Matthew
2:1-12
Lesson 2
2:1-12
Lesson 2
Matthew 2:1-12
Visitors from the east 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem 2 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. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, 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. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, 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. 9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 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. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. |
Margin notes:
"Jesus was born in Bethlehem." (2:1) - Another prophecy fulfilled. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as foretold in Micah 5:2 seven hundred years earlier. Bethlehem (meaning "bread of life") was originally called Ephrath (Genesis 35:19; 48:7) and was a small town in Judea five miles south of Jerusalem. Also called "the city of David" (Luke 2:4), Bethlehem stood on the highway from Hebron to Egypt. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but since He was raised in Nazareth, many didn't know He was born in Bethlehem and didn't connect Him with the prophecy. Additional note: Jesus was born a man in Bethlehem, but He existed with God before the world began (John 17:5). "In the days of Herod the king." (2:1) - If you were told that a particular event happened during President Barack Obama's administration, you could better place when it happened. Telling us that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod puts a time stamp on events. "Wise men." (2:1) - See "Today's Questions" below. "He was troubled." (2:3) - King Herod was not the rightful heir to the throne and saw everyone as a threat, even his own sons. He lived in fear of being overthrown and saw the birth of the "King of the Jews" as the latest menace. See "Today's Questions" below for more information on Herod. "Scribes." (2:4) - Often called "doctors of the law" (Luke 5:17), teachers, or "lawyer" (Matthew 22:35; Luke 7:30; 10:25), scribes were experts on the Mosaic Law and the Old Testament prophecies. They made copies of the scriptures, interpreted the Law, helped settle religious arguments, and taught Judaism. They were highly regarded in Jewish society, to the point where "The burden of a teacher is to be born in preference to that of a father, a teacher must be ransomed from captivity before one's own father." (From "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; page 981). Because scribes hindered people in their religious journey, burdened them with unnecessary religious legalisms, and tried to entrap Jesus (Luke 11:52-54), the Messiah condemned them as hypocrites (Luke 11:44). "They said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea." (2:5) - The priests, scribes, and most Jews knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. It had been prophesied 700 years earlier in Micah 5:2. Imagine, centuries before His birth, God told Micah precisely where Jesus would be born. See also John 7:42. "That I may come and worship him." (2:8) - This was a ruse. In reality, Herod wanted to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:13-18). "When they were come Into the house." (2:11) - Mary and Joseph had moved out of the manger by the time the wise men arrived in Bethlehem. "Gold, and frankincense and myrrh." (2:11) - These are three lavish, carefully selected gifts. Gold is an expensive gift, fit for a King. Frankincense was used for medicinal purposes, and Jesus is a healer. Myrrh was used to prepare the dead for burial and represented suffering, which Jesus would do on the cross (Mark 23:15). |