*Matthew 2:1-12
Following Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, Magi guided by a star visit Jerusalem seeking the newborn king, then find and worship Jesus, and are warned in a dream to avoid Herod.
- Visit of the Magi:
- The passage begins with the account of wise men, or Magi, from the east who come to Jerusalem, seeking the one who has been born king of the Jews.
- They have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
- Herod’s Reaction:
- When King Herod hears about this, he is troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- Herod gathers the chief priests and scribes of the people, inquiring where the Christ was to be born.
- Prophecy of Micah:
- The chief priests and scribes quote the prophecy of Micah, stating that the Christ is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.
- Herod’s Deception:
- Herod secretly summons the wise men and asks them about the time the star appeared.
- He then sends them to Bethlehem, telling them to search diligently for the child and report back to him so that he too may go and worship Him.
- Worship of the Christ Child:
- The wise men leave, and the star they had seen in the east goes ahead of them until it stops over the place where the child was.
- They rejoice exceedingly with great joy upon seeing the star again.
- Entering the house, they find the child with Mary, His mother, and they fall down and worship Him. They offer Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Divine Warning in a Dream:
- Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the wise men depart for their own country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12 teaches us to seek Jesus with a sincere heart, just like the wise men who traveled far to find Him. They were willing to leave everything behind to worship Him and offer their best gifts. This reminds us to make Jesus a priority in our lives, no matter the cost. Instead of getting distracted by the things of this world, we should seek Him daily, give Him our best, and worship Him with grateful hearts.
Matthew 2:1-12 (WEB)
2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,are in no way least among the princes of Judah;for out of you shall come a governorwho shall shepherd my people, Israel.’ ”7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.