Matthew 2 - The Visit of the Magi
2 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.”
- The visit of the Magi
o Magi means wise men (plural) or wise astronomers or wise believers.
- Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
o This is prophecy in the bible
o Nobody would say this unless they knew bible
o Notice they considered Him King of the Jews already!
o A baby born without saying a single word and yet Magi from the east come!
- Since the Magi said “For we have saw His star”
o This means they were likely astronomers (those who study the sky)
o They saw “His” star so they were obviously believers waiting for a sign
- And have come to worship Him
o Wisdom of all wisdom
o They recognized the signs of the time and they came to worship Him
o Notice they were waiting for Him to come (like a bride waiting for her groom)
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.’”
- When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled
o Because Herod knew about the prophecy of the coming King
o Herod was troubled because he wanted to remain king (pride)
- And all Jerusalem with him
o Even the Jews were troubled
o All Jerusalem (all means all not some)
o Misery loves company
- Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people
o Notice Herod gathered all the chiefs together (it’s a big deal)
- He inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born
o Asking questions so he can try and thwart God’s plan
- They told Herod where the Messiah was to be born (they all sold him out)
- The prophet had prophesied before that Out of You Shall Forth a Ruler
o In other words, there is going to be a new king
o And it’s not going to be Herod
- Who will shepherd my people Israel
o In other words, the new King is going to be put in charge
o And he will shepherd my people (a shepherd leads and finds fresh water & food)
o A shepherd not only leads, he fiends and protects.
o In a sense, Herod’s days were numbered
7 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
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