Matthew2
King James Version · Public Domain
1Now 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,
2Saying, 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.
3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6And 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.
7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8And 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.
9When 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.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11And 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.
12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13And 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.
14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15And 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.
16Then 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 Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18In 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.
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20Saying, 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.
21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But 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:
23And 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Matthew 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The wise men's search after Christ. (1–8). The wise men worship Jesus. (9–12). Jesus carried into Egypt. (13–15). Herod causes the infants of Bethlehem to be massacred. (16–18). Death of Herod, Jesus brought to Nazareth. (19–23).
vv1-8
Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein.
vv9-12
What joy these wise men felt upon this sight of the star, none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit of bondage, at length receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God. We may well think what a disappointment it was to them, when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother the only attendant he had. However, these wise men did not think themselves baffled; but having found the King they sought, they presented their gifts to him. The humble inquirer after Christ will not be stumbled at finding him and his disciples in obscure cottages, after having in vain sought them in palaces and populous cities. Is a soul busy, seeking after Christ? Would it worship him, and does it say, Alas! I am a foolish and poor creature, and have nothing to offer? Nothing! Hast thou not a heart, though unworthy of him, dark, hard, and foul? Give it to him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it pleases him; he will take it, and will make it better, and thou shalt never repent having given it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and will give thee himself, and be thine for ever. The gifts the wise men presented were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Providence sent these as a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. Thus our heavenly Father, who knows what his children need, uses some as stewards to supply the wants of others, and can provide for them, even from the ends of the earth.
vv13-15
Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. This was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary. But their faith, being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are at any time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was when an infant.
Key Words
δέ (dé): but, and, etc.
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
γεννάω (gennáō): to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
Βηθλεέμ (Bēthleém): Bethleem (i.e. Beth-lechem), a place in Palestine
Ἰουδαία (Ioudaía): the Judæan land (i.e. Judæa), a region of Palestine
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
Ἡρώδης (Hērṓdēs): heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings
βασιλεύς (basileús): a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)
ἰδού (idoú): used as imperative lo!;
Cross References
Matthew 2Directly quoted by the chief priests as the prophetic proof that Messiah must be born in Bethlehem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Explicitly cited by Matthew as being fulfilled in Christ's flight to and return from Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Explicitly cited by Matthew to describe Rachel weeping for her children after Herod's massacre.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Balaam's ancient prophecy of 'a Star out of Jacob' which traditionally informed the wise men.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Verbal and structural parallel to Moses' return to Egypt when those seeking his life were dead.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jacob's prophecy of the sceptre departing from Judah, occurring as Edomite Herod reigns.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical account explaining how Joseph and Mary traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Prophetic parallel of foreign kings bringing gifts of gold and tribute to the Messianic King.
Supported by John Calvin
Prophesies Gentiles bringing gold and incense to show forth the praises of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Illustrates the scriptural duty of priests to keep knowledge and provide law from their mouths.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Demonstrates the historical reality of early Christians being derisively labeled 'the sect of the Nazarenes.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Bethlehem as Ephrath, linking Rachel's ancient burial place to the weeping in Ramah.
Supported by JFB
Demonstrates the common Jewish knowledge that Christ must come from the town of Bethlehem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the family returning to reside in their own city of Nazareth.
Supported by Matthew Poole