BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 2:12

Tuesday, 13 August 2024
 
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:12
 
“And having been admonished in a dream not to return to Herod, through another way, they withdrew into their country” (CG).
 
The previous verse noted that the magicians had appeared before the Child, worshipped Him, and presented gifts to Him. With that done, they apparently spent the night in the same area. Their charge from Herod in verse 8 was that they were to learn the location of the Child and then return to him with that information. However, Matthew next records, “And having been admonished in a dream.”
 
Without being certain, it appears to be the same night they appeared before Jesus. After they did, they eventually slept. While sleeping, they were given an admonishment, obviously from God, “not to return to Herod.”
 
Unlike some other dreams recorded in Scripture, nothing of what was said is conveyed. It thus smacks of a true narrative. They probably arose, returned to the location where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were, and told them they had been admonished not to return to Herod. That was sufficient for Mary to remember and later tell Matthew this basic information. Due to the divine word, it next records, “through another way, they withdrew into their country.”
 
As we don’t know what country they came from originally, it is hard to know which way they would now return. They may have even traveled the same route that brought them to Israel in the first place, but they had gone out of their way to visit Jerusalem. Thus, the words “another way” would simply mean “not through Jerusalem.” Whatever the case, Herod was denied the information he desired.
 
As a useful point for considering commentaries on this verse, various scholars say that the verb translated as “admonished” means to give a response to one who asks. Following the uses of the verb in the New Testament demonstrates that this is not necessarily correct. It may be the case, but it is not the usual meaning. Further, because the verb is passive, it is then claimed that this admonishment is the answer to consultation.
 
In other words, it is claimed that these men sought God’s counsel, and He then responded to them. There is nothing to suggest this. The Greek middle/passive form simply reveals the subject (in this case, the magicians) as receiving or benefiting from the verb that is being expressed.
 
They went to bed, fell asleep, and in a dream, they were divinely admonished to not return to Herod. There is no need to go beyond this.
 
Life application:  Many people claim to have divinely inspired dreams or visions. This is not unique to Christianity either. One can go to YouTube and see hundreds and hundreds of such claims lined up for the gullible viewer to waste his time over.
 
A recent one claimed that a person had a vision of a particular political figure being shot and the bullet just missing his ear, but the noise from the bullet blew out his eardrum. A few months later, the political figure was shot in the ear and his eardrum did not blow out. Despite the obvious inaccuracies (along with others in the video), the person has been proclaimed a prophet.
 
However, the old saying, “Close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes,” certainly applies here. The prophecy is inaccurate. God does not provide inaccurate anything. Hence, this person has made a false prophecy. He should be disregarded and rebuked openly for claiming something that was false, not coddled to, and put on a pedestal.
 
Be wise and discerning. There is no reason for God to speak to us apart from His word today. The believer is told that he lives by faith and not by sight. To have visions and dreams from God would negate this. What we need to do is to read the Bible, contemplate what we have read, and ignore people who make fanciful claims that place the attention on them and not on the Lord.
 
Lord God, what do we need in our walk with You today? We need to know Your word! That is what You have left for us to know You, to see what You have been doing and are doing, and to see what lies ahead for Your people. Help us to stay focused on Your word and not to be distracted from that noteworthy task. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
 

Matthew 2:11

Monday, 12 August 2024
 
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. Matthew 2:11
 
“And having come into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother. And having fallen, they worshipped Him. And having opened their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (CG).
 
The previous verse noted that when the magicians saw the star that stood over where the Child was, they rejoiced greatly. Now, Matthew records, “And having come into the house.”
 
Being certain that this is where the Child was, they entered. The star, whatever it actually was, indisputably identified this abode. Once inside, it next says, “they found the Child.”
 
As with previous verses, it is understood that they were looking for a child, not an adult. Depending on where they got their information, they deduced that the sign indicated His coming. Moreover, depending on what Hebrew texts were available to them, they could have a general idea of the time of the Messiah’s coming. That is laid out in Daniel 9.
 
There was a prophetic timeline given that revealed a certain number of years must pass before the Messiah would come. That timeframe had come to its fullness, and so it was logical that the sign was telling them about the Messiah’s advent. 
 
As for the word “found,” some texts read “saw.” The KJV et al. divert from their source text and say “saw.” There is no need for this. The word is used both literally and figuratively. The sense is no different than Matthew 26:40 where Jesus “found” the men sleeping while on watch. Likewise, these men who had been searching for the Messiah have found Him. Along with the Child, He was “with Mary His mother.”
 
It is a tender scene carefully included by Matthew. The Messiah of the world was being tended to by His mother. As for ability, He was in a completely subordinate position to His mother. And yet, it next notes, “And having fallen, they worshipped Him.”
 
Despite Jesus’ reliance on His mother, it is to Him, not to her, that worship is given. He was sent to fulfill a role prophesied in the Hebrew writings. Through the star, these men were assured this was the Messiah, and so as an act of worship of God, they bowed before His Messiah, thus acknowledging God’s hand in the entire affair. With that completed before God, Matthew next records, “And having opened their treasures.”
 
The Greek word, first used here, is thésauros. It signifies stored up treasure, “including (treasured) thoughts stored up in the heart and mind” HELPS Word Studies. It is the etymological root of our word thesaurus which is a modern storage of treasured synonyms. In opening their treasure, “they offered Him gifts.”
 
The Greek word is dóron. It signifies a gift, but it is one which is voluntarily given. The focus is on the gift’s free nature. It is used in Ephesians 2:8 when describing the process of salvation which is by grace through faith. The gifts presented by the magicians are “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Their significance is:
Gold. The Greek is chrusos, being derived from a word signifying to make use of or take advantage of. In other words, it implies profound purchasing power. Gold is considered the finest of the biblical metals. It signifies deity. This is seen in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant. The acacia (shittah) wood pictured Christ’s incorruptible humanity. That was covered in gold, reflecting His deity. It also signifies royalty, something appropriate for the King of the Jews.
 
Frankincense. The Greek is libanos. That is derived from the Hebrew livonah. That, in turn, is derived from lavan, white. One can think of the white smoke of its incense. However, the word lavan is derived from the verb lavan, to be white, a word that is then associated with the Hebrew levenah, a brick, because bricks turn white when fired.
 
A study of the word in the Old Testament consistently brings one back to the idea of works, meaning human effort. Thus, this is a picture of the works of the Messiah to redeem man from his own futile works that can never satisfy God.
 
