Matthew 2

Thought On This Chapter

MT 2:1 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,

MT 2:2 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.

What a contrast you have here in the reaction to the birth of Jesus. The wise men were watching for Jesus, they saw His star and traveled from their homes to worship Him. This took planning. It was going to be a long trip. It was NOT like, "honey this king has been born down the street. I am going to go see Him and be back in half an hour." No this trip took many months. Arrangements would have to be made for their households and businesses. Their families would have to eat while they were gone, the bills would still have to be paid, and their businesses would still have to keep going. They would be gone a long time. Provisions would have to be paid for and acquired for the trip. They would have to leave their families for an extended period. This trip was going to cost them a great deal. It would cost them money, it would cost them time, and physical discomfort. Traveling in those days was an ordeal.

But for them getting to worship Jesus was worth it all. They saw His worth; they saw His glory. The birth of The King had a special attraction to them, one that was worth sacrificing for.

Herod had a totally different reaction. He orders the death of all children less than 2 years old. The same event. The same Jesus. And two totally different reactions. The wise men saw the glory of the Lord and Herod did not. One was worshipful, the other struck out in hate.

There is one more reaction in this chapter and that is of the scribes. They seem indifferent. They knew where Jesus would be born but you do not see them going to see Him. They knew about Jesus, but He does not seem worth the effort to them.

What group do you fall into. Is Jesus worth a great amount of your time, treasure, and effort like the wise men? Or are you more like the scribes, who know the word of God but just stay home, keep your money, time, and save your effort for other pursuits?

King James Bible Main Index:

Matthew 2 [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

MT 2:1 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,

MT 2:2 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.

MT 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

MT 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

MT 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

MT 2:6 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.

MT 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

MT 2:8 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.

MT 2:9 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.

MT 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

MT 2:11 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.

MT 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

MT 2:13 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.

MT 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

MT 2:15 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.

MT 2:16 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 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.

MT 2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

MT 2:18 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.

MT 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

MT 2:20 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.

MT 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

MT 2:22 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:

MT 2:23 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.

General Information About the Book of Matthew.

There are 65 references to the Old Testament in Matthew.

The book was written by Matthew who is also called Levi in Mark 2:14. He was a Jew from Galilee and a Roman Tax Collector - Matthew 9:9.

The book of Matthew shows the power of Jesus' ministry. His power over disease, nature and Satan is shown in chapter 8. His power over sin, death, and darkness is shown in chapter 9. His power in the lives of disciples is shown in chapter 10.

General information on the book of Matthew continued.

Outline of Matthew Ch. 2

I. Events related to the birth of Christ
A. Visit of wise men
1. They came from the east
2. They asked where is He
3. They came to worship Him
B. Herod's plot
1. Herod was troubled
2. All Jerusalem was troubled
3. Herod had to ask the priests where Christ was to be born
4. To be born in Bethlehem
5. Herod asks wise men when star appeared
6. Herod sends wise men to Bethlehem
7. Herod lies about wanting to also worship Him
C. Wise men find Christ
1. Christ is now a young child vs. 9
2. Christ is in a house now not a stable vs. 11
3. Wise men worship Christ
a. They fall down to worship
b. They gave Him treasures
1. Gold
2. Frankincense
3. Myrrh
4. Wise men warned of God to not return to Herod
D. Flight into Egypt
1. Angel warns Joseph to flee
2. They flee to Egypt
3. This happened to fulfill prophecy
E. Herod's revenge
1. Herod's wroth
2. Herod had children killed
a. In Bethlehem
b. In surrounding area
c. Children 2 and under
1. Under 2 because of when star appeared
2. Killing fulfilled prophecy
E. Return to Nazareth
1. Herod dies
2. Angel tells Joseph to return
3. Joseph going to Nazareth fulfilled prophecy

Four Old Testament prophecies came true in this chapter.

Christ born in Bethlehem
Killing of children
Christ came out of Egypt
Christ from Nazareth

What God has foretold will come to pass.

Thought on This Chapter

MT 2:11 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.

MT 2:13 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.

MT 2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Here we see the foreknowledge and providential care of God. God knew that Herod was going to try to kill Jesus. He also knew that Jesus would be born to a poor family. Joseph could not afford to be out of work. He did not have the means to pay for a trip to Egypt and to tide them over while they were hiding from Herod until he died. So God sent wise men from the east bearing very valuable gifts. These gifts would provide for their needs while they were in Egypt. And these wise men started their trip to see Jesus long before Jesus was born. Herod asked the wise men when they first seen the star. Herod used this information to determine the age of children to kill. Herod killed all the children 2 years old and under. This indicates that God started the wise men on their trip a long time before they got to see Jesus. God had it all timed perfectly.

Often God will start the answer coming before we even pray for our need.