The Gospel According to Saint Matthew
Matthew 2
Chapter II · Vol. IV, pp. 48–50
1 The wise men out of the east are directed to Christ by a star. 11 They worship him, and offer their presents. 14 Joseph fleeth into Egypt, with Jesus and his mother. 16 Herod slayeth the children: 20 himself dieth. 23 Christ is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.
1 Now when aJesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of bHerod the king, behold, there came wise men from cthe east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is dborn king of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to eworship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, ghe was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
g Ps.2.1-6. Ac.4.27,28. Jn.15.18. ch.8.29.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests1 and hscribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.Cited in WCF 23.3, 31.2
1 Heads of the 24 courses, 1 Ch.24.4-18. 2 Ch.36.14.
h Ezr.7.11,12. 1 Ch.24.6. 2 Ch.34.13. ch.7.29; 13.52. Je.8.8.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet,Cited in WCF 23.3, 31.2
6 iAnd2 thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a jGovernor, that shall rule3 my people Israel.
2 It will be observed that this quotation from Mi. 5. 2 is not literal. The original has 'Bethlehem Ephratah.' The reason of the change is, that the old name had become obsolete, and to distinguish the city from another of the same name, the words 'in the land of Judah' are added. Another verbal change is made upon the same principle. Matthew, under divine inspiration, modifies the language which he quotes, so as, while preserving its import, to adapt it to the new circumstances.—P.
A.M. 4000.
j Is.9.6,7. Ps.2.6. Col.1.18. Ep.1.22.
3 Or, feed, Is.40.11. Eze.34.23,24; 37.24. Re.2.27.
7 Then Herod, when he had kprivily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Gol and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that nI may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star,4 which they osaw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
4 It appears to have been a fiery meteor in the lower sky.
o ver.2.
10 When they saw the star, they prejoiced with exceeding great joy.
p Lu.2.10,11. De.32.43. Ps.67.4; xcvi.-c.; 105.3.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and qworshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,5 they presented6 unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
q Ps.2.12; 45.11. Jn.5.23. Ps.22.29; 72.17.
5 Treasures. Caskets or other receptacles used by travellers. The special mention of 'opening' seems to intimate that they were carefully sealed, a precaution very necessary for preserving the fragrance of the frankincense and myrrh.—C.
6 Or, offered, Ps.72.10-15. Is.60.6, with Ge.43.11,25. 1 Sa.9.7,8; 10.27. 1 Ki.10.2. Pr.18.16.
12 And rbeing warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, sthey departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord tappeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, uArise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herodv will seek the young child, to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child7 and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
7 Whether this happened about two months or about a year after Christ's birth, we know not.
15 And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, xOut of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was yexceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children8 that were in Bethlehem,9 and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had zdiligently inquired of the wise men.
* Josephus does not specially mention the massacre, but most evidently alludes to it in these words:—'Many slaughters followed the prediction of a new king' (Antiq. b.xvii. c.17).—Coasts, villages around Bethlehem.—C.
A.M. 4000.
8 See note * in first column.
9 Pr.1.16. Is.59.7. ch.10.34. Jn.15.18. Pr.20.21; 21.30. Thus the time of Christ's birth was publicly marked, and none left to rival his honours.
z ver.7.
17 Then was fulfilled1 that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,2 saying,
1 Again fulfilled, as it had been at the captivity of Babylon.
2 Je.31.15, with Ge.35.19. Jos.18.21,23. Je.40.1; 41.3. The third year before the account called Anno Domini.
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping3 for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.4
† There is some difficulty in the interpretation of this quotation. Bethlehem was a town of Judah; Rachel was mother of Benjamin, and Ramah was one of the chief cities of that tribe; how then can it be said that Rachel was weeping for her children? The solution is this—Rachel died and was buried on the southern border of Benjamin, and within half a mile of Bethlehem. Herod slew the children not in the town merely, but 'in all the coasts thereof,' and consequently in that part of Benjamin around Rachel's sepulchre. The sepulchre was, and still is, well known. By a bold and beautiful figure Rachel is represented as rising from her tomb, and filling the whole country with a wail of sorrow over her slaughtered children.—P.
3 Rachel weeping. Rachel, neither personal, for she was dead—nor figurative, for that would be forced, but Rachel represented by her descendants—even as Levi is said to have 'paid tithes in Abraham,' He.7.9,10. The prophecy was begun in the type (Je.40.1), and now completed in the antitype.—C.
4 See note † in first column.
19 But when Herod was dead, abehold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
a ch.1.20; ver.13. Ps.32.7,8. Pr.3.5,6. Ps.91.11,12. Ex.4.19.
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead5 which sought the young child's life.
5 They are dead. Herod, and most probably his cruel son Antipater, who died five days before his merciless father.—C.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Notes
Ver. 1. Wise men. Magi. These were originally Persian philosophers and priests; but the name was applied to such men of other countries as applied themselves to the study of astronomy, theology, &c. Daniel was set over the Babylonian college of the Magi, Da. 5. 11, whereby we may learn the purity of their scientific pursuits and original religious principles. These visitants were probably Jews; but from what country east of Jerusalem does not appear. C.
Ver. 2. Tacitus and Suetonius testify that, throughout the whole East there was, about this time, a general expectation of the birth of a king in Judea who should reign over the whole world. This opinion would naturally arise from the prophecies concerning the birth of Christ, which, by means of the Septuagint translation, and the dispersion of the Jews, had now been extensively diffused through all that had once been the Greek, and now was the Roman empire. C.
Ver. 4. Chief priests. The heads of families in the twenty-four courses, 1 Ch. 24. 6, and all that were members of the Sanhedrim, or Jewish senate, Mat. 26. 3; Jn. 18. 3.—Scribes. Literally writers, because they were chiefly employed in writing copies of the law, and, because of their familiarity with it, in giving interpretations. From 1 Ch. 24. 6; 2 Ch. 34. 13; Ezr. 7. 11, 12, it is evident that the scribes were exclusively of the tribe of Levi. C.
Ver. 15. This prophecy has been interpreted as a mere accommodation of the words of Hosea to our Lord. But the doctrine of accommodation is such that, if once admitted, it must introduce a constant uncertainty of interpretation, unless the accommodation be expressly declared. Here there is no such intimation. The words were therefore originally intended for Christ, and were never fulfilled, except in type and shadow, till Christ the Son of God was literally 'called out of Egypt.' C.
Reflections.—How deep was the debasement, and early the sufferings, of our Redeemer! and yet attended with the honours of an extraordinary star directing to him; the devout visit of the wise men; and the repeated directions of God concerning him. How early the Gentiles begin their gathering to Shiloh! and often they who live farthest from the means of grace are first converted. Even in extraordinary appearances of nature we ought to inquire after God's mind and will; and if we be earnestly desirous to know and find Christ, neither pains nor perils will hinder us. Nothing produces so great a hatred of Christ and his kingdom as ignorance of their nature and design. And it is awful when repeated directions concerning him do but make men the more deceitful and desperately murderous. Adorable is the providence of God, which disappoints the devices of his crafty, powerful, and cruel enemies, and turns them into means or occasions of verifying his predictions and executing his purposes. He takes delight to encourage and direct young converts who are ready humbly to give to Jesus themselves and all that they have. And the more nearly any are connected with Christ, the more divine protection and direction they may expect; and the more readily and cheerfully must God be obeyed. Into what monsters of wickedness has sin transformed some men! And wicked rulers will never want wicked instruments to act by. Children, life, lands, and all other created enjoyments, are certain sorrows, but very uncertain comforts. Let my care be to have God as my portion.