Myrrh. The Greek is smurna. One can see the basis for the name of the location Smyrna. It is derived from the Hebrew word for myrrh, mor. That, in turn, comes from marar, bitter. Looking at the uses of myrrh in the Old Testament, the prominent idea is that it symbolizes love, but more especially, love in intimate union, but not necessarily sexual in nature.
 
The gift expresses the understanding of God’s love for the people of the world which is conveyed in the sending of the Messiah to lead them back to Himself. However, there is also a sense of bitterness in the process. Christ would come and suffer through His earthly existence in order to accomplish God’s purposes.
 
Life application: The presenting of these gifts, whatever the intent was on behalf of the magicians, is carefully recorded by Matthew, indicating that the Holy Spirit wanted us to research the meaning of them from a biblical perspective. Once such a study is accomplished, we can now see what God wanted us to know.
 
This is true with every such thing in Scripture. God places real, tangible things into His word that then carry deeper spiritual truths with them. They, in turn, will typologically anticipate other things that will be fulfilled by Christ Jesus, or that will apply to His work on behalf of His people.
 
The wisdom of God is continually revealed in this manner. He is giving us a map of how to be right with Him and the timing in which things will occur. Likewise, He is giving us a blueprint of how things are structured and ordered within the pages of Scripture.
 
Reading and contemplating the word of God is how to understand these things. Continue to read and study. And when you come to a commentary, don’t just accept it at face value. Instead, compare what is being said with the rest of Scripture. Too often, unfounded or erroneous conclusions are made. This can only distract us from what God intends for us to see.
 
So be diligent and careful as you contemplate God’s precious word.
 
Lord God Almighty, what an exciting adventure it is to read and consider every detail of Your magnificent word. It is a wonderful testament to Your workings in and through human history, bringing us back to Yourself through the giving of Jesus Christ. Thank You, O God, for Jesus! Amen.
 

Matthew 2:10

Sunday, 11 August 2024
 
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Matthew 2:10
 
“And having seen the star, they rejoiced – joy exceedingly great” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, it noted that the star the magicians had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was. Now, it says, “And having seen the star.”
 
As previously noted, the description by Matthew does not leave the possibility of the star actually being in the heavens as we would consider of an actual star. There would be no common reference for it to just stop and remain over a single spot if that were the case.
 
However, this star guided them and then stopped at a particular spot in a way that they were able to know, with all certainty, it was the location where Jesus was. Because of this, it next says, “they rejoiced.”
 
The words are short and simple and provide a strong emphasis of what follows. Despite this, translations fail to reflect the Greek. Most insert the word “with.” Rather, Matthew offsets the thought and describes the joy itself with an adverb and an adjective. It was “joy exceedingly great.”
 
The emphatic nature of the words gives the sense of a relief and happiness on their part that is at the very edge of our ability to convey to others. Their minds would have been reeling, their hearts would have been pumping, and their knees would have been trembling at the thought of coming before One who had been prophesied hundreds and hundreds of years earlier.
 
Their state of awe would have been almost overwhelming as they anticipated the moment when their eyes would behold the Messiah.
 
Life application: Although it is impossible to hold onto an emotional high for even a short amount of time, we can – at any time – contemplate our own moment when we will behold Jesus. And we can do it with the assurance that it will come to pass.
 
The word promises that at some unknown moment, Jesus Christ is going to return and take His people to Himself. It will be so sudden that there will not be time to even realize it is happening. Paul describes the moment as the blink of an eye, something that occurs in 100–150 milliseconds, or 0.1–0.4 seconds. We will be doing our thing here, and then we will be gone.
 
Until that day, however, we can (and should!) remind ourselves that this will come about. As we rise, we can remember that Jesus is coming. When we get frustrated while in traffic, we can remind ourselves that it is nothing.
 
When we stand at the bedside of a dying loved one or at the graveside of one who has passed, we can remember the sure and unchanging promise of God that Jesus is coming again to deliver us from this state of existence we now must endure.
 
God’s word is written, and it will come to pass. We can, at any moment of our life, and even when things seem completely out of control, remind ourselves that Jesus has something better in store for His people. In our hearts we can then rejoice – joy exceedingly great, even while the other emotions pour out and trouble us.
 
“Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11
 
Lord God, even through the most difficult ordeals, through the most trying of experiences, and through the saddest of moments, we can still retain in our heart a joy that cannot be extinguished when we remember and consider Your promise to us. Jesus is coming again, and He will bring us to our new and forever home. May that day be soon. Thank You for this sure promise, O God. Amen.
 

Matthew 2:9

Saturday, 10 August 2024
 
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. Matthew 2:9
 
“And they, having heard the king, departed. And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them, until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Herod told the magicians to bring back word concerning the Child so that he, too, could come and worship Him. Now, the narrative continues with, “And they, having heard the king, departed.”
 
There is no indication at this point that they suspected ill motives of the king. He had told them where to go, allowing them to travel within his domain. His having secretly called them to ask them to search carefully for the Child would make sense because Herod was the king.
 
Honoring the newborn would necessitate knowing all the details in advance. It would make no sense for Herod to go to Bethlehem with a royal entourage and not know exactly where he was going. Thus, the words he told them would not be at all suspect.
 
As noted, it is just a short distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Despite this, they would not be familiar with the way. However, Matthew next records, “And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them.”
 
The “sunrising” means in their land to the east. They had seen the star and gone to Israel, knowing it was a sign of the coming of the Messiah. The word star generally refers to the heavenly objects that we call stars today. However, it is used figuratively elsewhere to speak of leaders. It is also used of an object that falls from heaven to earth in Revelation 8:10.
 
Thus, a literal interpretation of this being a star as we consider them today is not necessary. And, indeed, it hardly seems that this could be the case with the star the magicians were being led by. To be able to perceive a difference in the angle of a real star or a heavenly alignment between Jerusalem and Bethlehem would not be possible. And more, the next words seem to eliminate such a thought. Matthew next says, “until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was.”
 
Matthew’s description of this star indicates that it moved as the travelers moved, and it stopped at a certain point. This type of perceived movement will happen with a heavenly body, such as the moon, but only when the point one is going to is known in advance. From our perspective, it can appear the moon is moving with us until we reach home, and then it stops above our house.
 
