The Gospel According to Matthew
Copyright© 2006, Darroll Evans

 

Chapter 2

 

Matthew 2:1-3
1 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.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

 

Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great. Herod was not a real “King.”  He was a local governor serving at the pleasure of Rome. Rome ruled the entire area.  The area was under Roman authority and military control, but Jews were given limited governing ability.

 

The first to worship the babe were the poor of the Israeli nation, lowly shepherds.  They were symbolic of Jesus’ calling to shepherd His people.

 

Luke 2:7-16
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 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.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 

Following Jesus’ birth (within 2 years), “wise men” (Gr. magoi- magoi) came seeking Him.  The title, Magi, was symbolic of the Zoroastrian priesthood.  Zoroastrian Priests were astronomers/astrologers.  They would have been accustomed to searching for patterns in the various constellations.  Magi were Persians, modern Iranians.  When we see pictures of magi from various races, those portrayals are politically correct with no basis in truth.

 

Zoroaster was an Iranian who taught monotheism.  He was born in approximately 628 BC.  One of his converts was King Vishtaspa, and he may have been Hystaspes, the father of Darius who became the king of the Medes and Persians.

 

How did Iranian Zoroastrian Priests come to know about the birth of the biblically foretold King of Israel?

 

At this point, I must speculate.  However, a little research will lead you to the same conclusions.

 

At the time of the Babylonian captivity, Zoroastrianism was a well established religion in Persian.  While the multi-god Babylonian priesthood would have been thrown aside when the Persians captured Babylon, the Jews, being monotheists, would have been allowed to continue their religious activity.  The Persian Zoroastrian Priests would have studied the Jewish texts to see how the Jews came to be monotheists.  In that study, they may have come to believe that Israel would one-day have a divinely appointed ruler.  The Zoroastrian astronomy gave birth to today’s astrology, the study of stars to understand mankind’s future.

 

When they saw a sign in the heavens concerning the One Who was born to be King of the Jews, they came to honor Him and show their respect.

 

There is a point that must be clarified. When the Magi said, we have seen his star in the east,” they were not saying that the star was in the eastern skies.  It may have been, but that is not the point.  They were east of Jerusalem when they saw the star. And so, they said, “We have seen His star in the east----in Persia.”

 

Their presence in Jerusalem, and questions concerning Christ became a matter of concern for Herod.  He had the throne and he was going to do all in his power to keep it.

 

Matthew 2:4-6
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.

 

The first thing Herod did in response to the news of the wise men was to call a council meeting of the priests and scribes.  He wanted to find out where this new “King” was supposed to be born.

 

Herod’s advisor’s pointed to is Micah 5:2--- But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Heb. olam).

 

I pointed to the last word in this verse because of its meaning.  The Hebrew word translated “everlasting” (Olam) indicates an unknown period of time.  It does not indicate eternity, or anything eternal.

 

We can, to some extent, date the physical birth of Jesus.  But, we cannot in any way date His “beginning.”  As God the Son, Christ pre-dates the beginning of creation.

 

Matthew 2:7-8

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired 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.

 

Herod summoned the Magi, speaking to them privately.  He asked them about the exact time the star appeared. 

 

Then, Herod sent them on the Bethlehem to search for the child.  Herod was devious, telling them to find Christ and return to tell him so he may also go and worship the newly born King.

 

Matthew 2:9-10
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

 

Having heard King Herod, they went their way.  In the ancient languages, “hearing” assumed a positive response.  The Magi must have agreed to return to Herod.

 

The star that they had seen appeared and went on before them.  Eventually it came to rest over the house where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus now lived.

 

When they saw, once again became aware of the star, they rejoiced with great, exceeding joy.

 

The Greek text may indicate that a casual observer could not readily see the star, or that the sight required God’s intervention to see and understand its importance.

 

Many have searched for the “Star of Bethlehem.”  However, it is my opinion that it was not a physical star.  Instead, the star was an indicator to those who were given the power to see, just as Christians are given the power to see the truth of Christ Jesus when those around them are blind to that truth.

 

Matthew 2:11 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.

 

This verse tells us that the family now resided in a house (Gr. oikian-oikian).  The Greek text refers to a family dwelling.  The Magi did not visit immediately after Jesus’ birth, but perhaps one or two years later. 

 

Jesus birth in a stable was real.  It was also symbolic. 

 

Jesus’ birth in a stable was the Father’s way of telling us that His Son began human life at the bottom of the latter.  It was like a business owner’s son starting in the family business by stacking boxes in the warehouse.

 

The Magi came into the house, saw Jesus and Mary, and they fell down and worshipped Him (Gr. autoo-autw/singular, masculine).  They did not worship “them” or “her.”

 

It is very important that you understand that although Mary is to be greatly respected---she is not worthy of worship.  Some teach that Mary is a co-mediator with Christ.  Such a teaching is an ungodly abuse of Scripture!

 

At that point, the Magi gave Him three gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. That has led to the theory that there were three Magi. 

 

The meaning of the gifts range from gifts for royalty to gifts for Jesus’ burial. These gifts may have been practical. They could have been used to finance the family’s upcoming trip to Egypt.  If so, God provided the means before the need was evident.

 

Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

 

Following the Magis’ visit, God warned them not to return to Herod. They traveled back to their own country by an alternate route.

 

Matthew 2:13-15
13 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.

 

After the magi left, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him to take the family and go to Egypt.

 

Many people discount Joseph.  It is obvious that God spoke to both Mary---and Joseph.

 

Immediately, Joseph did as the angel commanded.  The trip was made in haste.

 

Jesus was taken to Egypt to fulfill a prophecy.  Hosea 11:1---When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

 

They stayed in Egypt until Herod died in approximately 4 BC.  We are not told how many years were spent in Egypt.

 

It was during the time the family lived in Egypt that the slaughter of the innocents took place.   Considering all this, Jesus may have been born in the period from 7-5 BC.

 

Matthew 2:16-18
16 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 inquired 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.

 

When Herod learned that the Magi had deceived him, he was very angry to the point of rage. His anger resulted in the slaughter of the innocents.

 

Herod arranged for the murder of all the male children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area.  Jewish Revisionists deny the atrocity, and hold that Herod was a great Jewish King.  Revisionists also deny Jesus’ crucifixion.

 

However, Old Testament biblical prophecy speaks of such an event, the slaughter.  Jeremiah 31:15---Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

 

The Hebrew Masoretic Text displays the identical chapter and verse designation as the KJV. 

 

Matthew 2:19-21
19 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.

 

Following Herod’s death an angel appeared to Joseph.  This time the angel told Joseph to take his family and return to Israel.

 

Again, Joseph did as the angel commanded.  That required great faith.

 

Matthew 2:22-23
22 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.

 

Joseph heard that Archelaus was now the ruler over Judea. Archelaus, Herod’s son succeeded him in 4 BC. But in A.D. 6 Rome dismissed him as the local ruler.

 

God told Joseph, in a dream, to go to Galilee. While in Galilee, the family lived in Nazareth.  That happened to fulfill a prophecy, "He shall be called a Nazarene (Gr. Nazooriaos-NazwraioV)."

 

That may also refer to a Nazarite.

 

Num 6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

 

A Nazarite is a separated one, and Christ Jesus is the ultimate “separated one.”

 

Chapter 3
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