Matthew 2:1–6

The fact is, the word "when" in English sounds to the ordinary English reader like a note of time. Nothing in the Greek answers to it. The Greek is simply "Now Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judea" — a fact of all importance to His history.

It simply means that these easterners came after He was born. Many months, or more than a year, might have passed in between. The wise men had first seen the star in the east, most probably at the time of our Lord's birth. That confirms it. After seeing the star, they had many preparations to make before they could set out. Then they had a long way to travel. Travelling in those days was hard and slow in the eastern parts of the world.

David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite, so it seems this was the place of David's birth. That is why Luke 2:11 calls it the "city of David." It was also the birthplace of Jesus. Though it was "little among the thousands of Judah," it agreed better with His humiliation. Bethlehem means "house of bread." That is a very fitting name for the place the Saviour should come from as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

Joseph and Mary are at Nazareth, but Christ must be born at Bethlehem. And the decree goes out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. All the machinery of that vast empire is set in motion to bring God's purpose about. This is very comforting to His own.

The Herods came from Idumea. The Roman government made them rulers in name over Judea and Galilee. The name Idumea is the Greek equivalent of Edom, the land of the descendants of Esau. So the position of the Jews in the days of the Gospels was deeply humiliating. They were not only under the rule of the Gentile power at Rome, but a son of Esau ruled over them in the land... And the New Testament opens with an Edomite trying to destroy Him who was born King of the Jews. This ruler held Edom as well as Judea and Galilee.

The Greek word here, translated "wise men," is magi. Magicians and magi are often lumped together, but they are not necessarily the same. Philo describes the magi as men who gave themselves to studying nature and to thinking on the divine perfections — men worthy to be the counsellors of kings. How the magi connected the star with "the King of the Jews" is not known. The Jews had been scattered among the nations, so the magi may have heard of the prophecy of Balaam (Numbers 24:17) or of Daniel's prophecy. God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. In the same way He may have led them to connect these prophecies with the appearance of the star.

The chapter gives us in a nutshell the story of the entire Gospel. Jerusalem is the City of a great King, yet the true King is not known there. In His own royal residence, His people do not know He has come. Strangers from distant lands seek Him and want to know and worship Him.

God would have a fitting testimony to such a Messiah; and if the Jews were unready, He would gather from the very ends of the earth some hearts to welcome Jesus.

What is man's position as a fallen sinner? Where is he, now that he has broken loose from God's control? This is the first question of the Old Testament. The rest of the Old Testament works out the answer in all its ugly detail, until we reach the closing chapter of Malachi, which ends with the significant word "curse." Then we open the New Testament. Not by accident, the first question on record there is "Where is He …?" We read on, and find the glorious answer.

"I am the root and the descendant of David." The "I" is emphatic. His connection with Israel in royalty is asserted here. As divine He is the Root of David's house. As man He is the descendant of David. He is David's Lord and David's Son. The crown of Israel is His because of who He is, and His too by promise and prophecy. He was born King of the Jews. He died as King of the Jews. He shall reign as King of the Jews.

The Gentiles formally acknowledge Him as King of the Jews. The will of God guides them, acting on the hearts of their wise men.

"We saw his star in the east." This is merely a historical fact. There is nothing wrong in the translation, but "we have seen it" has quite a different force to the mind. "We have seen" is a present, lasting effect in their minds. His star had been revealed to them, and under the present influence of that they had come to worship.

Balaam was the last man known in the east as a prophet, before the Gentiles were broken in the presence of Israel. He was certainly a wicked man, but God used him to speak the most remarkable predictions of Israel's coming glory. And that very prophecy had closed with a reference to the Star that should rise out of Jacob. Hundreds of years later, traces of this prophecy still lingered among the people of the east.

The star was surely supernatural. Kepler pointed to a conjunction of planets. But no conjunction of planets could be called a star. And none could have produced such a complete conviction in men who knew the heavens well. It was, in fact, a beautiful witness of the God of nature to the men of nature.

These princes brought their gifts, gifts such as nobles from far away would bring to a king. But "when they saw the child with Mary His mother," they recognised His divine glory first, and they "fell down and worshipped Him." Then they acknowledged His kingship and brought out their gifts. They worshipped God and gave gifts to the King.

With the greatest readiness these men of the Bible turned up Micah 5:2 and read out to the king the well-known words. Yet not one step did these men take in the direction of Bethlehem to see if the promised King was there. There is nothing more heartless than mere Bible knowledge without faith.

God spoke to the wise men, first by a star and then by a dream. To the religious men in Jerusalem He did not speak at all. There had been days when the high priest among them had been in touch with God by means of the Urim and Thummim. Now God was silent to them.