However, if the object is actually moving, guiding, and stopping at a previously unknown location, then it means the object itself is not something in the heavens as we would think of it. Rather, it is something much closer.
 
Today, we can guide lost people with a drone or a helicopter. The object itself moves, guides, and stops. But to use an actual object in the heavens, like a star or the moon, would mean there would never be a logical stopping point.
 
The main point of this is to tell us that the men were truly being guided by an object called a star, this star was guiding with purpose, and it stopped with precision. Further, this cannot be referring to the Child as the star, even if He is the Star prophesied in Numbers 24.
 
Life application: Because of how Matthew describes the star, it seems to defy logic in our normal understanding of things. This star cannot be something like a conjunction of planets. Such a reference, as noted above, is impossible to do what Matthew describes.
 
Likewise, the darkness over the earth at Jesus’ crucifixion cannot be an eclipse, something impossible at that time of the month. Rather, some other phenomena occurred that caused an extended period (three hours) of darkness.
 
Some things in Scripture are hard to reconcile in our minds, like a donkey speaking. However, Peter confirms that the event actually occurred (2 Peter 1:16). In the case of the donkey, and apparently in the case of the star that guided the magicians, we need to accept the narrative as it is written, even if we do not have all the answers to logically explain the events.
 
But this is what pleases God. He has given us His word, and He expects us to accept it as true. From there, we can then work to reconcile what it says. For example, God’s word does not allow for evolution. However, we have been conditioned to believe that is the right explanation for how things have developed.
 
In coming to God through His word, we are directed to accept that Creation is true and then work to discover how what we see is reconcilable with the creation model. People of faith have done just that, finding evidence of a real flood that covered the entire world. Let us be willing to accept Scripture as it is written and then work to see if we can discover how our worldview can then align with it.
 
In the end, we will someday be glorified. At that time, the things that are still unanswered will be explained. Until then, be people of faith. In this, God will be pleased with us.
 
Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful word that is filled with treasures to last us a lifetime, even after it has been searched out by innumerable people before us. It continuously provides us with more wonder and revelation as the years pass. May we accept it as Your word, and then search it out trusting that it is so. Amen.

Matthew 2:8

Friday, 9 August 2024
 
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.” Matthew 2:8 
 
“And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, ‘Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child. And when you should find, report to me so I also, having come, may worship Him’” (CG).
 
Herod had just secretly called the wise men to determine from them what time the star had appeared. With that knowledge obtained, it next says, “And having sent them to Bethlehem.”
 
Without knowing the layout of the land, one has no idea what this means. Are they going on an extended journey? Will they travel a day or five days? Actually, Bethlehem is about 5 miles from Jerusalem. At the time, by using the donkey express, they would be there in a few hours. Once there, Matthew next records, “he said, ‘Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child.”
 
They have full approval to travel within the land for this purpose. Being so close to Jerusalem, it should not be long before their goal is attained. However, just in case locating Him is purposefully difficult, once in the area of Bethlehem, Herod asks them to make a thorough investigation concerning things.
 
The word used is exetazó. According to HELPS Word Studies, it is derived from “ek, ‘completely out of’ intensifying etazō, ‘examine’) – properly, inquire (examine) thoroughly; ‘to examine closely, inquire carefully (of).’”
 
A single word that carries such intent would be “exactingly.” Herod wanted every stone unturned to ensure he had all of the information possible concerning this Child who was born King of the Jews. Armed with the information, Herod then says to them, “And when you should find, report to me.”
 
Asking for such specific details might arouse the suspicion of the visiting magicians that Herod actually had unseemly designs against the Child. However, to make sure nothing untoward was suspected, he continues by saying, “so I also, having come, may worship Him.”
 
The words would allay the worries of even the most skeptical of men. Unless they knew the character of Herod in advance, there would be little reason to suspect anything after promises of worship were introduced. It appears this ploy worked because it will not be until verse 12 that the hope of his idea is ended.
 
Life application: It is human nature to trust authority figures. Half of a nation may put their trust in a person who has spent a lifetime lying openly, ingratiating himself at every opportunity, and constantly changing his stand on moral issues without any compunction at all. And yet, when voting time comes around, because they can benefit from such a despicable person, he is once again elected to office, eventually working his way to the top.
 
People often associate intelligence with those who are extremely wealthy, deciding that they must be smart because they have amassed such great gain. Because of this, they will trust them with their investments.
 
Others will trust people they are familiar with from a distance, such as those who go to church once a week and see the pastor saying things that edify and build them up. They may know nothing else about the guy, but because what he says in their presence is appealing, they assume he is a morally upright figure.
 
That has multiplied in today’s world where people see others on TV or the internet and become familiar with their persona. They begin to trust them simply because what they see in short preset appearances gives the impression of a sound, reasonable person.
 
The magicians from the east were apparently duped in this manner. They saw a man who seemed reasonable, he was the main civil authority in the land, assigned under the authority of the Roman empire, and his words were carefully structured to be convincing concerning his desire to worship Jesus. And yet, his designs for the information he would obtain were hardly for such a purpose.
 
Each of us needs to be circumspect in how we perceive others. Until we are closely and intimately familiar with those we encounter, we should not be giving them the benefit of the doubt. Seeing a televangelist each Sunday morning, watching him act piously and authoritatively concerning Christianity, and then sending him gobs of money is not sound.
 
Get to know who you are dealing with. Your time, efforts, and money are a product of who you are, and how you spend them reflects your priorities. So be wise and discerning in what you do and who you trust. Watch out for the Herod’s of this world who may appear to have all the right checkmarks but who are devils inside, filled with evil intent.
 
Lord God, guide us so that we do not get duped by others. Give us wisdom and discernment to handle our resources properly. May we be willing to test the waters before diving in and finding out that the pool is tainted. We want to be pleasing to You, and so may our lives and efforts be directed to what is honoring You. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Matthew 2:7

Thursday, 8 August 2024
 
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. Matthew 2:7
 
“Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly, exacted of them the time of the appearing star” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, those before Herod cited the words of Micah concerning the birthplace and ruling status of the Messiah. Now, with that information, it next says, “Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly.”
 
The word is lathra. It is an adverb signifying secretly or privately. It is the same word used in Matthew 1:19 when Joseph thought to put away Mary once he found that she was pregnant. Herod pulled the magicians aside to discern something from them that he wanted to keep from the religious leaders. Having called them secretly, he “exacted of them.”
 
