Matthew2
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
2“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
3When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.
5They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
6‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah; for out of you shall come a governor who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
7Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
8He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
9They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was.
10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
11They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14He arose and 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 by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
17Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
21He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will 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