1506 | Matthew 2:1 the Magi Visit the Messiah
Mt 1:24 ❖ Sometimes God’ s commands are not easy. How can we better follow God’ s will when the calling seems difficult?
2:1 u Lk 2:4-7 v Lk 1:5
2:2 w Jer 23:5; Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Jn 1:49; 18:33- 37 x Nu 24:17
2:5 y Jn 7:42 2:6 z 2Sa 5:2; law, he asked them where the Mes si ah was to be born. 5“ In Beth le hem y in Judea,” they re plied,“ for this is what the proph et has writ ten:
6“‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ b” z
7 Then Her od called the Magi se cret ly and found out from them the ex act time the star had ap peared. 8 He sent them to Beth le hem and said,“ Go and search care ful ly for the child. As soon as you
The Magi Visit the Messiah
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Af ter Jesus was born in Beth le hem in Ju dea, u dur ing the time of King Her od, v Magi a from the east came to Jeru sa lem 2 and asked,“ Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? w We saw his star x when it rose and have come to wor ship him.”
3 When King Her od heard this he was dis turbed, and all Je ru sa lem with him. 4 When he had called to geth er all the people’ s chief priests and teach ers of the Mic 5:2 a
1 Traditionally wise men b
6 Micah 5:2,4
2:1 – 2 Herod most likely died in March of 4 BC. Since Herod is still alive when the magi arrive in Jerusalem, the dating of Jesus’ birth is placed by most scholars somewhere between 6 and 4 BC.
The universal significance of the birth of the child Jesus is announced immediately because magi from the east arrive in Jerusalem. The term“ magi” originally referred to a priestly caste in ancient Persia. The arrival of Gentile religious leaders from the east implies they had been regularly exposed to Hebrew Scriptures, prophecy, and teachers. The magi may have become familiar with Balaam’ s prophecy of a messianic deliverer( Nu 24:17).
2:3 – 8 The word“ Jerusalem” represents the religious and political leadership of Israel. The leadership know the consequences they might suffer if Herod were to fly into a rage at the perceived threat. They have aligned themselves politically with Herod, and if his power base is threatened, so is theirs.
The central leadership of the Jews was lodged in the“ chief priests” and the“ teachers of the law”( v. 4). The chief priests were members of the Sanhedrin, joining the high priest in giving oversight to the temple activities, treasury, and priestly orders.
PEOPLE TO KNOW // HEROD THE GREAT
MATTHEW 2:1 – 12: Herod the Great was a tyrannical and vengeful king, yet he was also an architectural genius. Some of his building achievements still stand today.
Herod’ s story in the Bible shows only his paranoid and vengeful side. When Magi from the east came to his palace asking about a new king born in the area,“ he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him”( Mt 2:3). As king, his mental state affected his entire community.
Herod hid his wrath from the Magi and disguised it with interest. Learning from the religious leaders that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem nearby, Herod sent the Magi to find baby Jesus and to report back to him when they had done,“ so that I too may go and worship him”( Mt 2:8). The Magi, however, were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. They went home by another route.
When Herod realized he had been duped, he flew into a rage. Like Pharaoh killing the baby Hebrew boys( Ex 1:22), Herod demanded that all the boys around Bethlehem under the age of two be put to death( Mt 2:16). He could not abide the thought of a challenger to his authority. Joseph, Mary and Jesus escaped; an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt.
APPLICATION Herod’ s legacy is a warning about the danger of sin in the life of a person in the position of power. Herod was a brilliant man, but his pride, jealousy and anger made him a terrible and terrifying leader. While we may not wield the same power as Herod, our hearts are susceptible to the same danger. In any position of leadership or authority, we need to examine our motivations and calling. Instead of seeking to preserve our own control and authority, we need to humble ourselves to God’ s authority and allow him to guide us as we acknowledge that he is the true King and Leader of all.
UNCORRECTED PROOF