The word translated as “exacted” is akriboo. It is found only here and in Matthew 2:16. It signifies to learn carefully or inquire with exactness. He was careful to ascertain a particular bit of information that he did not want to become public, which was “the time of the appearing star.”
 
The verb is a present participle. The star was there. In other words, this wasn’t a star that only appeared in the past, as some translations could be interpreted. It was a star that had appeared and remained in appearance. This will be evident in verse 9. As such, this would dispel several of the “Bethlehem star” theories, which point to an astrological event that took place and then was over.
 
This lasted long enough for the magicians to see the star, prepare for the journey, travel, seek out the king, and so forth. It appears to be an extended event that took place.
 
Life application: Ultimately, the Star of Bethlehem is Jesus. That was seen in a previous commentary which cited Numbers 24 –
 
“I see Him, but not now;I behold Him, but not near;A Star shall come out of Jacob;A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,And batter the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult.” Numbers 24:17
 
However, there is also something that directs the magicians to know where to go. This will be seen in verses 9 and 10. Despite this, the magicians needed to ascertain from the chief religious authorities in Jerusalem where the Messiah would be born. If the star guided them all the way, this step would not have been necessary.
 
Further, as noted above, the star had appeared and continued to appear as indicated in the present participle. Thus, this was not a single, short-term, astronomical event that happened. In the Bible, stars have various connotations, both literal and figurative. Stars can refer to literal stars, people (even bad people, such as in Jude 1:13), messengers (whether human or angelic), and so forth.
 
The star noted in Matthew is not defined, but it is separate from Jesus. This will become evident in the verses ahead. Suffice it to say that the coming of Jesus was prophesied. The magicians perceived His coming (whether literally or through sacred writings) in the East. Also, the magicians had then traveled to pay homage to the Messiah.
 
From there, they had to ask where He was to be born. The enigmatic nature of the star calls out for us to know that God is in control of the process, and He alerted these magicians to confirm the words of Scripture and to bring about other events which were necessary to fulfill typology concerning the Messiah and His work.
 
Therefore, getting overly bogged down in past celestial events that may or may not point to the coming of the Messiah is not something necessary. Matthew has compiled an account of what occurred, it is detailed enough to ensure that we are aware of the coming of the Messiah and that we have our eggs in the right basket.
 
Beyond that, becoming argumentative over things that are uncertain is unprofitable and divisive. Let us instead focus on what God has done in Christ and rejoice that it leads to our salvation when we put our faith in Him.
 
O God, we stand in awe of You and what You have done. Your word tells us of the coming of Jesus and of the marvelous work He has accomplished for us. Help us to always consider Him in our daily walk. We are free from condemnation because of our Lord. Praise to You, O God, for Jesus Christ! Amen.

Matthew 2:7

Thursday, 8 August 2024
 
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. Matthew 2:7
 
“Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly, exacted of them the time of the appearing star” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, those before Herod cited the words of Micah concerning the birthplace and ruling status of the Messiah. Now, with that information, it next says, “Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly.”
 
The word is lathra. It is an adverb signifying secretly or privately. It is the same word used in Matthew 1:19 when Joseph thought to put away Mary once he found that she was pregnant. Herod pulled the magicians aside to discern something from them that he wanted to keep from the religious leaders. Having called them secretly, he “exacted of them.”
 
The word translated as “exacted” is akriboo. It is found only here and in Matthew 2:16. It signifies to learn carefully or inquire with exactness. He was careful to ascertain a particular bit of information that he did not want to become public, which was “the time of the appearing star.”
 
The verb is a present participle. The star was there. In other words, this wasn’t a star that only appeared in the past, as some translations could be interpreted. It was a star that had appeared and remained in appearance. This will be evident in verse 9. As such, this would dispel several of the “Bethlehem star” theories, which point to an astrological event that took place and then was over.
 
This lasted long enough for the magicians to see the star, prepare for the journey, travel, seek out the king, and so forth. It appears to be an extended event that took place.
 
Life application: Ultimately, the Star of Bethlehem is Jesus. That was seen in a previous commentary which cited Numbers 24 –
 
“I see Him, but not now;I behold Him, but not near;A Star shall come out of Jacob;A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,And batter the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult.” Numbers 24:17
 
However, there is also something that directs the magicians to know where to go. This will be seen in verses 9 and 10. Despite this, the magicians needed to ascertain from the chief religious authorities in Jerusalem where the Messiah would be born. If the star guided them all the way, this step would not have been necessary.
 
Further, as noted above, the star had appeared and continued to appear as indicated in the present participle. Thus, this was not a single, short-term, astronomical event that happened. In the Bible, stars have various connotations, both literal and figurative. Stars can refer to literal stars, people (even bad people, such as in Jude 1:13), messengers (whether human or angelic), and so forth.
 
The star noted in Matthew is not defined, but it is separate from Jesus. This will become evident in the verses ahead. Suffice it to say that the coming of Jesus was prophesied. The magicians perceived His coming (whether literally or through sacred writings) in the East. Also, the magicians had then traveled to pay homage to the Messiah.
 
From there, they had to ask where He was to be born. The enigmatic nature of the star calls out for us to know that God is in control of the process, and He alerted these magicians to confirm the words of Scripture and to bring about other events which were necessary to fulfill typology concerning the Messiah and His work.
 
Therefore, getting overly bogged down in past celestial events that may or may not point to the coming of the Messiah is not something necessary. Matthew has compiled an account of what occurred, it is detailed enough to ensure that we are aware of the coming of the Messiah and that we have our eggs in the right basket.
 
Beyond that, becoming argumentative over things that are uncertain is unprofitable and divisive. Let us instead focus on what God has done in Christ and rejoice that it leads to our salvation when we put our faith in Him.
 
O God, we stand in awe of You and what You have done. Your word tells us of the coming of Jesus and of the marvelous work He has accomplished for us. Help us to always consider Him in our daily walk. We are free from condemnation because of our Lord. Praise to You, O God, for Jesus Christ! Amen.

Matthew 2:5

Tuesday, 6 August 2024
 
So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: Matthew 2:5
 
“And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Herod inquired of the chief priests and scribes concerning where the Messiah would be born. With that, Matthew now continues, “And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea.’”
 
The name Bethlehem comes from the Hebrew words beith, house, and lekhem, bread. Thus, it means House of Bread. However, it has a secondary meaning which is derived from the Hebrew lakham, to fight or do battle. Thus, it can mean House of War. The connection between the two is that the word lakham figuratively means to consume. Just as man consumes bread, war consumes soldiers engaged in battle.
 
