2:1Bethlehem is a small town five miles south of Jerusalem. It sits on a high ridge over 2,000 feet above sea level. It is mentioned in more detail in the Gospel of Luke. Luke also explains why Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, rather than in Nazareth, their hometown.
Life Application Study BibleMatthewChapter 2
Matthew 2
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1536, 1537, 1538
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2Matthew 2
1Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men* from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2“ Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,* and we have come to worship him.” 3King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:2:1 Or royal astrologers; Greek reads magi; also in 2:7, 16. 2:2 Or star in the east.Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictionsof the Messiah’s coming. (2} They may have been eastern astro!-ogers who studied ancient manuscripts from around the world.Because of the Jewish exile centuries earlier, they would have hadcopies of the Old Testament in their fand. (3) They may have hada special message from God directing them to the Messiah. Somescholars say these wise men were each from a different land,representing the entire world bowing before Jesus. These menfrom faraway lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah when mostof God's chosen people in Israel did not. Matthew pictures Jesusas the King over the whole world, not just Judea.2:1, 2 The wise men traveled thousands of miles to see the kingof the Jews. When they finally found him, they responded withjoy, worship, and gifts. This is so different from the approachpeople often take today. We expect God to come looking for us,to explain himself, prove who he is, and give us gifts. But thosewho are wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for whatthey can get, but for who he is.2:2 The wise men said they saw Jesus’ star. Balaam referred toacoming “star... from Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). Some say thisstar may have been a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and Marsin
6B.C., and others offer other explanations. But couldn't God,who created the heavens, have created a special star to signalthe arrival of his Son? Whatever the nature of the star, thesewise men traveled thousands of miles searching for a king, andthey found him.2:3 Herod the Great was quite disturbed when the wise men askedabout a newborn king of the Jews because (1) Herod was not therightful heir to the throne of David; therefore, many Jews hatedhim as a usurper. If Jesus really was an heir, trouble would arise.(2) Herod was ruthless, and because of his many enemies, he wassuspicious that someone would try to overthrow him. (3) Heroddidn’t want the Jews, a religious people, to unite around a religiousfigure. (4) if these wise men were of Jewish descent and fromParthia (the most powerful region next to Rome), they would havewelcomed a Jewish king who could swing the balance of poweraway from Rome. The land of Israel, far from Rome, would havebeen easy prey for a nation trying to gain more control.The text tells us that not only was Herod disturbed, but so waseveryone in Jerusalem. When Jesus was born into the world,people immediately began to react. His presence did not sootheand comfort most people; instead, it startled and disturbed them.In some he awakened spiritual longings; in others, fear and inse-curity. Things have not changed that much. Jesus still disturbspeople. if it is true that God entered our world when Jesus wasborn, we dare not sit idly by ignoring and rationalizing our inac-tion. We must acknowledge Jesus as the rightful King of our lives.2:4-6 The leading priests and teachers of religious law wereaware of Micah 5:2 and other prophecies about the Messiah.Matthew repeatedly highlighted their knowledge and unbelief.The wise men’s news troubled Herod because he knew that theJewish people expected the Messiah to come soon (Luke 3:15).Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great military and
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,are not least among the ruling cities* of Judah,for a ruler will come from youwho will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’*”
7Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 9After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. The Escape to Egypt (13) 13After the wise men were gone, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, Sand they stayed a asthere until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the LORD had spoken through the prophet: oe“I called my Son out of Egypt.”*
16Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent sol-diers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, basedonthe wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. '’7Herod’s brutal action fulfilled whatGod had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:
18“A cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning.Rachel weeps for her children,refusing to be comforted,for they are dead.”*2:18tJer 31:15The Return to Nazareth (14)
19When Herod died, an angel of the LORD appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20“Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” 21So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23So the family went and lived ina town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus (16/Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17)
Textual footnotes
Life Application Notes 17 notes
2:1The land of israel was divided into four political districts and several lesser territories. Judea was to the south, Samaria in the middle, Galilee to the north, and Idumea to the southwest. Bethlehem of Judea (also called Judah, 2:6) had been prophesied as the Messiah's birthplace (Micah 5:2). Jerusalem was also in Judea and was the seat of government for Herod the Great, king over all four political districts: After Herod's death, the districts were divided among three separate rulers (see the note on 2:19-22). Although he was a ruthless, evil man who murdered many in his own family, Herod the Great supervised the renovation of the Temple, making it much larger and more beautiful. This made him popular with many Jews. Jesus would visit Jerusalem many times because the great Jewish festivals were held there.
2:1,2Not much is known about these “wise men.” We don’t know where they came from or how many there were. Tradition says they were men of high position from Parthia, near the site of ancient Babylon. How did they know that the star represented the Messiah? (1) They could have been Jews who remained in Mediterranean f Nazareth; { Sea Passage Subject
2:6Most religious leaders believed in a jiteral fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy; therefore, they believed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem as foreseen by the prophet Micah seven centuries earlier (Micah 5:2). Ironically, when Jesus was born, these same religious leaders became his greatest enemies. When the Messiah for whom they had been waiting finally came, they didn’t recognize him.
