Matthew 2:1-8
The Wise Men
Visit Jesus
Matthew 2:1–8
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men
from the east† arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is He who has been born King
of the Jews? For we saw His star in the
east and have come to worship Him.”
3When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed†, and all Jerusalem with him. 4So
he assembled all the chief priests
and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born.
5“In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was
written through the prophet: 6‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you
will come a Leader who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”
7Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and learned from them the time when the star appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find Him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship Him.”[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
21–22). Holman Bible Publishers.
The Star of Bethlehem
Some facts about the star that led the wise men to Bethlehem are clear, but much remains a mystery. We do know that the wise men saw the star while they were in the east, and they concluded that it proclaimed the birth of the King of the Jews (Matt. 2:2). Matthew 2:9–10 reveals these additional facts: The star led them as they left Jerusalem, it stopped over where Jesus was in Bethlehem, and they felt great joy as a result.
What is not clear is where the star was when the wise men traveled from their home to Jerusalem. Either the star had not been visible since they first saw it, or it had been stationary over Judea. The Creator of the universe put this star in the sky as His messenger to people outside the borders of Israel to guide them to the young King, Mary’s firstborn son. The star’s reappearance and course in the sky brought them to Bethlehem, not more than five miles south of Jerusalem.
King Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, and all Jerusalem was filled with rumors. He called a meeting of the Jewish religious leaders.
"Did the prophets tell us where the Messiah would be born?" he asked.
"Yes, in Bethlehem," they said, "for this is what the prophet Micah wrote:
'O little town of Bethlehem, you are not just an unimportant Judean village, for a Governor shall rise from you to rule my people Israel.'"
Then Herod sent a private message to the astrologers, asking them to come to see him; at this meeting he found out from them the exact time when they first saw the star. Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him too!"
- God is
... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are
... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ...
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
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Not much is known about these astrologers (also known as 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 had remained in Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the Messiah's coming. (2) They may have been eastern astrologers who studied ancient manuscripts from around the world. Because of the Jewish exile centuries earlier, they would have had copies of the Old Testament in their land. (3) They may have had a special message from God directing them to the Messiah. Some scholars say that each of these astrologers was from a different nation, representing the entire world bowing before Jesus. These men from faraway lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah when most of God's chosen people in Israel did not. Matthew pictures Jesus as King over the whole world, not just Judea. These men traveled thousands of miles to see the King of the Jews. When they finally found him, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts. This is quite different from the approach people often take today. We expect God to come looking for us, to explain himself, prove who he is, and give us gifts. But those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus, not for what they can get, but for who he is.
Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great military and political deliverer like Alexander the Great. Herod's counselors undoubtedly told this to Herod. No wonder this ruthless man took no chances and ordered all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed (Matthew 2:16)!
Wise Men Visit Jesus (Bethlehem)
Matthew 2:9-12
The Wise Men
Visit Jesus
Matthew 2:9–12
9After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen in the east! It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed beyond measure. 11Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And being warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another route.[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
21–22). Holman Bible Publishers.
Entering the house where the baby and Mary, his mother, were, they threw themselves down before him, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But when they returned to their own land, they didn't go through Jerusalem to report to Herod, for God had warned them in a dream to go home another way.
- God is
... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are
... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ...
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How will I
- You can
... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others
by social media links at the bottom of this.
True Worship
The astrologers gave these expensive gifts because they were worthy presents 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 a king; frankincense, a gift for deity; myrrh was a medicine and was also used as a burial spice. The astrologers 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.
Jesus was probably one or two years old when the astrologers found him. By this time Mary and Joseph were married, living in a house, and intending to stay in Bethlehem for a while.
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