Judea is derived from Judah, Praise. This is where the term Jew is derived. This same sentiment concerning the birthplace of the Messiah was held by the common people as well. This is evidenced many years later in John 7 –
 
“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, ‘Truly this is the Prophet.’ 41 Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’But some said, ‘Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?’” John 7:40-42
 
As such, it was commonly understood by the people, whether they knew the source of this information or not, but it seems likely they would have. As for that source, the men before Herod next say, “for thus has it been written.”
 
The verb is in the perfect tense. As such, the words that were written describe a completed action producing results that were still in effect. It had been written and what the word said remained true. In other words, it reveals the unchanging nature of the word that was given “through the prophet.”
 
Many translations read “by the prophet.” The word is dia. It signifies through (think of diameter: through a circle). The word “by” can have that connotation, such as “His words were written by a scribe, Jeremiah,” but it can also mean that a person did the writing on his own, “This was thought of, written by, and paid for by Jeremiah.”
 
In the case of Scripture, it is the word of the Lord written through Jeremiah. Saying “by” could lead one to a wrong impression unless he understood the doctrine of inspiration –
 
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
 
&
 
“...knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21
 
Life application: One could ask if inspiration means that the word of God is solely derived from Him without any input from the prophet. In some cases, this may be the case when the Lord speaks out exactly what He wants written down.
 
However, at other times, the personality of an individual shines forth along with the clear understanding that it is the word of God that is being conveyed. Luke’s style in the Gospel of Luke and Acts is quite noticeable. And yet, the structure and patterns clearly reveal a divine inspiration that Luke probably didn’t even know existed.
 
In fact, many patterns in his writings, some of which fit in harmony with other books of the Bible, have only been found in recent years. New patterns continue to be found as well.
 
Paul used a scribe, Tertius, to pen the book of Romans (Romans 16:22). Anyone who knew Tertius’ handwriting would say, “This was written by Tertius.” And yet, the letter was dictated by Paul. Anyone who was (or is) familiar with Paul’s thoughts as expressed in his epistles would say, “Paul said these things.” And so, there is harmony between the two, even though the traits of both are evident.
 
And yet, anyone who is familiar with the Bible will know that it perfectly expresses the thoughts of God. They are consistent with what is seen from Him throughout Scripture. And more, innumerable patterns between the typology presented in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of those types is expressed in Romans, demonstrating that God was completely involved in the process of inspiring Romans.
 
Likewise, studies have been conducted on the words used by Paul in all of his epistles. For example, rich and certain numerical patterns are to be found within the number of uses of various words, far too many to be by random chance.
 
Take time to consider the doctrine of inspiration and how it then forms an integral part of what God is presenting through the people He has selected to give us His word. With this divine/human touch, the word of God becomes an intimate love letter to those who will receive it.
 
Also, as you read it, pray for wisdom in what it is telling you. Ask Him to make you a part of the divine inspiration of Scripture by disclosing to you its hidden secrets. If you find a pattern that no one has ever seen there before, it is because God has chosen that particular moment in time to uncover it. And more, He has chosen you to be a part of the unfolding of that pattern in this marvelous tapestry that reveals His goodness to the people of the world.
 
Glorious Lord God, what a treasure Your word is. It has been read, contemplated, studied, explored, and analyzed for thousands of years. And yet, You are still revealing its hidden mysteries to Your people. How can we not stand in awe of You? And how can we not tremble at Your word as we contemplate what it is telling us? Praises to You, O God, for Your wonderful word. Amen.
 

Matthew 2:4

Monday, 5 August 2024
 
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. Matthew 2:4
 
“And having convened all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, it noted that Herod and all in Jerusalem were troubled at the news of the birth of the King of Israel. Matthew next says, “And having convened all the chief priests.”
 
The chief priests are those who held the office of the high priest. Aaron was the first high priest, and the designation was to last throughout his life. One could expect this to be true with all subsequent high priests unless he was unable to perform his duties due to health, a state of uncleanness, or something similar.
 
However, it later came about, especially under the rule of the Romans, that the office of high priest became a political tool. High priests were appointed for a period of time. This is seen, for example, in John 11 where it appears to have been an annual appointment –
 
“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:49-52
 
Some believe the term “chief priests” also extends to the leader of the twenty-four courses of priests originally designated by David in 1 Chronicles 24. There is nothing in Scripture to agree with this, but it is a possibility, nonetheless. At this time, it is generally accepted that these chief priests mostly fell under the class known as Sadducees. Next, Matthew says, “and scribes.”
 
The Greek word is grammateus. It signifies those learned in Jewish law, teachers, town clerks, and so forth. One can see the etymological root of the word grammar in the name. It answers to the Hebrew word saphar, to count, recount, relate, etc. That is the verbal root of sepher, a book or writing document.
 
These men would speak of the law, maintain the scrolls and parchments, recopy documents, and so forth. It is believed that many of these were of the class known as the Pharisees. These are next noted as “of the people.”
 
The Pulpit Commentary says, “In the absence of the article before γραμματεῖς [grammateis: scribes] we must take the words, ‘of the people,’ as belonging to both terms. Both classes, chief priests and scribes, served the people.” As such, the information found in Scripture was available to the people concerning whatever matter they desired to know.
 
For example, concerning the place where the Messiah would be born, it would have been available to any who wanted to search the matter out. As for Herod, Matthew next says, “he inquired of them where the Christ is born.”
 
The Greek word Christ answers to the Hebrew Messiah. Both mean Anointed One. He is the One prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures that would fulfill all of the messianic promises noted in the Law, Prophets, and Writings.
 
As for the words “is born,” the Greek is present tense. As such, it is a certainty that it was as the magicians had said. The Christ is born and among His people. Herod had called this gathering of priests and learned men together to determine where the birthplace of this “King of the Jews” was. The magicians from the east had talked about it based on a sign, thus it was certain to have come to pass.
 
Life application: To this day, there are scribes of the word in the sense that they carefully review source texts, look for texts that were previously unknown, determine exact translations or transliterations of words, seek to understand the exact context of what the word is telling us, and so forth.
 
One might use the term “scholar.” The word was received, compiled, and kept for the people of Israel to refer to. However, that has continued into the church age. The New Testament was received, compiled, and it has been kept by learned men throughout the millennia.
 