Herod was king at Jerusalem, so he was deeply shaken by the announcement that the King of the Jews was born. It touched him very closely, because he knew that if the true Messiah had come, he could no longer be king himself. Besides, the news that God's King had come was enough to alarm the conscience and awaken fear and dread. Others felt the same... There were no thunderclaps or lightning, no threats, no sound of alarm; yet they were troubled... The king's troubled state of mind led him to make inquiry... but with all the unquestionable evidence in front of him, he did not think the Messiah worth seeking.

Herod, the king, was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. He feared for his throne, which was not his. Jerusalem knew what Herod's fear meant — rebellion, bloodshed, and suffering.

It is not surprising, we say again, that Herod should be troubled when he heard the news, for here was apparently a rival claimant to his throne. But we read that "he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." So the coming of the Saviour produced not celebration but dismay among the very people who claimed to be waiting for Him! Something was terribly wrong, since so far this was only the recoil of their twisted instincts. They had not seen Him. He had done nothing yet. They only sensed that His coming would mean the spoiling of their pleasures instead of the fulfilment of their hopes.

"All Jerusalem" is sweeping enough, surely. The expression would include the learned and the unlearned, old and young, clergy and laity. All Jerusalem was troubled!

Look at the words, "and all Jerusalem with him." Let each of us underline that word "all" in our minds. It clearly means Pharisees and Sadducees included. True, these religious men had a knowledge of their Scriptures, for they could quote Micah 5:2 at once in reply to Herod's demand. Yet the only practical use they made of their knowledge was to give Herod an opportunity to kill the infant Messiah.

Yet these men did not take one step toward Bethlehem to see if the promised King was there. There is nothing more heartless than mere Bible knowledge without faith. Strange as it may seem, it is possible to go down to an eternal hell with a mind crammed with Bible truth.

When the first breath of this news reaches Jerusalem, the result is dismay in everyone. The king, the priests, the scribes — all are in turmoil. There was no heart for Jesus. But God will always have a testimony. If the Jews will not have Him, the Gentiles come; and it is grace that brings this about... Jerusalem sides with the false king, and does not care to receive Him. Those who were despised as dogs have the honour of truly recognising the claims of the Messiah. The Jews themselves had to teach them the first lessons of prophecy.

But does news of Christ trouble you now? Then you are like Herod. I wish to God that you were troubled, but on the right account. I wish you were anxious about your soul and crying, "What must I do to be saved?"

Herod was king at Jerusalem, so he was deeply shaken by the announcement that the King of the Jews was born. It touched him very closely, because he knew that if the true Messiah had come, he could no longer be king himself. Besides, the news that God's King had come was enough to alarm the conscience and stir up fear and dread... The king's troubled state of mind led him to make inquiry. He first gathered the men he judged best able to give him information. He demanded that they tell him where the Christ was to be born. But though their reply was correct, it did not relieve his trouble.

By order of the king they were called together, not in a special session of the Sanhedrin, but in a larger gathering. He commanded all the chief priests and scribes to present themselves and to bring out the scrolls of the law, the prophets and the writings. Now Herod puts his question: where is the Messiah to be born? The answer comes at once from the prophecies of Micah, at the start of his fifth chapter: Bethlehem of Judea. There was no dissenting voice. They were all orthodox and knew the Scriptures perfectly. But it was head knowledge, and it never touched their consciences.

It is a very striking thing. If you want solid information you must go to the Scriptures. Even that godless man Herod had to go to Scripture. Where did Herod get his information? From the pages of Scripture. And where do men get real light and truth today? Again, it is from the Scriptures.

With the utmost readiness these men of the Bible turned up Micah 5:2 and read out the well-known words to the king... Yet not one step did these men take in the direction of Bethlehem to see if the promised King was there. There is nothing more heartless than mere Bible knowledge without faith. Strange as it may seem, it is possible to go down to an eternal hell with a mind crammed full of Bible truth.

They knew the answer (from Micah 5:2), but they seemed to have no more desire for Christ than Herod did. Surely any honest reality of faith would have gladly desired to join the wise men in such a quest.

The shepherds of Luke 2 knew of His birth within a few hours. These eastern astronomers knew within a few days, or weeks at the most. But several months must have passed before the priests and scribes had the smallest hint of what had happened. God spoke to the wise men first by a star and then by a dream. To the religious leaders in Jerusalem He did not speak at all. Yet there had been days when the high priest among them was in touch with God through the Urim and Thummim. Now God was silent to them.

