The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 2 Part 1 The Hand Of God Guiding The Life Of Christ

Wise men traveled a great distance to see the Christ child.

Matthew 2:1-2  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, 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. 

Jerusalem received some remarkable visitors when Jesus was born. They are called "wise men."

The Greek word translated "wise men" is "magus" and the wise men are sometimes called "Magi." 

"Magi" is the plural form, meaning there were several wise men who came to Jerusalem seeking to worship the Messiah..

These men were of Babylonian or Chaldean origin. 

They were regarded as teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, or sorcerers.

Oriental wise men were also astrologers) who discovered a remarkable star serving as a sign that Messiah had just been born. 

They traveled a great distance to Jerusalem to worship Jesus.

We know that the magi were wise men from the East, most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran. 

This means the wise men traveled about 800 to 900 miles to see the Christ child. 

It is very likely that the magi knew of the writings of the prophet Daniel because he served various kings. 

Daniel 9:24-27 includes a prophecy containing a timeline for the birth of the Messiah.

Also they may have known a prophecy of Balaam, who lived in the town of Pethor on the Euphrates River near Persia. 

Balaam’s prophecy specifically mentions a “star coming out of Jacob” (See Numbers 24:17).

Christ was made a little lower than the angels through His humble birth.

Philippians 2:5-8  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

The lowly circumstances of Jesus' birth were markers of Christ's humility (See also Hebrews 2:9-18).

The One who will reign as eternal King of kings, was born in the poorest place, in a stable for animals.

The Creator and Sustainer of all life came to earth as a newborn baby.

He set aside all the heavenly splendor and glory He shared with His Father, in order for God to be manifest in the flesh. 

Most took no notice of Messiah's birth, but the Father sent glad tidings from angels and a star.

Luke 2:8-14  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9)  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12)  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13)  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14)  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Usually the birth of a king is a joyous celebration with grand announcements and ceremonies.  

Jesus was born as a lowly infant in a stable. He was given little notice by those around Him.

However, His Father set a specific star in the sky to announce the birth of His Son to the world. 

The first who took notice of Christ after his birth were shepherds who saw and heard glorious things concerning Him. 

Luke's gospel tells us that the archangel of the Lord told humble shepherds about the birth of Christ as a heavenly choir sang praises to God (See Luke 2:8-21).

After that, Simeon and Anna spoke of Him by the Spirit, to all who would hear and heed what they said (See Luke 2:38). 

Matthew is very specific to give us a date for the birth of Jesus Christ.

When the wise men inquired about Christ, it was in the days of Herod the king. 

Herod was an Edomite, made king of Judea by Augustus. He was a liar and murderer.

Christ was born in the 35th year of Herod's reign. 

Matthew notes this to show that the scepter had departed from Judah. 

Prophecy was literally fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Genesis 49:10  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 

Shiloh is best interpreted as the Messiah. It is the Messiah who has the true right to take the throne and hold the scepter (See John 18:36–37; Psalm 2:7–9). 

It is the Messiah who, at His second coming, will have the people’s obedience (See Daniel 7:13–14; Isaiah 2:2). 

It is the Messiah, the Lion of Judah, who will rule the whole world (See Revelation 11:15) and preside over a time of unprecedented blessing and peace on earth (See Isaiah 11:6–13; Micah 4:1–5).

To Him shall the gathering of the people be as indicated by the wise men.

Herod was very disturbed by what the wise men said. 

Matthew 2:3-6  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 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. 5)  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 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. 

Cruel king Herod was greatly troubled by the sayings of the wise men. 

His heart was agitated by fear of losing his grip on power. 

He was an insanely jealous man who killed his own wives or sons if he thought they might be a threat to his power.

Herod urgently summoned the priests and scribes and demanded to know where Messiah would be born.

They cited the prophecy of Micah to tell Herod the birthplace of Messiah (See Micah 5:2).

Herod hid his true motives for finding where the Christ child was located.

Matthew 2:7-8  Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 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. 

King Herod then called the wise men in for a private audience. 

He inquired diligently, meaning he investigated their knowledge carefully that he might accurately determine the birth of the Christ child.

Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem and asked that they return and tell him where the child was so that he could worship him.

Herod had cruel intentions. He was going to find Messiah and kill him!

Wise men saw the star once again and it led them to the Christ child.

Matthew 2:10-12  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 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. 12)  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 

We have here the wise men's humble adoration upon this new-born King of the Jews. They gave Him honor and showed reverence. 

From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, resolved to keep seeking until they should find Christ. 

This star apparently disappeared at least temporarily. 

Wise men saw the star when they were at home somewhere in modern Iran.  

They are only said to have seen it "in the east" so that it seems from that time they had had no sight of it, not while they were on their journey.  

When they saw it in their own country they calculated it was over the land of Judea, and they understood it as a sign that the king of the Jews was born.