The vast number of source documents including commentaries, archaeological finds of ancient texts, and continuous training in the original languages has secured and protected the word throughout all of this time.
 
When erroneous translations are made, they can be identified and called out. When non-canonical documents are brought forth as supposed “additions” to Scripture, they can be dismissed for not bearing the proper safeguarding, transmission, and/or illumination of what is clearly inspired.
 
All in all, we have a sure word in what is considered by protestant churches as the Holy Bible. The Roman Catholic Church, without sufficient reason, added the apocryphal books into their cannon during the Council of Trent in 1546. This was done in an attempt to justify unjustifiable practices being carried out within the church.
 
These books, though being important historical documents, are not to be considered inspired. The sixty-six books of the protestant Bible bear the stamp of inspiration in innumerable ways. They reveal the light of God in Christ to His people, and they are given by God to allow us to understand everything necessary to be saved and then to walk faithfully in our salvation.
 
Let us be grateful to God for His superior word, which is a light and a lamp for our spiritual lives.
 
Heavenly Father, truly Your word is a great blessing to our souls. We are so thankful to You for those who have received it, compiled it, maintained it, and who also instruct us in it. Because of Your word, we know what You are doing in redemptive history, and we can walk properly before You all our days. Thank You, above all, for Jesus who is so carefully revealed in Your word. Amen.
 

Matthew 2:3

Sunday, 4 August 2024
 
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:3
 
“And Herod the king, having heard, he was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him” (CG).
 
The previous verse noted that the magicians had seen the star of the King of the Jews in the direction of the sunrising and they had come to worship Him. With that noted, Matthew now records, “And Herod the king.”
 
Herod was a power-hungry king who feared any challenge, real or imagined, to his reign. Of him, Charles Ellicott writes –
 
“The old king (the title had been given by the Roman Senate in B.C. 40) was drawing to the close of his long and blood-stained reign. Two years before he had put to death, on a charge of treason, his two sons by Mariamne, his best-loved wife, through sheer jealousy of the favour with which the people looked on them. At the time when this history opens, his eldest son, Antipater, was under condemnation.”
 
So fearful was he of any challenge to his throne that he had his own sons executed for simply being popular. Understanding his personality, Matthew next records, “having heard, he was agitated.”
 
Herod certainly questioned how magicians from the East could come looking for the King of the Jews but not be looking for him. He sat on the throne over the Jewish people! Because of this, Matthew notes that he was agitated.
 
The word is tarassó. HELPS Word Studies says it means to “put in motion (to agitate back-and-forth, shake to-and-fro); (figuratively) to set in motion what needs to remain still (at ease); to ‘trouble’ (‘agitate’), causing inner perplexity (emotional agitation) from getting too stirred up inside (‘upset’).”
 
One can see Herod standing there beside himself, distraught with the thought of a challenge to his throne. Certainly because of this, it next says, “and all Jerusalem with him.”
 
The word “all” is used in a comparative sense. An important point in Scripture is that not every “every” means “every,” and not all “all’s” mean “all.” There were certainly people sitting in local cafes that had no idea what was transpiring in the royal hall. There were servants tending to the homes of their masters who would have no idea about the coming of the magicians. In all, probably very few of the people in the city had an inkling about the report.
 
Rather, in this case, Jerusalem stands for the seat of power. Therefore, it is referring to those who were in the royal court with Herod. They would have certainly been agitated, knowing his proclivity for harming others, and they would be walking on eggshells at the thought of what he might do in this instance.
 
Life application: Herod was an Idumean by birth, meaning an Edomite. Idumean is simply the Greek form of the word. Of this people group, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus says that about 129 BC John Hyrcanus –
 
“...subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that country, if they would circumcise their genitals, and make use of the laws of the Jews; and they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers, that they submitted to the use of circumcision, and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews.” Antiquities, Book 13 Chapter 9 Section 1
 
What this means is that the Edomites were brought into the nation of Israel, becoming Jews. This is no different than an Arab or a Japanese person today converting to Judaism. They become a part of the Jewish people. Whether their origins are remembered and held against them by other supposedly pure-blooded Jews or not is irrelevant. They are now Jews.
 
The line of Herod was a part of this conversion, but the racial animosities obviously remained, and despite being a Jew, it is obvious from historical records that he was remembered for his ancestral heritage more than his acceptance into the Jewish culture.
 
In the Bible, there are references to Edom, Moab, Ammon, etc., that are contained in prophecies that extend even beyond our time. And yet, there is no nation of Edom, Moab, etc. What this means is that the Bible is using the lands, once inhabited by those people groups, as emblematic of the people in those lands today.
 
Thus, when a future prophecy refers to Philistia, it is speaking of the modern-day Gazans, not Philistines. In referring to Ammon, Edom, or Moab, it is generally speaking of the Arabs who occupy Jordan. In other words, the lands that were originally settled by these people retain those name designations in Scripture.
 
This is important to understand because the Edomites of the past are now incorporated into the Jews of today. When the Romans exiled the Jews, those Edomites (Idumeans) who had assimilated into the Jewish people were a part of that exile. There are no “Edomites” today in a real sense. The nation does not exist. Instead, only the lands where they were are considered Edom.
 
Remember this as you read the Bible. There is a baseline for what is presented. That baseline does not change unless the change is recorded in Scripture. But whatever the final designation in Scripture is, that is what is to be considered when analyzing the world today.
 
Understanding this, the biblical model which refers to Christians is one that is set and unchanging. Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and introduced the New Covenant. Entry into what God is doing now takes place through the baseline that has been set because of Jesus Christ.
 
Being “Jewish” is no longer what designates a person who is in a right standing with God. Jews may be in a right standing, or they might not be. But the standard that makes it so is by coming to God through Christ Jesus. This is what God is doing in the world. The pattern is set because the Bible is complete.
 
And for those who have come to Christ, there are no longer any distinctions that should separate us. Herod may have been considered an Edomite even though he was a Jewish convert. However, such designations are no longer to be looked down on as if one group is better than another.
 
A Japanese, a Kenyan, and a Jew all walked into a church...
 
When they got there, they were (and remain) on an equal footing before God because of faith in Jesus Christ –
 
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatian 3:26-29
 
Lord God, how grateful we are for what Christ has done for us. We are all one in Him through faith in His completed work. We are granted access to Your heavenly throne where You hear us regardless of who we once were. Thank You for the wonderful blessing of being Your child through simple faith in Him. Hallelujah and Amen.