People generally felt that someone was coming. They studied the letter of the word with such remarkable care that they could say where the Messiah would be born. Yet that study was lifeless. Unless we connect everything with Jesus, we fail to get the profit from any portion of Scripture.

When these strangers saw the star, they set out for Jerusalem, the traditional royal capital. When they arrived, God meets them; and it is remarkable how He does so. It is by His word, and His word interpreted by those who had not the smallest interest of heart in the Messiah. They were quite right in their interpretation; they knew where Messiah was to be born.

It is a very striking thing that if you want solid information you must go to the Scriptures. Even that godless man Herod had to go to Scripture. Where did Herod get his information? From the pages of Scripture. And where do people get real light and truth today? Again, it is from the Scriptures.

David was anointed in the house of Jesse the Bethlehemite. So it appears to have been the place of David's birth, and this is why Luke 2:11 calls it the "city of David." It was also the birthplace of Jesus. Though it was "little among the thousands of Judah," that matched His lowliness all the better. Bethlehem means "house of bread." That is a very fitting name for a place from which the Saviour should come as a man — He who was the living bread that came down from heaven.

The greatest interest of Bethlehem is that it marks the birthplace not only of David, but of his greater Son. God is overruling all, He brings this about. Joseph and Mary are at Nazareth, but Christ must be born at Bethlehem. And the decree goes out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. All the machinery of that vast empire is set in motion to bring God's purpose about. This is very comforting to His own.

The scribes in Herod's court hold the prophetic word in their minds, clear, full and correct. They can teach it to others. It is bright and exact in their intellect and memory. But they make no use of it themselves. A solemn sight indeed! They sent the men of the east on their way from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in the bright light of the prophet Micah. But they do not take one step along that road themselves.

Yet not one step did these men take in the direction of Bethlehem to see if the promised King was there. There is nothing more heartless than mere Bible knowledge without faith. Strange as it may seem, it is possible to go down to an eternal hell with the mind crammed with Bible truth.

Through these Gentiles He sent a testimony to Jerusalem about the birth of the Messiah. God knew how to do this, and to rebuke, through their testimony, those who should above all have watched for and welcomed their own Messiah.

These scribes quoted Micah 5:2, and they mentioned the "Governor." But they chose to leave out the wonderful words that follow: "whose goings forth have been from everlasting," or, as the margin has it, "from the days of eternity." They hid the truth that this King was the Lord, Jehovah!

Bethlehem was of small consequence in itself, insignificant among the thousands of Judah, yet it was to leap into undying fame. And why? "Out of you shall He come forth to Me who is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

Here the Messiah, the ruler, appears in many glories, both personal and official. And poor Bethlehem, little in Judah, is honoured because of Him. His mother was the poor carpenter's wife of Nazareth. His birthplace was the poor town of Bethlehem. Both take honour and blessing because of Him.

The Gospel writer gives the sense rather than the exact words of the Hebrew or of the Greek Old Testament. Here the literal translation of the Hebrew does agree with the Greek.

"Bethlehem," said the scribes, and they quoted the prophet's words about the "Governor" who would rule God's people Israel (Micah 5:2). But they chose to leave out the wonderful words that follow: "whose goings forth have been from everlasting," or, as the margin note puts it, "from the days of eternity." They hid what this King really was: the Lord, Jehovah!

He was born in Bethlehem. But that is not all, for "His goings forth have been of old from everlasting." He was a divine person. In grace He became a baby in Bethlehem, but He was Jehovah the true God of Israel.

poimainō means to feed cattle, as in Luke 17:7. It is also used as a picture of feeding the flock or church of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). Four times it is translated "rule," where it applies to the people of Israel and to the nations in a future day: Matthew 2:6; Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15. It comes from the root poimēn, "a shepherd," and may be translated "to shepherd," because it means care or oversight as well as feeding.

That is God's thought of a true ruler… The true Shepherd of the sheep will never give up the service to which love set Him apart, whatever the circumstances. With love, rule is service, and how blessed the time when love alone shall rule!

He was born into this world as the heir to David's throne. That throne had stood empty for centuries, waiting for its rightful and expected occupant. By birth He was the Shepherd of Israel (Matthew 2:6, Greek), for the Old Testament Scriptures use that title for kings… So all Israel were the sheep whose interests and welfare the Son of David would be expected to promote.

The scribes in Herod's court hold the prophetic word in their minds, clear, full and exact. They can teach it to others… But they make no use of it themselves. A solemn sight indeed! They sent the men from the east on their way from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in the bright light of the prophet Micah. Yet they never take one step along that road themselves.