21 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king , magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem , saying , 2 "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." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled , and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people , he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born . 5 They said to him, " In Bethlehem of Judea ; for this is what has been written by the prophet : 6 ' AND YOU, BETHLEHEM , LAND OF JUDAH , ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH ; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL .' " 7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared . 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said , "Go and search carefully for the Child ; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."
9 After hearing the king , they went their way ; and the star , which they had seen in the east , went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star , they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy . 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother ; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then , opening their treasures , they presented to Him gifts of gold , frankincense , and myrrh . 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod , the magi left for their own country by another way .
13 Now when they had gone , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said , "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt , and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night , and left for Egypt . 15 He remained there until the death of Herod . This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet : " OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON ."
16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi , he became very enraged , and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity , from two years old and under , according to the time which he had determined from the magi . 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled : 18 " A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH , WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING , RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN ; AND SHE REFUSED e TO BE COMFORTED , BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
19 But when Herod died , behold , an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt , and said , 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother , and go into the land of Israel ; for those who sought the Child's life are dead ." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother , and came into the land of Israel . 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod , he was afraid to go there . Then after being warned by God in a dream , he left for the regions of Galilee ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 2:1-22
Commentary on Matthew 2:1-8
(Read Matthew 2:1-8)
Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein.
Commentary on Matthew 2:9-12
(Read Matthew 2:9-12)
What joy these wise men felt upon this sight of the star, none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit of bondage, at length receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God. We may well think what a disappointment it was to them, when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother the only attendant he had. However, these wise men did not think themselves baffled; but having found the King they sought, they presented their gifts to him. The humble inquirer after Christ will not be stumbled at finding him and his disciples in obscure cottages, after having in vain sought them in palaces and populous cities. Is a soul busy, seeking after Christ? Would it worship him, and does it say, Alas! I am a foolish and poor creature, and have nothing to offer? Nothing! Hast thou not a heart, though unworthy of him, dark, hard, and foul? Give it to him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it pleases him; he will take it, and will make it better, and thou shalt never repent having given it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and will give thee himself, and be thine for ever. The gifts the wise men presented were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Providence sent these as a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. Thus our heavenly Father, who knows what his children need, uses some as stewards to supply the wants of others, and can provide for them, even from the ends of the earth.
Commentary on Matthew 2:13-15
(Read Matthew 2:13-15)
Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. This was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary. But their faith, being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are at any time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was when an infant.
Commentary on Matthew 2:16-18
(Read Matthew 2:16-18)
Herod killed all the male children, not only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages of that city. Unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often carries men to absurd cruelties. It was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it begins. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin. But the murder of these infants was their martyrdom. How early did persecution against Christ and his kingdom begin! Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
Commentary on Matthew 2:19-23
(Read Matthew 2:19-23)
Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for awhile, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to them he must return. Did we but look upon the world as our Egypt, the place of our bondage and banishment, and heaven only as our Canaan, our home, our rest, we should as readily arise and depart thither, when we are called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt. The family must settle in Galilee. Nazareth was a place held in bad esteem, and Christ was crucified with this accusation, Jesus the Nazarene. Wherever Providence allots the bounds of our habitation, we must expect to share the reproach of Christ; yet we may glory in being called by his name, sure that if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him.