Matthew 2:7-12

Dear Holy Spirit help me to hear You clearly. What appears to be good oft times can be used to deceive us! We need to be careful who we listen to and what we believe. God will always provide a way out!

Judge everything, every little thing, by the Word of God.

Matthew 2:7-12

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.

All of Jerusalem had already heard of the magi’s arrival. Herod keeps their specific mission to Bethlehem secret and probably also orders the priests and scribes to do the same. Time had already passed since Jesus’ birth. The magi  likely came to Herod expecting to find the child in his palace. The magi were in no position to disobey Herod and likely would have gone to Bethlehem even if they suspected evil intentions on his part. Surprisingly, Herod sent the magi away without even a small escort to ensure their compliance. Matthew provides a means for them to escape from Herod’s plot by having them receive instructions via a dream to leave on an alternative route.

This unusual activity demonstrates that the star  is a supernatural phenomenon. Their reaction implies that the star had disappeared previously and had only now reappeared (perhaps due to the inability to view stars during the daytime). They also were joyful because the star’s stopping place indicated the Messiah’s location. This was a common custom in the ancient Near East for honoring kings, who were viewed as divine figures. The gifts were costly luxury items suitable as gifts for the birth of an important or royal figure. Frankincense and myrrh were both valuable goods from the east, often brought by caravan. Both were commonly used by magi. Gold was the standard for currency. Faithlife Bible.

The wise men undoubtedly would have been discouraged by their failure to find the King in Jerusalem, by the lack of knowledge concerning the birth of the Messiah among the leaders, by the disinterest among Israel, and by the weariness from the long journey. The reappearance of the star must have brought great joy and encouragement to them.

Gold symbolized royalty; frankincense was a fragrance; myrrh was the ointment of death. These gifts provided the financial resources for Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt.

Five dreams of divine guidance emphasize God’s orchestration of these perilous events. NKJ Bible.

Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah’s kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein. Matthew Henry Commentary.

Isaiah 60:6  The multitude of camels shall cover your land,The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.