Matthew 2:1

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, The Wise Men reach Jerusalem-The Sanhedrim, on Herod's demand, pronounce Bethlehem to be Messiah's predicted Birth-place (Matthew 2:1). NOW WHEN JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA - so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, near the sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:15): called also Bethlehem-judah, as being in that tribe (Judges 17:7); and Ephrath (Genesis 35:16); and combining both, Bethlehem Ephratah ...

1._Now when Jesus had been born _How it came about that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Matthew does not say. The Spirit of God, who had appointed the Evangelists to be his clerks, (177) appears purposely to have regulated their style in such a manner, that they all wrote one and the same history, with the most perfect agreement, but in different ways. It was intended, that the truth of God should more clearly and strikingly appear, when it was manifest that his witnesses did not speak by a preconcerted plan, but that each of them separately, without paying any attention to another, wrote freely and honestly what the Holy Spirit dictated. This is a very remarkable narrative. God brought _Magi _from Chaldea, to come to the land of Judea, for the purpose of adoring Christ, in the stable where he lay, amidst the tokens, not of honor, but of contempt. It was a truly wonderful purpose of God, th...

1-8 Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with h...

CHAPTER II. _Wise men come from the east to worship Christ_, 1, 2. _Herod, hearing of the birth of our Lord, is greatly troubled_, 3; _and makes inquiry of the chief priests and scribes, where the_ _Christ should be born_, 4. _They inform him of the prophecy relative to Bethlehem_, 5, 6. _The wise men, going to Bethlehem, are desired by Herod to bring_ _him word when they have found the child, pretending that he_ _wished to do him homage_, 7, 8. _The wise men are directed by a star to the place where the young_ child lay, adore

WHEN JESUS WAS BORN - See the full account of his birth in Luke 2:1. IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA - Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, was a small town about six miles south of Jerusalem. The word “Bethlehem” denotes “house of bread” - perhaps given to the place on account of its great fertility. It was also called Ephrata, a word supposed likewise to signify fertility, Genesis 35:19; Ruth 4:11; Psalms 132:6. It was called the city of David Luke 2:4, because it was the city of his nativity,...

EXPOSITION JESUS THE CHRIST BY HIS EARLY HISTORY answering to the word of God by the prophets. This is shown by four particulars, for each of which a corresponding prophecy is adduced. (1) The place of his birth; where, further, he receives homage of Gentiles, though neglected by his own people (Matthew 2:1). (2) His stay in Egypt (Matthew 2:13). (3) The slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16). (4) His dwelling at Nazareth, and consequent appellation ...

NOW WHEN JESUS WAS BORN,.... Several things are here related respecting the birth of Christ, as the place where he was born, IN BETHLEHEM OF JUDEA; so called to distinguish it from another Bethlehem in the tribe of Zabulon, Joshua 19:15. Here Christ was to be born according to a prophecy hereafter mentioned, and accordingly the Jews expected he would be born here, Matthew 2:4 and so Jesus was born here, Luke 2:4 and this the Jews themselves acknowledge; "Such a year, says a noted l chronologer of theirs, Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem Juda, which is a "parsa" and a half, i.e. six miles, from Jerusalem.'' Benjamin m Tudelensis says it is two parsas, i.e. eight miles, from it; and acco

Matthew 2:1. _Now when Jesus was born is 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, Matthew 2:2. _Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?_ There was another king, of whom we have just read: «Herod the king,» but he was an Idumean, an Edomite. He had no right to the throne; but here is born the true heir to the throne of David, and the Magi from the east have come to ask for him....

HEROD THE KING Called Herod the Great, son of Antipater, an Idumean (Genesis 36:1). (_ See Scofield) - (Genesis 36:1) _ and Cypros, an Arabian woman. Antipater was appointed procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar, B.C. 47. At the age of fifteen Herod was appointed to the government of Galilee. B.C. 40 the Roman senate made him king of Judea. An able, strong, and cruel man, he increased greatly the splendour of Jerusalem, erecting the temple which was the centre of Jewish worship in the time of our Lord....

2. THE KING WORSHIPPED BY GENTILES; Jerusalem in Ignorance of Him; the Child Persecuted. _ 1. The Visit of the Wise Men.(Matthew 2:1 .) 2. The Flight into Egypt. (Matthew 2:13 .) 3. The Return from Egypt. (Matthew 2:19 .)_ CHAPTER 2 The second chapter in Matthew relates events which are nowhere else recorded in the Gospels. For this reason, and this is the only reason, the authenticity of the chapter has been doubted more than once. All that which the second chapter contains belongs properly into the Jewish, dispensational Gospel, and would indeed be entirely out of place in the other three Gospels, therefore the Holy Spirit has seen fit to put it only in the first Gospel. The chapter