V1-2        Matthew omits many details of Christ’s birth, leaving them to Luke. Instead he writes of Herod, the usurper, and of the Magi, respecting the true King of the Jews. But, either way, none can ignore Jesus Christ. Shepherds and wise men (Magi) worship Him; removing all human distinctions of class and culture.

                The Magi, astrologers, saw the child as unique, having His own star; here is God’s grace, speaking to them in their ‘language,’ bringing them to Jesus. Their journey to Jerusalem is logical, since that was the capital of Judea, and they did not know the Bethlehem prophecy. They have seen the star as it rose (see margin), rather than in the east. The same phrase is used in v9.

V3           Herod, called a king, sees the child as a threat, and seeks to have Him killed.

V4           Herod seeks guidance from the religious leaders. See Jer 37.17, like Zedekiah, Herod is not really interested in what God has to say. His real interest is personal peace and convenience, and some justification of his actions.

V5                Bethlehem in Judah, where the Christ was to be born; contrast John 7.42,52.

V6           See also Ps 78.70-72; Jesus to be shepherd and ruler of Israel, as David had been before Him.

V7-8        Herod has no real desire to worship Christ. The references here are to a “child,” and, with v16, where Herod has children under 2 years old killed, indicate that Christ was not a baby, but a young child. These events fit between Luke 2.38 and 39.

V9-11      On seeing the star they rejoice; on seeing the child, they worship. They bring gifts, Ps 72.10; Is 60.6. Again, we see that this is no ordinary child. It is the number of gifts that has made many think there must have been three Magi; some early writers put the number at 12. The reference in Ps 72, with the knowledge that Yemeni kings of the time professed the Jewish faith, indicates their likely origin.

V12                Although Herod asked the Magi to report back to him, v8, God spoke to them in a dream, and they obey God rather than men.

                The culture of the Middle East recognises dreams as significant, and so God speaks to many in this way, from Abraham and Jacob in the OT, through to Joseph and the Magi here. In testimony today, we often hear of Middle Eastern converts having dreams.

V13-15    The Lord God speaks to Joseph the head of the family. He has the great responsibility to care for the Son of God. The journey into Egypt was no easy thing.

V16-18    Herod’s cruelty; his original intention was to kill only the Christ, but developments changed his mind. It has been suggested that in his indiscriminate slaughter around 20 children where killed, but his character is that of a tyrant. Matthew quotes the prophet, echoing Rachel’s sorrow and Jeremiah’s.

V19-21    Joseph leads the family back to Judea. Herod, we learn, died a most painful and drawn-out death.

V22-23    It seems that the family has started back, when Joseph learns of Archelaus’ reign, and diverts to Galilee. Joseph’s plan was, until that point, to live in Bethlehem again, for he has family there.

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