Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 2

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,

Probably from that Assyria which is joined with Israel and Egypt in the remarkable prophecy in Isaiah 19:24-25: In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

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,

Our Lord was born in Bethlehem, an inconsiderable village of Judaea. Its name, however, is significant; it means, "the house of bread." Truly Bethlehem has become, in a spiritual sense, the house of bread to all who feed on Christ. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.

For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

News of the arrival of these strangers in the Jewish capital, asking for the new-born King, would be sure to spread rapidly. The news soon reached the palace; and Herod, one of the most suspicious and cruel of tyrants, and therefore the most cowardly of men, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

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, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Observe here that when the Son of God was born into the world, it was in a very lowly village, the village of Bethlehem. Very naturally, the wise men supposed that "the King of the Jews" would be born in the palace, in the metropolis of the country, Jerusalem; but it pleased the Lord that everything about Christ's birth should have the stamp of lowliness, so that the poorest and humblest of men might understand that Christ did not take upon him the nature of princes, but the nature of men—not of the great ones of the earth, but of our common humanity.

Hence Jesus was born of a lowly virgin, and was only roughly cradled in a manger, and the village chosen as the place of his birth was Bethlehem, well-named the "house of bread," for it is there that the Bread of our souls is found. The holy child Jesus was born in the days of Herod the king. The last spark of sovereignty was just dying out.

Herod, a foreigner, held the kingdom under the Roman Empire. Did not old Jacob's prophecy say, The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come? Therefore it is expressly mentioned that Jesus was born in the days of Herod the king. We must also remember that, although our Lord's birth is full of every circumstance of humiliation, it has a wondrous glory about it.

The Magi, probably from Persia—"wise men," philosophers, and theologians—heard in far-off lands of his fame; and a star led them to his feet: There came wise men from the east. They supposed that the birth of Christ would be well known among the Jews and be a common theme of conversation; so, when they reached Jerusalem, they inquired, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? Ah, when the heart is awakened to the love of Christ, it often dreams that everybody else feels an equal interest in him; but it is not so!

The world is dead and cold to Christ; and men look astonished when we ask the question, Where is he? We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. These wise men were not Unitarians, who disbelieved the deity of Christ. It has been said by some that they only meant that they had come to pay him the homage of a king. Then, why did they not worship Herod, and why did Herod say that he wished to worship him? It will not do. The thought is not to be endured for a single moment. The Magi believed that he who was born King of the Jews was more than a human being, and they had come to worship him.

The King is born and now He must be acknowledged. At the same moment He will be assailed. His birth was in the days of another king, of Edomite stock, who had usurped the throne of David. The world’s kingdom is opposed to that of our Lord. Where Jesus is born there is sure to be a Herod in power.

It is a marvelous thing that Magi from far away should know that a great king was born and should come from so great a distance to do Him homage, for the world’s wise men are not often found bowing at the feet of Jesus. When wise men seek our King, they are wise indeed.

These were devout men to whom the stars spoke of God. An unusual luminary was understood by them to indicate the birth of the Coming Man for whom many in all lands were looking. Stars might guide us if we were willing to be led. Lord Jesus, make everything speak to me concerning You and may I be truly led until I find You!

The wise men were not content with having “seen his star”; they must see Himself and seeing, they must adore. These were not in doubt as to His Godhead. They said, “We have come to worship him.” Lord, I ask You, make all the wise men worship You!