The Exposition of Matthew (Matthew 2:1-10)

(The final part of Jesus ministry on earth)

April 26, 2020 

Question to be answered in this study

1. What is our primary purpose for studying Mathew?
2. What was the primary reason the Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah?
3. What is one of the most significant Messianic prophecy found in the prophecy of Daniel that proves Jesus was the Messiah?
4. What does the name Bethlehem mean?
5. Other than Jesus, Bethlehem was the home town of another great person; who was he?
6. Who was the king ruling over Judea at the time of the birth of Jesus?
7. The wisemen were called Magi. What does that name mean?
8. What was the star that led the wisemen to Jesus?
9. how did the wise men know about the birth of Christ? 

Introduction

Our primary purpose for studying the Bible has several reasons as we explained in the beginning of the study of Matthew, but primarily it is not just for comfort, self- improvement, or help in life—-it is to know Jesus. John 12:21 (KJV), “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.”We think we know him, but how well do we really know him? We know Him only as much as we are willing to study the Bible.”

One of thereasons Matthew is the greatest book of the Bible is because it is about Jesus. Unlike John, Matthew doesn’t state his purpose explicitly, though it becomes obvious that he is giving evidence from the Old Testament to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah. He is also assuring all that Jesus is the savior. In his opening verse he makes it very clear what this book is primarily about Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.Then, Matthew spends the rest of this Gospel giving evidence of who Jesus is.

Matthew chapter 2 records 4 OT prophesies that were fulfilled in the coming of Christ:

1. Matthew 2:5-6 – Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Messiah, Mica 5:2
2. Matthew 2:15 – He will be called out of Egypt, Hosea 11:1
3. Matthew 2:16-18 – Weeping over the dead children after Herod’s slaughter of those 2 years of age and under, Jeremiah 31:15
4. Matthew 2:23 – Jesus would be called a Nazarene, Isaiah 11:1.

If we had lived in the time before the birth of Jesus, we would have probably thought that all those Old Testament prophecies concerning the birth, life and death of Jesus, over 300 in number, were impossible. Looking back, they all came together smoothly as if written in a movie script.

Matthew had two themes for his Gospel

1. First, that Jesus is the eternal king that God promised to David.
2. Second, that Jesus is the Savior Who would bless all nations, which God promised to Abraham.

The theme of Matthew chapter 2 continues with the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. It is divided in 6 sections:

1. Matthew 2 records the Visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem.
2. It records the wise men’s conference with Herod.
3. The wise men present gifts to Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
4. The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
5. Joseph was warned in a dream to escape to Egypt with his family.
6. Matthew 2 records the declaration by Herod that all children should be killed from ages two years on downward.
7. In a dream, Joseph was told by an angel to return to the land of Israel.

Each of the gospels had its own specific purpose. Although, Mathew did not explicitly state the purpose of his gospel, it becomes obvious as you read through it that it was written to Israel to present the evidence from Old Testament prophecy that Jesus was the Messiah. It was also written to believers to bolster their faith in the saving grace of Jesus. Messiah means the expected king and deliverer of the Jews, and it also means savior. Jesus came the first time as savior, and the second time He will be the Lord of Lords and King of kings.

The primary reason the Jews rejected Jesus, and are still in rejection, is they expected Jesus to come the first time as King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s to deliver Israel from Roman Bondage. They reverse God’s timeline for a preference of their own.

A significant Messianic prophecy that is often overlooked by those still waiting for the Messiah is Daniel 9:24-27. This Old Testament prophecy reveals that the Anointed One, the Messiah, will be “cut off,” or killed. Since this will take place before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, which happened in 70 A.D, only the death of Jesus fits the fulfilling of this prophecy. No other Messiah yet to come could possibly fulfill it.

Matthew 2:1 – “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.”

Thefirst thing we notice in this verse is that Jesus was born in the little town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem is about 6 miles from Jerusalem, which required about a 2 hour walk in the time of Jesus. Today it’s about a 20 min trip by car from Jerusalem. Today Bethlehem is under Palestinian control in the West Bank. When my wife, Margaret, and I visited Bethlehem, we were amazed at the height and length of the wall that separates the West Bank from Israel. The wall is  an average height of 25 feet, and a length of 440 miles. Construction of the wall began in 2002 and was completed 10 years later in 2012. The purpose for the wall was to protect Israel from terrorist attacks coming out of Palestine, for which it has been successful.

