Matthew 2

Comments	Matthew's writings of the Gospel of the kingdom were inspired. But what do they really tell us in the context of the times.


Herod's title had been approved by the Roman Senate in 40 B.C.. Herod's death may have taken place 4 or 5 BC. Herod Antipas was be be tetrarch of Galilee and Peræa; and Philip, mentioned Luke 3 was the tetrarch of Trachonitis and the neighboring countries. There had been no one to sit on the throne since Herod's death for he had murdered his own son. Herod Agrippa we see in Acts 12 never took the throne.
The physical capital Jerusalem had no King but Jesus for a thousand years until the year 1099, when it was taken by the Crusaders under Godfrey de Bouillon. But being the "king of the citizens of Judea" did not require a physical polis^[1] nor dead stone Temples.
Magi appears in Jeremiah 39:3-13, in the name Rab-Mag, “The chief of the Magi.” Herodotus speaks of them as a priestly caste of the Medes. Based ion the gifts they may be from Saba and Arabia.
The social welfare of the people registered with Herod's system of Corban maintained by his central temples was tied to the stability of his reign and in V3 we see Jerusalem in the feminine (here only, πᾶσα Ἰεροσόλυμα) and possibly in Matthew 3:5.
[11] And when they were come into the house^[2]

Questions

The Visit of the Wise Men

[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,

[2] Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

[3] When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

[4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

[5] And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

[6] And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

[7] Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

[8] And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

[9] When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

[11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

[12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

The Flight to Egypt

[13] And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

[14] When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

[15] And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Herod Kills the Children

[16] Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

[17] Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

[18] In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

The Return to Nazareth

[19] But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

[20] Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

[21] And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

[22] But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

[23] And he came and dwelt in a city^[1] called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as polemos 4171 meaning war, or perhaps from polus 4183 meaning many, much, large; n f AV-city 164; 164
1) a city
1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives

1b) the heavenly Jerusalem
1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven

1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire

1c) the inhabitants of a city
↑ 3614 ~οἰκία~ oikia \@oy-kee’-ah\@ from 3624; n f AV-house 92, at home 1, household 1, from the house 1; 95
1) a house
1a) an inhabited edifice, a dwelling

[polis-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 4172 ~πόλις~ polis \@pol’-is\@ probably from the same as polemos 4171 meaning war, or perhaps from polus 4183 meaning many, much, large; n f AV-city 164; 164
1) a city
1a) one’s native city, the city in which one lives

1b) the heavenly Jerusalem
1b1) the abode of the blessed in heaven

1b2) of the visible capital in the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world by fire

1c) the inhabitants of a city

[oikia-2] 3614 ~οἰκία~ oikia \@oy-kee’-ah\@ from 3624; n f AV-house 92, at home 1, household 1, from the house 1; 95
1) a house
1a) an inhabited edifice, a dwelling

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Matthew 2

Contents

The Visit of the Wise Men

The Flight to Egypt

Herod Kills the Children

The Return to Nazareth

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Matthew 2

The Visit of the Wise Men

The Flight to Egypt

Herod Kills the Children

The Return to Nazareth

Navigation menu

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