MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:1 BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA. Located about 6 miles (9.7 km) south of Jerusalem. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem marks him as being from the tribe of Judah and from the city that produced the Davidic kings (1 Samuel 17:12; see note on Luke 2:3–4). HEROD THE KING (Herod the Great) ruled I... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:2 WE SAW HIS STAR WHEN IT ROSE. Through interaction with Jews in Babylon, the wise men would likely have been familiar with OT prophecy (e.g., Numbers 24:17). The movement of the star (Matthew 2:9) suggests that it was a supernatural phenomenon. The wise men likely traveled... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:4 The CHIEF PRIESTS were in charge of temple activities. SCRIBES. Experts in handling written documents. In Israel, their duties included teaching, interpreting, and applying the Mosaic law. The concept of “King of the Jews” had become associated with THE CHRIST, the Messia... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:5 BETHLEHEM. See Micah 5:2. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:9 THE STAR... WENT BEFORE THEM. The star led them specifically to Bethlehem. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:11 The wise men arrived up to two years after Jesus’ birth. By then Jesus lived in a HOUSE. WORSHIPED HIM. Because of their pagan background, the wise men may not have understood Jesus’ divine nature, but their actions were clearly appropriate (see Philippians 2:9; Revelati... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:13 FLEE TO EGYPT. The Egyptian border was approximately 90 miles (146 km) south of Bethlehem. There, they would be free from Herod’s power. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:15 FULFILL. The prophet Hosea recounted how God had faithfully brought Israel, God’s “son,” out of Egypt in the exodus (Hosea 2:15). Matthew cites this in reference to Jesus, God’s true Son. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:16 ALL THE MALE CHILDREN IN BETHLEHEM... TWO YEARS OLD OR UNDER. The small village may have had 10 to 30 boys of that age. Herod the Great’s question to the wise men about the time of the appearing of the star (Matthew 1:7) gave him an estimated time of Jesus’ birth. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:17 Jeremiah described the mothers of Israel (RACHEL) mourning for their CHILDREN who had been carried off into exile (Jeremiah 31:15). Like the exile, the attempt on Jesus’ life was intended to wipe out the chosen one of God. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagNam... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:22 ARCHELAUS was one of Herod the Great’s sons. He followed Herod as ruler over Judea, Samaria, and Idumea, from 4 B.C.–A.D. 6. He was cruel like his father, and the Jews hated him. Fearing a revolution from the people, Caesar Augustus removed him from power. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var ima... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 2:23 NAZARETH is halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. It was a relatively small village. Joseph and Mary had come from Nazareth (see Luke 1:26; Luke 2:39). HE WOULD BE CALLED A NAZARENE. Matthew is not quoting any specific OT prophecy but is referring... [ Continue Reading ]