Matthew 2

This story shows how certain parts of the life of Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies. This includes:

• his family history and birth (chapter 1), and

• the places he lived as a child (chapter 2).

The story also shows how efforts to stop the plan of God do not work (2:1–15; see also 27:62–66).

• Bethlehem was King David’s hometown (1 Samuel 16:1–13; John 7:42).

• King Herod was also called "Herod the Great." He had a rapid increase in power. He went from being the governor of Galilee to the king of Galilee, Judea, and Samaria. He was king from 37–4 BC. He was very loyal to Rome. He was famous for impressive building projects. This included a major renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem. His rule also included family conflicts, suspicion, and the murder of his own family members and innocent children (Josephus, Antiquities 15.7.1–5; Matthew 2:16–18).

The wise men's focus on the star shows they were astrologers. Their knowledge of the Old Testament (possibly Numbers 24:17) suggests they came from Babylonia, where many Jews lived. These men were Gentiles (non-Jewish people), which hints at God accepting Gentiles in his kingdom (Matthew 8:11–12; 15:21–28; 28:16–20).

All through the Gospel, unlikely Gentiles worship the Jewish Messiah, while many Jewish leaders (Herod, the high priests, the teachers of religious law, and the Pharisees) oppose him.

Matthew often describes Jesus as receiving worshipped (Matthew 2:2, 8, 11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17). In this way, Matthew identifies Jesus as God.

It worried Herod very much because he thought this child might challenge him as King of the Jews.

The leading priests had political and religious influence and mainly served in the temple (see Matthew 21:23). Herod gathered the teachers of religious law because they knew Old Testament prophecies and were often influential Pharisees.

• Bethlehem was a small village. It was important because it was where King David was born. The religious leaders knew from prophecy (Matthew 1:22) that this is where God would cause his Messiah to be born there.

• King David had been a shepherd when he was young. As king, he became the shepherd of Israel (2 Samuel 5:2). Micah 5:2–4 predicts the Messiah as a shepherd (compare Psalm 23:1).

God placed the star to guide the wise men to the Messiah (see Numbers 24:17). The details are unclear.

The wise men gave costly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the king (see Psalm 72:10–17; Isaiah 60). The idea of three wise men comes from the number of gifts. But the text does not say how many wise men there were.

flee to Egypt … until I tell you: This action fulfills the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 (refer to study note on Matthew 4:1–11; see also Genesis 15:13–16; 46:1–5; Exodus 15:1–21).

Out of Egypt I called My Son: See Hosea 11:1, which refers to when God led the Israelites out of Egypt.

• Put to death all the boys: Herod was famous for his cruelty. He even killed his own son to protect his throne. This led to the saying, “It is safer to be Herod’s pig [Greek hus] than his son [Greek huios].” This is because Herod followed Jewish kosher laws.

• two years old and under: Herod estimated the child's age based on the wise men’s report.

Ramah was a village near Bethlehem. It is where the patriarch Jacob buried his wife Rachel (Genesis 35:18–20; Jeremiah 31:15–17).

After Herod died: Herod the Great died in 4 BC. Caesar (the Roman emperor) divided his kingdom. Herod's son Archelaus (Matthew 2:22) became ruler of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Herod Antipas (14:1–12; Luke 13:31–32) took charge of Galilee and Perea.

Jesus returned to Israel to fulfill the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 (see Hosea 2:13–15).

• Archelaus, like his father, ruled with cruelty, injustice, and harshness.

• Joseph moved to Galilee to escape the control of Archelaus. This fulfilled a prophecy (see Matthew 4:12–16).

“He will be called a Nazarene”: Matthew connects the name Nazareth with words from the prophets (see Isaiah 11:1, where the Messiah is called a “Branch,” [Hebrew netser]; and Judges 13:5, where Samson is called a “Nazirite”).