to show the reception given by the world to the new-born Messianic King - Homage from afar, hostility & indifference at home.
DID YOU KNOW…
Bethlehem was ancestral home of David, the great king of Israel and founder of their royal dynasty. However, it was NOT a large or significant town. Bethlehem was quite a little town six miles to the south of Jerusalem. In the olden days it had been called Ephrath or Ephratah.
SPURGEON says it well, "A stir begins is soon as Christ is born. He has not spoken a word; he has not wrought a miracle; he has not proclaimed a single doctrine; but 'when Jesus was born,' at the very first, while as yet you hear nothing but infant cries, and can see nothing but infant weakness, still his influence upon the world is manifest. 'When Jesus was born, there came wise men from the east,' and so on. There is infinite power even in an infant Savior."
In the days of Herod the king…
This was the one known as Herod the Great. Herod was indeed great; in some ways great as a ruler, builder, and administrator; in other ways great in EVIL politics and cruelty.
The reign of Herod also gives us a chronological marking point. "Jesus was born BEFORE the death of Herod the Great, which is probably to be dated in 4 B.C.; the exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown."
Wise men from the East came…
These travelers are called wise men, which in the ancient Greek is “magoi”. Misconceptions and legends abound about these wise men. They were NOT kings but wise men, which means they were astronomers. There were NOT only three, but probably a great company. It was NOT safe to travel alone or in small groups. The trip was a long one. They did NOT LEAVE NOR ARRIVE on the birth night, but BEGAN THE 800 MILE TRIP probably several months AFTER FIRST seeing the star at Jesus birth.
BARCLAY gives us a bit of history, “There was a general expectation of a messiah or great man from Judea. Not very long after Jesus was born, the Roman historian Seutonius wrote: "There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief, that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judea to rule the world." Tacitus, another Roman historian of the general period, wrote: "There was a firm persuasion … that at this very time the East was to grow powerful, and rulers coming from Judea were to acquire universal empire."
Came to Jerusalem…
Guided by the astronomical phenomenon mentioned following, they came to the area and expected to find answers in Jerusalem. They expected that the leaders and people of this capital city of the Jews would be even more interested than they were. Matthew does NOT tell us specifically that the star guided them to Jerusalem.
Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
DID YOU KNOW…
Significantly, they say this one has been born King of the Jews. It WAS NOT HUMAN RULING HIERARCHY THEN OR NOW, for a baby to be born a king usually they are princes for a long time before they are kings. Matthew wants us to know another unique thing about Jesus Christ. His kingly status was NOT conferred on him later on; it was Jesus’ from birth."
For we have seen His star in the East…
There are many different suggestions for the natural origin of this remarkable star. Some say it was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, some other planetary conjunctions; others suggest a supernova, and some think of comets or a specifically created unique star or sign. Whatever it was, it is significant that God met them in their own medium: He guided the astronomers by a star.
This was also in fulfillment of Numbers 24:17: “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.” This was widely regarded by ancient Jewish scholars as a Messianic prediction.
SPURGEON adds, “Notice, it was His star: "The star was Christ's star itself, but it also led others to Christ. It did this very much because it moved in that direction. It is a sad thing when a preacher is like a sign-post pointing the way but never following it, on his own account. Such were those chief priests at Jerusalem: they could tell where Christ was born, but they never went to worship him; they were indifferent altogether to him and to his birth. The star that leads to Christ must always be going to Christ."
And have come to worship Him…
The wise men came first to Jerusalem, assuming that the leaders of the Jews would be aware and excited about the birth of their Messiah. The wise men are about to find that this was NOT the case at all.
Verse 3 tells us Herod is troubled at the news brought by the wise men.
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
When Herod the king heard this he was troubled…
Herod was constantly on guard against threats to his rule, especially from his own family. He assassinated many family members whom he suspected of disloyalty. His being troubled is completely in character.
Herod wanted to be accepted by the Jews whom he ruled, was NOT a Jew at all but an Edomite, the Jews did NOT choose him, Rome did. Rome recognized him as a vassal king over Judea. The Jews tempered their great hatred of him with admiration for his building projects, such as the magnificent improvements made to the second temple.
Barclay reminds us of what a bloody, violent ruler Herod was: "He had no sooner come to the throne than he began by annihilating the Sanhedrin, the supreme court of the Jews. Later he slaughtered three hundred court officers out of hand. Later he murdered his wife Mariamne, and her mother Alexandra, his eldest son Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and Arisobulus."
He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him…
The fact that ALL Jerusalem was troubled WITH Herod is significant. This was due either to the fact that the people of Jerusalem DID NOT WANT THE MESSIAH, rightly feared what sort of paranoid outburst might come upon them from Herod upon hearing of a rival king being born, or because of the size and dignity of this caravan from the East.
Verses 4-6 tells us Herod is instructed regarding the Messiah's coming by the chief priests and scribes.
“And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
All the chief priests and the scribes…
This was the first contact the religious leaders had with Jesus. They understood the Biblical information correctly, but failed in application to their lives.
Chief priests would especially include those who once held the office of High Priest; Herod changed the High Priest often because it was largely a political appointment.