Matthew 2:2

Saturday, 3 August 2024
 
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.” Matthew 2:2
 
“Saying, ‘Where is He having been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the sunrising, and we came to worship Him’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the magicians had come from the sunrisings to Jerusalem. Now, Matthew continues with the words, “Saying, ‘Where is He?’”
 
The words of the magicians are in the form of a question, but they are also just as much an assertion. By stating “Where is He,” they are proclaiming that they are certain that the person they are looking for exists. This is understood. The question isn’t, “Has He come?” but rather, “Where is He?” Understanding this, they continue with, “having been born?”
 
Again, it is an assertion. They do not ask, “Where is the King who has been coronated?” Nor do they ask, “Where is the King who has been appointed by Rome?” Instead, the question is about a birth. Therefore, something prompted them to accept that a divinely appointed birth had taken place for one who was to be “King of the Jews.”
 
The answer is to be found in Daniel 9:24-27 where a timeline of prophetic events was to take place –
 
“Seventy weeks are determinedFor your people and for your holy city,To finish the transgression,To make an end of sins,To make reconciliation for iniquity,To bring in everlasting righteousness,To seal up vision and prophecy,And to anoint the Most Holy.25 “Know therefore and understand,That from the going forth of the commandTo restore and build JerusalemUntil Messiah the Prince,There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;The street shall be built again, and the wall,Even in troublesome times.26 “And after the sixty-two weeksMessiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;And the people of the prince who is to comeShall destroy the city and the sanctuary.The end of it shall be with a flood,And till the end of the war desolations are determined.27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;But in the middle of the weekHe shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,Even until the consummation, which is determined,Is poured out on the desolate.”
 
The words of Daniel may be confusing without understanding the greater context of the Bible, but they clearly and precisely state when the Messiah would come, what would happen to Him, and what would happen afterward. For example, it is understood from the words that the sanctuary, meaning the temple in Jerusalem, would be destroyed.
 
Of this expectation of the coming Messiah, Albert Barnes writes –
 
“This personage, they supposed would be a temporal prince, and they were expecting that he would deliver them from Roman bondage. It was natural that this expectation should spread into other countries. Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. Suetonius, a Roman historian, speaking of this rumor. says: ‘An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the East that the Fates had decreed some one to proceed from Judea who should attain universal empire.’ Tacitus, another Roman historian, says: ‘Many were persuaded that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the East should prevail, and that some one should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion.’ Josephus also, and Philo, two Jewish historians, make mention of the same expectation. The fact that such a person was expected is clearly attested. Under this expectation these wise men came to do him homage, and inquired anxiously where he was born?”
 
The reason for paying homage to Him is next explained by them, “For we saw His star.” This “star” is referred to in the Book of Numbers –
 
“I see Him, but not now;I behold Him, but not near;A Star shall come out of Jacob;A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,And batter the brow of Moab,And destroy all the sons of tumult.18 “And Edom shall be a possession;Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,While Israel does valiantly.19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion,And destroy the remains of the city.”  Numbers 24:17-19
 
The Jews, attempting to hide the fact that Jesus fit the biblical narrative, hid a significant period of time in the chronology of the Old Testament. By doing this, they then made the assertion that another person, Simon bar Kokhba, was the anticipated Messiah. His name means “Simon son of a Star.” They claimed he was the fulfillment of the Numbers prophecy.
 
However, he came after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Thus, he could not be the Messiah as indicated in the Daniel timeline. As for the Numbers prophecy, it was understood that One would arise and subdue the surrounding nations. But in the greater context of Scripture, much more was understood about this coming One.
 
As for seeing His star, the word can mean literally seeing, as in a visible star, or it can mean to perceive, as in “the magicians perceived the star from a reading of sacred texts.” Thus, it is a seeing with the mind. This explanation of the word may help understand later verses. Or it may be that they have seen a literal event that alerted them to the coming of the Messiah. Understanding that, it next says, “in the sunrising.”
 
It is the same word used in the previous verse. It indicates “east,” but it means “rising of light.” This does not mean that they saw the star to their east but that they were east of Israel and saw the star rising from there, knowing that the heavenly sign prophesied for Israel had come to pass. Therefore, with this information clearly known by them, it next says, “and we came to worship Him.”
 
Of these words, Albert Barnes says, “This does not mean that they had come to pay him religious homage, or to adore him They regarded him as the King of the Jews, but there is no evidence that they supposed that he was divine. They came to honor him as a Prince, or a king, not as God.”
 
Barnes’ words, though dogmatic, are not necessarily correct. Depending on the knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, one could clearly determine that this coming One was, in fact, divine. At a minimum, it would be understood He was divinely appointed by God. He had been anticipated since the time of the first man on earth. He was spoken of throughout the historical writings and prophets of the Jews, etc.
 
Therefore, whether mere obeisance or worship, these magicians had come to bow before this coming King.
 
As for the star that anticipated the coming of Christ, the number of theories concerning planetary alignments, the position of constellations, particular comets, and so forth go on and on. Everyone who has a theory dogmatically claims his presentation is correct. Those who hear one claim or another will hold fast to the one they find most convincing and dogmatically avow that they are right as to what is being referred to.
 
In the end, these things are not necessary to determine when Christ came. The years of Herod’s life and the prophecy of Daniel sufficiently tells us by what time Jesus had to be born and by what time He would be crucified. And more, the fact that these magicians saw a divinely appointed star tells us that it was there.
 
As such, determining the particular star that heralded in the coming of Jesus, whatever it was, is not necessary, even if it is fun to consider.
 
Life application: As noted, there are many theories about the star in the skies which point to the coming of Jesus. Some say it is a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, which took place in May to July and again in September of 7BC. Others say it was the rising of Sirius which occurred on the same day in four subsequent years from 5-2BC. Many other speculations have been set forth as well.
 
A video that has gotten jillions of social media views and sold innumerable CDs by Rick Larsen makes certain assertions about the star of Bethlehem. He goes on to cite details about the cosmic event at Christ’s cross as well. The problem with his analysis is that after all of his calculations and details, he assertively places Christ’s crucifixion at the time of a particular solar eclipse.
 
