PrevMatthew 2:8Next

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,

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.

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

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

What does Matthew 2:8 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 2:8 narrates a pivotal moment in the Nativity story involving King Herod and the Magi (wise men from the East).

The verse captures Herod's directive to the Magi to find Jesus, who has been born King of the Jews.

Herod's instruction is to "search diligently for the young child" and report back to him so that he, too, may go and "worship him." On the surface, Herod’s words suggest a desire to pay homage to the newborn king.

However, his true intentions are more sinister, as he perceives the child as a threat to his throne and plans to kill him.

The deeper meaning of this verse lies not only in the apparent deceit of Herod but also in the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies and the divine protection over Jesus' life.

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

This verse is set within the broader events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem during the reign of King Herod the Great.

The Gospel according to Matthew was likely written between AD 80 and 90.

Herod was known for his ambitious building projects and his ruthless defense of his throne, including the murder of some of his own family members.

The arrival of the Magi, inquiring about a new "King of the Jews," threatened Herod's authority.

The Magi's visit coincides with Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah coming from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

Their search for Jesus, prompted by the appearance of a star, played a crucial role in Matthew's narrative of Jesus as the continuation and fulfillment of Judaic prophecy.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse brings out several insights:

Sovereignty of God: Despite human schemes, God's plan prevails.

God warns the Magi in a dream not to return to Herod, thwarting his plan (Matthew 2:12).

Depravity: Herod's deceit reveals the corrupt nature of humanity and the lengths to which people will go to preserve power.
Incarnation: The birth of Jesus signifies the coming of God in human form, a central doctrine in Christian theology.
Messianic Prophecy: This event is part of the narrative that confirms Jesus as the prophesied Messiah who would lead and save the Jewish people.

Practical Applications

Believers can draw several practical applications from this verse:

Be discerning of others' motives, recognizing that not all intentions are pure.
Prioritize searching for and recognizing the presence of Christ in one’s life.
Remain mindful that God's plans cannot be thwarted by human actions.
Approach the text with an understanding of the importance of prophecy in faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 2:12 – "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."
Micah 5:2 – "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Jeremiah 29:13 – "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Psalm 2 – A Messianic Psalm that speaks of the nations plotting against the Lord's Anointed.

Language Study

The term "search diligently" in the original Greek is "ἐξετάσατε" (exetazate), which means to examine or investigate thoroughly.

"Worship" is translated from "προσκυνέω" (proskuneo), denoting an act of homage or reverence, often associated with the worship given to God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn between the story of Jesus' birth and other ancient mythologies in which kings or gods fear the rise of a new power, often leading to a quest to eliminate the threat.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Cronus swallowed his children to prevent them from overthrowing him.

The visit of the Magi and the subsequent escape to Egypt also mirrors the story of Moses, who as an infant, escaped the Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew baby boys.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives would focus on the historical verifiability of the events described.

Discussions might include analysis of the historical existence of Herod, the dating of Jesus' birth relative to Herod's reign, and astronomical theories surrounding the Star of Bethlehem that the Magi followed.

Commentaries

Commentary on Matthew 2:8 often underscores Herod's duplicity and fear of losing his throne.

Scholars point out that Herod's feigned reverence reflects a political maneuver rather than genuine worship.

Many theologians agree that this incident reveals the conflict between the kingdom of God, represented by Jesus, and earthly powers.

Commentators often highlight God’s protection over Jesus, ensuring the survival of the infant King despite Herod’s schemes.

Some experts also note that Herod's actions inadvertently contribute to the fulfillment of the scripture that the Messiah would be called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:15).

Matthew 2

Matthew 2

What does Matthew 2:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 2:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?