2:8Herod did not want to worship Christ—he was fying. This was a trick to get the wise men to return to him and reveal the whereabouts of the newborn king. Herod’s plan was to kill Jesus.
2:11Jesus was probably one or two years old when the wise men found him. By this time, Mary and Joseph were married, living in a house, and intending to stay in Bethlehem for a while. For more on Joseph and Mary's stay there, see the note on Luke 2:39.
2:11The wise men gave these expensive gifts as worthy acknowledgement for a future king. Bible students have seen in the gifts symbols of Christ's identity and what he would accomplish. Gold was a gift for royalty; frankincense was a gift for deity; and myrrh was a spice used to anoint a body for burial. These gifts may have provided the financial resources for the trip to Egypt and back.
2:11The wise men brought gifts and worshiped Jesus for who he was. This is the essence of true worship-—honoring Christ for who he is and being willing to give him what is valuable to you. Worship God because he is the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the best you have to give.
2:12After finding Jesus and worshiping him, the wise men were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem as they had intended. Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God’s Word. in what ways has Jesus affected the direction of your ‘ife?
2:13This was the second dream or vision that Joseph received from God. Joseph’s first dream revealed that Mary’s child would be the Messiah (1:20, 21). His second dream told him how to protect the child’s life. Although Joseph was not Jesus’ natural father, he was Jesus’ legal father and was responsible for his safety and well-being. Divine guidance comes only to prepared hearts. Joseph remained receptive to God’s guidance.
2:14,15Going to Egypt was not unusual because there were colonies of Jews in several major Egyptian cities. These colonies had developed during the time of the great captivity (see Jeremiah 43-44). There is an interesting parallel between this flight to Egypt and Israel’s history. As an infant nation, Israel went to Egypt, just as Jesus did as a child. God led Israel out (Hosea 11:1); God brought Jesus back. Both events show God working to save his people.
2:16Herod, the king of the Jews, killed all the boys under two years of age in an obsessive attempt to kill Jesus, the newborn king. He stained his hands with blood, but he did not harm Jesus. Herod was king by a human appointment; Jesus was King by a divine appointment. No one can thwart Gad’s plans.
2:16Herod was afraid that this newborn king would one day take his throne. He completely misunderstood the reason for Christ's coming. Jesus didn't want Herod’s throne; he wanted to be king of Herod’s life. Jesus wanted to give Herod eternal life, not take away his present life. Today people are often afraid that Christ wants to take things away when, in reality, he wants to give them real freedom, peace, and joy. Don’t fear Christ—give him the throne of your life.
2:17,18Rachel had been the favored wife of Jacob, one of the great men of God in the Old Testament. As such, she was considered the mother of a nation. From Jacob’s 12 sons had come the 12 tribes of Israel. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19). For more about the significance of this verse, see the note on Jeremiah 31:15, from which this verse was quoted.
2:19-22Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. of an incurable disease. Rome trusted him but didn’t trust his sons. Herod knew that Rome wouldn't give his successor as much power, so he divided his kingdom into three parts, one for each son. Archelaus received Judea, Samaria, and Idumea; Herod Antipas received Galilee and Perea: Herod Philip II received Traconitis. Archelaus, a violent man, began his reign by slaughtering 3,000 influential people. Nine years later. he was banished. God didn’t want Joseph's family to go into the region of this evil ruler.
2:23Nazareth sat in the hilly area of southern Galilee near the crossroads of great caravan trade routes. The town itself was rather small. The Roman garrison in charge of Galilee was housed there. The people of Nazareth had constant contact with people from all over the world, so world news reached them quickly. The people of Nazareth had an attitude of independence that many of the Jews despised. This may have been why Nathanael commented “Nazareth!... Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
2:23The Old Testament does not record this specific statement, “He will be called a Nazarene.” Many scholars believe, however, that Matthew is referring to Isaiah 11:1, where the Hebrew word for “branch” is similar to the word for “Nazarene.” Or he may be referring to a prophecy unrecorded in the Bible. In any case, Matthew paints the picture of Jesus as the true Messiah announced by God through the prophets; and he makes the point that Jesus, the Messiah, had unexpectedly humble beginnings, just as the Old Testament had predicted (see Micah 5:2).
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Study feature · page 1537
The bribery of the guards The baptism emphasis in the great commission*
Matthew records nine special events that are not mentioned in any of the other Gospels. In each case, the most apparent reason for Matthew’s choice has to do with his purpose in communicating the gospel to Jewish people. Five cases are fulfillments of Old Testament prophecies (marked with asterisks above). The other four would have been of particular interest to the Jews of Matthew’s day.