The problem with this is that it is impossible to have a solar eclipse at the time of the Passover. The moon is full at the Passover. Thus, it is on the other side of the earth when the sun is in the sky. With such an obvious error in his presentation, it then calls into question all of his other assertions as well. The house of cards comes crashing down.
 
It is best to not get caught up in such hype. If the Bible does not provide the particular details concerning things like this, it is because God is not interested in telling us about those things. Rather, He is directing our attention to Jesus, not a star that served a purpose in telling eastern magicians about the coming of Jesus.
 
Let us not get overly distracted from the biblical text. It is good to research extra-biblical history, which can confirm many aspects of the Bible but when something is so unreasonably argued over, like the Star of Bethlehem, we have lost focus of the main Subject. Eyes to Jesus. In this, we will do well. The Bible records the facts, and they are sufficient for us to know that Christ has come according to the plan and purposes of God.
 
Lord God, before Jesus came, we were given the timeline to tell us that He would come at a certain time. As we can rely on Your word, we can also be certain that He is the Messiah. No other person can make the claim because the time for His coming is past. With that, we can read the New Testament and discover what He did and how it has changed all of human history. Thank You, O God, for the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 2:1

Friday, 2 August 2024
 
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, Matthew 2:1
 
“And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea, in days Herod the king: Behold, magicians from sunrisings – they came unto Jerusalem” (CG).
 
Chapter 1 ended with the note that Joseph refrained from having physical relations with his wife, Mary, until she had brought forth Jesus. Now, the narrative continues in Chapter 2, beginning with, “And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea.”
 
The words are stated to confirm the prophecy of the Lord through Micah –
 
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,Yet out of you shall come forth to MeThe One to be Ruler in Israel,Whose goings forth are from of old,From everlasting.” Micah 5:2
 
Matthew will deal with this prophecy in a few verses, but this confirms another prophecy that had to be fulfilled concerning Israel’s true Messiah. Next, it says, “in days Herod the king.” He is known as Herod the Great. Of him, Albert Barnes says –
 
“Judea, where our Saviour was born, was a province of the Roman Empire. It was taken about 63 years before his birth by Pompey, and placed under tribute. Herod received his appointment from the Romans, and had reigned at the time of the birth of Jesus for 34 years. Though he was permitted to be called king, yet he was, in all respects, dependent on the Roman emperor. He was commonly called ‘Herod the Great’ because he had distinguished himself in the wars with Antigonus and his other enemies, and because he had evinced great talents in governing and defending his country, in repairing the temple, and in building and ornamenting the cities of his kingdom. He was, however, as much distinguished for his cruelty and his crimes as he was for his greatness.”
 
It was at this time that Matthew next records, “Behold, magicians.” The Greek word is magos, a magician, astrologer, wizard, etc. HELPS Word Studies says of them, “one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who seem to have conformed to the Persian religion while retaining some of their old beliefs.”
 
Various opinions have been given concerning who exactly these magicians were and where they came from. What is possibly the case is that they were from the area of Iran. It is to the east of Israel, and it is where the great empire that replaced the Babylonians was. Daniel and others were exiled to Babylon. However, Babylon was destroyed by the Medes and Persians. This is detailed in Daniel 5, which ends with –
 
“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.” Daniel 5:30, 31
 
When Babylon was destroyed, the new empire would have received all of the ancient writings of the Chaldeans. They also acquired their wise men, such as Daniel. This body of knowledge would have been incorporated into their empire, and it is possible that this included all of the Jewish prophetic writings.
 
It appears from Isaiah 44 that they possessed the book of Isaiah. If so, it may be that they had copies of all of the writings. The coming verses will show that there was an awareness of the book of Daniel and Numbers. Thus, it seems that all of the Jewish writings were maintained in the archives of this eastern empire.
 
Therefore, the ancient prophecy of a coming Messiah would be known to these magicians. The word magos is likely connected to the Aramaic name of the Rabmag [Great Mag] found in Jeremiah 39.
 
This would confirm that these people once were a part of the Chaldeans and were assimilated into the empire of the Medes and Persians. Because of their libraries and training, these men were alerted to the ancient prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Of them, Matthew next notes that they were “from sunrisings.”
 
Most translations say, “from the east.” However, the word is anatolé, a rising of light. In this case, it signifies the rising of the sun. Further, it is plural. Thus, these magicians are “from sunrisings,” and thus east of Israel. Whoever they were and wherever they were from, it next notes that “they came unto Jerusalem.”
 
These men had traveled from outside of the land of Israel. They had a specific knowledge from prophecy concerning the coming of Christ, and they came to behold what they were certain of. As Jerusalem is the seat of government, they first came there to proclaim what they knew and to ask for further details. This will be seen as the verses continue.
 
Life application: One interpretation of who these men were that has arisen is that these Magi were Jewish Rabbis who had remained a part of the exile. This has become a point of boasting among Jewish believers in recent times, but it hardly seems likely.
 
These Magi will ask about the King of the Jews, not specifically the Messiah. It is unlikely they would ask about a king first and foremost. Likewise, they will ask where the King would be born. However, a Jewish rabbi would know where to look for such information, as is evidenced by the verses ahead.
 
But most notably, if these were Jews, the text would have said so. The problem with this type of analysis is the same as with much else that is ascribed to the Jewish people today. Since the return of Israel to the land and with the modern messianic movement, everything Jewish has become fashionable.
 
Many deceitful people have arisen because of this, profiting off of their heritage. Many of them do not hold to the grace of God in Christ, but to their traditions and to law observance, in part or in whole. What has been sound theology, and a proper interpretation of Scripture for millennia has been upended by such unsound teaching. The Judaizers Paul warned of have come back like an overflowing flood.
 
Be sure to not get caught up in the hype of genealogy, culture, or tradition. Hold fast to the word of God as it has been revealed. And that revelation is one of God’s grace being bestowed upon undeserved sinners, not man’s effort to reconcile himself through an obsolete law that only God in Christ could (and did) fulfill.
 
To return to what is fulfilled is to say to God, “I know you did Your best, but I will take it from here.” What a slap in the face of God, who has done it all for us. Let us never mar the grace of God in Christ. To Jesus alone is to be our hope, and He alone is our place of refuge.
 
Lord God, may we hold fast to the grace of God in Christ, never trusting in our own merit. We have no standing before You without Jesus. Help us to recognize this and to exalt You for what You alone have done for us in the coming of our Lord. All hail the glorious and exalted name of JESUS! Amen.