This star had a motion because it kept pace with them, and guided them until they came to the place where Christ was. 

The star stood directly over the house, so that they had no need to inquire of any person for him. 

It is certain that this star was a very unusual one. It was visible in the daytime, it had motion and it stood still.

The wise men found Jesus and fell down and worshiped Him. 

They offered expensive gifts to the Christ child as was customary to do for a new born king.

As they lodged at Bethlehem, God warned them in a dream not to return to Jerusalem.

Therefore, when they left, they traveled by another route back to their homeland. 

God warned Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus.

Matthew 2:13-15  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. 14)  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 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. 

At the same time God warned the wise men to avoid returning to Jerusalem, He warned Joseph.

God instructed Joseph to gather his family and to flee to Egypt and to remain there until God spoke to him again.

The word "Flee" means to act swiftly and rapidly, indicating that Herod's murderous plan was going to happen soon.

Once again, take note of Joseph. He heard from God and he obeyed God.

This is an example of how each Christian should seek to live.

We hear what God says to us in His Word and we obey Him. Simple faith in a wonderful God.

Joseph and Mary remained with Jesus in Egypt until God told them they could return to their homeland.

Notice also that this is another prophecy literally fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, Son of God, Messiah of Israel.

Matthew speaks of the Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled at least 16 times in his gospel.

Matthew 2:16-18  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. 17)  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 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. 

King Herod was boiling with anger when the wise men failed to report back to him.

He used the information he gleaned from questioning the wise men to determine that the Christ child must be about 2 years old.

Therefore this wicked king gave orders to kill all male children that were two years old or younger.

Matthew wants us to know that this is another prophecy about Christ that was literally fulfilled (See Jeremiah 31:15).

We cannot imagine the heartache and grief inflicted upon the families of young children murdered by this cruel tyrant.

Through it all, God provided safety and sustenance for Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

Matthew 2:19-21  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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. 21)  And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 

The angel of the Lord appeared in another dream to Joseph and instructed him to return to Israel because Herod was dead.

What was Joseph's response? One of faithful obedience.

Joseph clearly took his responsibility in caring and providing for the Christ child very seriously.

God spoke to Joseph and he obeyed.

Matthew 2:22-23  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: 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. 

However, when Joseph and his family returned to Judea, he learned that one of Herod's sons was now king.

Joseph was afraid to return to Bethlehem at this point, and God appeared again in a dream to Joseph.

God told Joseph to go and live in Galilee in a town called Nazareth.

The Lord Jesus resided there until He entered the work of His ministry at about 30 years of age.

Once more, Matthew tells us that this happened in order that prophecy about Jesus Christ was literally fulfilled.

Psalm 22:6-7  But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7)  All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 

Isaiah 53:1-3  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2)  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3)  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

Isaiah 11:1-2  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2)  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 

There is not a direct prophecy cited by Matthew. 

Matthew used the phrase "spoken by the prophets" to show that this saying applied to Christ accurately reflects the writings of the prophets concerning Messiah.

The passages noted above from Psalms and Isaiah seem to clearly convey the character of those who were called Nazarenes.

A Nazarite was the most pure and perfect institution under the law and God may intend to point the perfection of our Lord and the purity of His followers.

Historically, those who lived in Nazareth were despised and scorned.  

The moral character of the people of Nazareth was such that they were proverbially despised and condemned (See John 1:46; 7:52). 

To come from Nazareth or to be a Nazarene, was the same as being despised, or to be esteemed of low birth. 

It fits Isaiah's picture of Messiah as being like a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness.  

It fits with Messiah being a rod from the stem of Jesse and a Branch growing out of its roots.

It fits the Psalmist's picture of Messiah being viewed as a reproach, despised and mocked by all. 

Jesus applied the text from Isaiah 11 to Himself (See Luke 4:18).

Judges 13:5 prophetically speaks of Samson's birth, but it may have a broader view that includes Messiah.

One final note here is that the Hebrew word for Nazarene is "Nezir" while the word for Branch and "Root" is "Netser."

"Nezir" means a consecrated one or an untrimmed vine. Both can be applied to Christ who is the vine and His disciples are the branches.

"Netser" means a sprout shooting up.

There are clear similarities in these two words and it is why Matthew, guided by God's Spirit, brings together different thoughts from the prophets to apply them to Jesus Christ. 

So far what have we learned about gospel of Jesus Christ?

The gospel of Christ includes His genealogy to prove His connections to King David and Abraham.

The gospel includes the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

The gospel includes prophecy literally fulfilled by the life of Christ. 

The gospel includes the faithful obedience to God by Joseph.

The gospel includes the record of God orchestrating events concerning the birth and life of His Son. 

May the Lord help us to learn and retain gospel truth that we might be His faithful witnesses.

Bob