Scribes: "The 'teachers of the law,' or 'scribes' as other English versions call them, were experts in the Old Testament and in its copious oral tradition. Their work was not so much copying out Old Testament manuscripts (as the word 'scribes' suggests) as teaching the Old Testament."
So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea": Quoting Micah 5:2, the chief priests and scribes understood that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea, distinguishing it from another town of the same name further north.
From this passage in Micah, they understood not only that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but also that He would be a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.
Sadly, these “Old Testament” EXPERTS had the right information but seem personally uninterested in meeting the Messiah for themselves.
The scribes and Sanhedrin had the Old Testament and its prophecies, but the lowly shepherds had the HEART and HOPE. No wonder the angels appeared to them and NOT to the religious, political, nor social elites in that day.
Verses 7-8 tells us True to character, Herod attempts to use wise men to find the child that he may kill Him.
“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
Determined from them what time the star appeared…
Because Herod later commanded that all boys two and younger be killed in the area, we can assume that the wise men first saw the star a year or so previously (on the night Jesus was born). Their journey from the East to Judea was not quick, and they may have left as soon as logistics allowed.
Bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also…
The irony is strong. Herod claimed a desire to worship Jesus, when he really wanted to kill Him.
Verses 9-12 tells us The wise men present gifts to Jesus and leave without informing Herod.
“When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
Behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them…
The star continued to guide them, apparently re-appearing. We can surmise that the star appeared the night of Jesus birth, some months later, traveling 800 plus miles, guiding them to the general area, and then they visited Jerusalem to gain more information. Then the star appeared again to specifically guide them. This was an obviously supernatural phenomenon from God himself.
They saw the young Child with Mary His mother…
We notice that Jesus here is called a young Child, likely being between 12 and 18 months old. We also notice that (against false religion custom) the Child is mentioned FIRST & BEFORE the mother.
When they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh…
It was common - especially in the East - that one would never appear before royalty or a person of importance without bringing gifts. Considering who these wise men believed the young Child to be, it is not surprising that they gave such lavish gifts.
The idea that there were three wise men comes from the fact that there were three gifts. We may say that gold speaks of royalty, incense speaks of divinity, and myrrh speaks of death. GOD KNEW THE SIGNIFICANCE, Yet it is not certain that the Magi KNEW; they simply wanted to honor the King of the Jews with their most valuable treasures to be had.
They presented gifts to Him…
The precious gifts were NOT presented to Mary or Joseph, but to Jesus Himself. Yet undeniably, the infant Jesus did not use or spend any of these precious gifts, but His parents used them, hopefully wisely, on His behalf and benefit.
In the same way when we give to Jesus today we do not give to Him directly, but to His people, who use those gifts on His behalf and benefit - and, hopefully wisely.
MEYER reminds, "How useful this gold was to Joseph in the following months! It helped him to defray the cost of the journey into Egypt and back, and to maintain his precious charges there. The Heavenly Father knew what those needs would be, and met them by anticipation."
Fell down and worshipped Him…
More important than their gifts is the fact that they worshipped Jesus. It must have been a curious sight to see these impressive dignitaries bowing before a young child.
We see here THREE different responses to Jesus; one may say that all people respond in one of these three ways.
1. Herod displayed an open hatred and hostility toward Jesus.
2. The chief priests and the scribes were indifferent toward Jesus, all the while retaining their religious respectability.
3. The wise men sought out Jesus, and worshipped Him - even at great cost.
In comparing the visit of the wise men to the earlier visit of the shepherds (Luke 2:15-20), we see:
1. Jesus came to the Jew first, then to the Gentile.
2. Jesus came to the humble and ignorant first, then the honorable and learned.
3. Jesus came to the poor first, then the rich.
We should learn from the wisdom of these wise men.
1. They were not satisfied with looking at the star and admiring it; they did something about the star, and set out and followed it.
2. They persevered in their search and in following after the star.
3. They were not discouraged in the search by clergy and doubtful religious leaders.
4. They rejoiced at the star.
5. When they arrived at the destination the star led them to, they entered in.
6. When they entered in, they worshipped.
7. They sensed an urgency to worship Him now and not wait until later.
8. When they worshipped, it was to give something - not empty-handed adoration.
SPURGEON says it well, “We see a wonderful pattern: "Those who look for Jesus will see him: those who truly see him will worship him: those who worship him will consecrate their substance to him."
Being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way…
Their worship is also manifested in obedience. They are obedient to the heavenly dream and leave without serving as Herod's informants.
The flight to Egypt and the return to Nazareth.
Verses 13-15 tells us Joseph, Mary, and Jesus find refuge in Egypt.
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt…
The command was urgent, and came right when the wise men had departed. It would not have sounded completely strange to Joseph that they should find refuge in Egypt. There was a large Jewish community in Egypt. It was NOT strange that the Holy Spirit would guide Joseph to take the family there.
CARSON tells us, "Egypt was a natural place to which to flee. It was nearby, a well-ordered Roman province outside Herod's jurisdiction; and, according to Philo (writing circa A.D. 40), its population included about a million Jews."
Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him…
This response is consistent with both the character of Herod and humanity in general. It doesn't speak well of humanity to notice that when God added humanity to His deity and came to earth - in the most non-threatening manner possible - the almost immediate reaction of one section of humanity was to try as hard as they could to murder Him.
When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night…
Joseph's rapid (leaving the very night of the dream) and complete obedience is impressive. It is unlikely that Joseph ever imagined such events when he first was betrothed to Mary of Nazareth.
Out of Egypt I called My Son…
In the process, another prophecy was fulfilled. At first glance, we might wonder how this prophecy from Hosea 11:1 is fulfilled in Jesus. But Matthew makes it clear that even as Israel as a nation came out from Egypt, so would the Son of God.
Verses 16-18 tells us The Massacre of the Innocents.
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more."
He sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts…
"Incredible? Anything is credible of the man who murdered his own wife and sons. This deed shocks Christians; but it was a small affair in Herod's career, and in contemporary history."
Especially in his last years Herod was cruel and suspicious. When he knew that his death was approaching, Herod had many Jewish leaders of Jerusalem arrested on false charges. He ordered that as soon as he died, they should all be killed - he knew well no one would mourn his own death, so he was determined that some tears be shed when he died.
A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning…
This quotation from Jeremiah 31:15 originally referred to the mourning of Israel's mothers during the conquest and captivity of the nation. Here Rachel is a representation of Bethlehem's mothers.
Verses 19-21 tells us The return to Israel.
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Arise, take the young Child and His mother…
God spoke to Joseph again in a dream, through an angel of the Lord. We also notice Joseph's quick obedience.
The young Child … the young Child … the young Child…
Repeatedly, the young Child is given first place in the account.
And came into the land of Israel…
The Messiah might spend a few years in Egypt, a refugee from the murderous Herod, but He would certainly come back into the land of Israel.
DID YOU KNOW?
There have been some who falsely teach that Egyptian magicians or sorcerers influenced Jesus and His later miracles were really just Egyptian tricks. It is important to note that there is no evidence for such claims, and significant evidence against such claims. Particularly, the teaching and style of ministry of Jesus is completely influenced by Old Testament Judaism, not by Egyptian mysticism.
Verses 22-23 tells us Fearing the evil son of Herod (Archelaus), the family settles north in Nazareth.
“But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 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."
When he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea…
Joseph had good reason to be cautious regarding Archelaus. This son of Herod proved to be such an incompetent and violent ruler that, at the plea of the Jews of Judea, the Romans deposed him for misrule and replaced him with a governor appointed by Rome in A.D. 6.
This Archalaus was as cruel as his father Herod the Great, but without any of his greatness. "A man of kindred nature, suspicious, truculent (Jospehus, Antiquities, 17,11, 2), to be feared and avoided by such as had cause to fear his father."
Being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee…
Again receiving guidance by a divine dream, Joseph settled outside of the much more religious region of Jerusalem and Judea, and into the populous region of Galilee, which had a much more significant Gentile population than Judea or Jerusalem.
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth…
It was remarkable that Joseph came back to Nazareth, the hometown of Mary and presumably Joseph (Luke 1:26-27). It was remarkable because Nazareth was an unremarkable town, and because it was where everyone knew Mary and Joseph and the strange circumstances surrounding their birth of their son.
Nazareth was an unwalled, unprotected town with a somewhat bad reputation; Nathaniel wondered if anything good could come from Nazareth (John 1:46). In God's plan, Jesus came from small, insignificant place that, if it had any reputation, it was a bad one. This is where Jesus grew up and matured into adulthood.
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene": Of all of Matthew's references to the Old Testament and the prophets, this is one of the most interesting. There is no specific passage found in the Old Testament that says in the given words, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
BRUCE says, “If there was any specific passage in Matthew's mind, it was likely Isaiah 11:1: There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Hebrew word translated Branch sounds like "Nazir" (neser). "Jerome, following the Jewish scholars of his time, believed the reference to be mainly to Isaiah 11, where mention is made of a branch that shall spring out of Jesse's root. . . The epithet Nazarene will thus mean: 'the man of Nazareth, the town of the little shoot'."
He shall be called a Nazarene…
In the plan of God the Father, inspired by the God the Spirit, and embraced by God the Son, the Messiah grew up in the somewhat despised town. Indeed, Jesus would become known as "Jesus of Nazareth".
When Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus - obviously after His resurrection and ascension and seating at the right hand of God the Father in glory - He introduced Himself to Paul saying, I am Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 22:8).
In Acts 24:5, the prosecutors of Paul said this to his judge…
We have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.
Growing up in Nazareth, Jesus would mature in boyhood and then in His young adulthood. He would fulfill the responsibilities expected of an eldest son; and then at some time Joseph died and disappeared from the scene and Jesus became the "man of the family." He worked His trade, supported His family, loved His God, and proved Himself utterly faithful in a thousand small things before He formally entered His appointed ministry. Yet no one would be intimidated to meet a man from Nazareth; the tendency would be to immediately think one's self better than a person from Nazareth.”