Matthew 2:1-13

God heralded the birth of Jesus Christ with signs in the heavens. The astrologers celebrated His birth with gifts and the angels sang Peace to men of good will. God with us, the gift of life, was given to fallen mankind. We must learn to listen to that still small voice in us that opens our eyes to God’s truth and also warns of hidden dangers.

Luke 2:13-14
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, goodwill toward men!” 

The events probably took place some months after Jesus’ birth. Several reasons may be offered to support this conclusion: (1) Joseph and Mary were living in a house; (2) Jesus is referred to as a child, not an infant; (3) Herod murdered all the male children two years old and under; and (4) it would have been strange for Joseph and Mary to offer the sacrifice of the poor, a pair of turtledoves or pigeons , if the wise men had just given them gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Herod the king is Herod the Great, who reigned over Palestine from 37 b.c. until his death in 4 b.c. A crafty ruler and lavish builder, Herod had a reign marked by cruelty and bloodshed. The word translated wise men can refer either to fraudulent sorcerers or, as here, to a more honorable class of astrologers. The wise men identified the star with the arrival of the King of the Jews. The Jewish leaders were alerted early to the coming of the Messiah. Their quick recital of Mic. 5:2 showed their prophetic astuteness concerning the messianic prophecies. Five dreams of divine guidance emphasize God’s orchestration of these perilous events.

Matthew 2:1-13

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen 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 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 

⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 
⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, 
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; 
For out of you shall come a Ruler 
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 

⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 

⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.