Matthew 2:1–12

Explore the Bible
Dean, School of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

THE KING WORSHIPpED

Matthew 2:1–12

Christmas decorations are always a source of conversation from Thanksgiving on. Do we hang icicle lights and place LED-snowmen on the lawn when it will be in the 60s or 70s on Christmas Day? Do we put out a Frosty display or has Olaf replaced him? Do Santa and the reindeer have a place in the celebration of our Savior’s birth? Should we have a manger scene with Linus standing by? What about the wise men? Where do they fit in?

Personally, we put the wise men out in January. After all, Jesus was about two years old when they arrived, based on our text. Long after Mary and Joseph bought two doves to pay the purification tax at the temple (Lev. 12:8; Luke 2:24), wise men delivered gold with which they surely could have afforded a lamb required by the Law (Lev. 12:6). Not only did they deliver gold but they also brought frankincense and myrrh.

The Search (1–2)

Centuries earlier wise men from the East were influenced by a former inhabitant of Jerusalem in preparation for a wholesale relocation of the people of the city into Babylon. Daniel was named among them and the Greek Old Testament refers to these men as magi (Septuagint, Dan. 4:9, 5:11). Because of Daniel’s influence, Persian wise men likely expected a sign of the long-awaited King of Israel (Isa. 9:2, 6–7).

The text indicates the magi followed the celestial sign and pursued the expected King in the capital city of the Jews. If anyone knew where the heir to the throne of Israel was to be found, one would expect it would be among the royal family in Jerusalem. Instead the appointed king of the Jews, Herod the Great, panicked, fearing there might be another conspiracy to take his throne.

The Inquiry (3–6)

Everyone in Herod’s court was likewise concerned. After all their status was dependent upon the status quo. They knew, however, the visit of the wise men might be an indication of the birth of the Messiah. So they gathered the Bible experts together.

The scribes were well aware of the prophecy of Micah, indicating the long-awaited Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The birthplace was strategic for it was there that David was born from whom would ultimately come the Messiah. In addition it was significant that Jesus, the “bread of life,” would be born in a place which means “house of bread.”

The Plot (7–8)

Flavius Josephus indicates in “Antiquities of the Jews XV” that Herod was ruthless in his attempt to retain his position and authority. In order to thwart any attempt upon his life or his kingdom, Herod invited the wise men into a private audience in order to determine how long they had pursued the new King. From Matthew’s account later in the passage the wise men had been pursuing Him who was “born King of the Jews” for approximately two years (2:16).

The Presentation (9–12)

The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh each point to aspects of the Anointed One, known to Jewish believers as the Messiah and to Greek believers as the Christ. The gold represents the royalty of Jesus. The incense points to His divinity as incense was used for temple worship. The myrrh indicates His mortality as the God-man took on flesh. Jesus was worthy of worship by the wise men two millennia ago and He remains worthy of our praise today.