Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 2

Bethlehem, the place near which Jacob buried Rachel (Genesis 35:19) and Ruth met Boaz (Ruth 1:2–22:6), was preeminently the town where David was born and reared. For Christians it has become the place where angelic hosts broke the silence and announced Messiah’s birth .

Unlike Luke, Matthew offers no description of Jesus’ birth or the shepherds’ visit; he specifies the time of Jesus’ birth as having occurred during the reign of King Herod the Great . Traditionally some have argued that Herod died in 4 B. C.; so Jesus must have been born before then. Though this has been challenged, most favor this date. The “Magi” (GK 3407) cannot be identified with precision. By NT times, the term loosely covered a wide variety of men interested in dreams, astrology, magic, books thought to contain mysterious references to the future, and the like. Apparently these men came to Bethlehem spurred on by astrological calculations. But they had probably built up their expectation of a kingly figure by working through assorted Jewish books.

The Magi saw a star “when it rose” (see NIV note). What they saw remains uncertain, and no single suggestion has gained support. Matthew uses language almost certainly alluding to Nu 24:17: “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” This oracle, spoken by Balaam, who came “from the eastern mountains” (Numbers 23:7), was widely regarded as messianic. Matthew’s main purpose in this story is to contrast the eagerness of the Magi to worship Jesus, despite their limited knowledge, with the apathy of the Jewish leaders and the hostility of Herod’s court—all of whom had the Scriptures to inform them. Formal knowledge of the Scriptures, Matthew implies, does not in itself lead to knowing who Jesus is. The Magi’s question indicates that Jesus was born king of the Jews. His kingly status was not conferred on him later on; it was his from birth. Jesus’ participation in the Davidic dynasty has already been established by the genealogy. The same title the Magi gave him was found over the cross (27:37). “Worship” (GK 4686) probably means simply “do homage.” Their own statement suggests homage paid to royalty rather than the worship of Deity. But Matthew, having already told of the virginal conception, doubtless expected his readers to discern that the Magi “worshiped” better than they knew.

In contrast with the Magi’s desire to worship the King of the Jews, Herod was deeply troubled. In this “all Jerusalem” joined him, not because most of the people would have been sorry to see Herod replaced or because they were reluctant to see the coming of King Messiah, but because they well knew that any question like the Magi’s would result in more cruelty from the ailing Herod, whose paranoia had already led him to murder his favorite wife and two sons.

All the chief priests and teachers of the law (i.e., those who served as leaders of the Jews) who were living in Jerusalem were quickly consulted. The majority of the teachers of the law were Pharisees; the priests were Sadducees. Since these two groups barely got along, Herod may have consulted each group separately. Herod’s request of them implies that “the Christ” and “the king of the Jews” were recognized titles of the same expected person. The Jewish leaders answered the question by referring to what stands written in the OT, suggesting the authoritative and regulative force of the document referred to. THE HERODIAN FAMILY Several generations that descended from Herod the Great walk across the pages of the New Testament. Those mentioned are in capital letters, together with the relevant passages in Scripture.

All the chief priests and teachers of the law (i.e., those who served as leaders of the Jews) who were living in Jerusalem were quickly consulted. The majority of the teachers of the law were Pharisees; the priests were Sadducees. Since these two groups barely got along, Herod may have consulted each group separately. Herod’s request of them implies that “the Christ” and “the king of the Jews” were recognized titles of the same expected person. The Jewish leaders answered the question by referring to what stands written in the OT, suggesting the authoritative and regulative force of the document referred to. THE HERODIAN FAMILY Several generations that descended from Herod the Great walk across the pages of the New Testament. Those mentioned are in capital letters, together with the relevant passages in Scripture.