Bethlehem means the house of bread and it was best known in Jesus’ day as the hometown of King David. This was given to let us know that Jesus was the true Messiah foretold in the OT book of Micah.When Herod asked his advisors about the prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus, they did not have to search for it. In v. 5, they answer his question. Matthew reminds us of the prophecy by quoting Micah in v.6. Over 700 years before Jesus was born, Micah’s words were written. The prophecy concerning the birth of Christ was not news. For centuries, the rabbis in Israel knew and taught that Bethlehem would be the birth place of the Messiah.

The second thing Matthew noted about Jesus’ birth was the date.  He said it happened in the days of Herod.He is referring to Herod the Great, whose death was in 4 B.C. He ruled in Judea for 37 years. In order to appreciate Matthew’s account of this man, we need to understand a little of his history. Herod was an Idumaean, a descendent of Esau, which were also known as Edomites. He was not a Jew. Rome, after conquering the region, permitted some of the previous Jewish rulers who weren’t actually Jewish to continue their rule.

Matthew reveals to us that Jesus was born in the days of Herod, which means that Herod was still alive and ruling over Judea at that time.  Since we know that Herod died in 4 BC, this means he dies shortly after the birth of Jesus. Matthew is telling us that during the false king of the Jews, the true King of the Jews was born.

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Matthew 2:1-2, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “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 wise men come to King Herod to inquire concerning the location of the birth of the King of the Jews, which upset Herod. Obviously, these wise men did not know Herod and apparently thought he would know his successor. Herod lived his life suffering from paranoia, thinking someone else would come along to take his throne.

Matthew calls Herod’s visitors, “magi.”Magi comes from the Greek word “magos,” meaning a magian from ancient Persia, i.e. an Oriental astrologer, magician or soothsayer. In ancient Babylon or Persia, Magi were astrologers who served in the court of kings. Matthew says these magi came from the east, which probably was Mesopotamia, modern day Iraqi. It was a long walk or ride by camel back.

Herod asks why these wise men had come from afar, and they replied that it was because they saw a star appear to them while they were in the east. We might wonder how they knew that a star appearing means Jesus’ birth had arrived, and how did they know about the promise of the birth of a Jewish Messiah, and why Gentiles from the far East would want to worship a Jewish Messiah?

Those are some very good questions, so let’s look at a few key details in the story and find the answers. First, according to v.2, the star appeared in the east, probably Babylon. Notice that the text says they saw the star in the east. It was not the Eastern star that they saw. If they had followed it, they would have gone the wrong direction. They saw the star from the East. The star was in the West. This may upset those affiliated with the Eastern Star Association. They did not need directions to where the Messiah would be born. They knew it would be in Judea, but they did not know the exact location, and that is why they inquired of Herod since they thought Herod must know where his own successor would be.

The wise men’s inquiry is evidence that the magi weren’t being guided by the star at this point.It was not until verse 9 that the star reappears to guide them to Jesus in Bethlehem. Seeing the star reappear again, as we notice in v.10, they rejoiced. The star then leads them until it eventually shines directly on the house of Mary and Joseph. So obviously this is no ordinary star. It was a supernatural star.There is no better explanation of the bright light that moves over the Son of God than it is the Shechinah glory of God. The glory of God is revealed in Scripture as a light…Recall the presence of God’s Shechinah glory as it led the children of Israel in the wilderness by a cloud of light during the day and a pillar of fire by night. The last time Israel witnessed the glory of God was at its departure from the temple of Jerusalem shortly before Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 10.It is interesting to note that the glory of God was withdrawn at the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and returned at the time the wise men from Babylon return at the birth of Christ some 600 years later.

Another interesting question is, how did the wise men know about the birth of Christ? Daniel, while in Babylonian captivity, had written the book of Daniel, which foretold the coming of Christ. It was written in their own language and predicted the precise birth of the Messiah in Judea. Apparently, the wise men had read the prophecy and knew about the birth of the coming Messiah. It is apparent that they were believers who wanted to worship Jesus. Gentile believers are not unique to the New Testament.

So now back to Herod…he hears the magi story about the star, so asks the magi for the exact timing of the star’s appearance. No answer is recorded to Herod’s question. They probably saw the star a year earlier and arrived a year or so after Jesus was born.

Matthew 2:3, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”

This delegation of wise men was impressive, not just a bunch of ragtag individuals. They quickly gained the attention of the people in Jerusalem when they saw them; it got their attention as well as Herod. They were very disturbed with the idea that a new King had come to possibly replace Herod. This was Herod the great. His clan was an evil bunch of rascals who wanted no competition. Therefore, Herod was interested in learning the location of Jesus so he could kill him. Herod was troubled when he heard of another king in Judea. He was more interested in continuing his position as king than in serving the living God. He valued temporary happiness over an eternity with God, and he didn’t want another king. Today people are still more concerned about their present desires and enjoyment than knowing about God’s promise of eternal life.