MPV Commentary

The Wise Men Reach Jerusalem—The Sanhedrim Pronounces Bethlehem to Be Messiah’s Birthplace (Mt 2:1-6).

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, a city about six miles southwest of Jerusalem. However, Joseph and Mary did not move there on their own accord or to fulfill the prophecy regarding Messiah's birthplace. They stayed at Nazareth until it was almost too late for Mary to travel with safety, and they were forced to go to Bethlehem by an order that left them no choice.

In the days of King Herod the Great, son of Antipater, a Roman-appointed king from Edom, "the scepter departing from Judah" (Ge 49:10) was a sign that Messiah was now at hand. Herod died in the year of Rome 750, four years before the start of our Christian era, which means Jesus' birth must be dated four years before the commonly assigned date.

There came wise men, likely learned astrologers from the East, who may have known Balaam's prophecy (Nu 24:17) and Daniel's (Da 9:24, etc.). They traveled to Jerusalem, the Jewish metropolis, seeking the newborn King of the Jews.

Saying, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" they seemed not to be Jews themselves. The Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus attest to an expectation in the East that a sovereign from Judea would arise.

For we have seen his star in the east, which may have been a luminous meteor appearing under special laws for a specific purpose. They came to worship him, not with civil but religious homage, as evident from their actions throughout the narrative.

When Herod heard about these wise men, he was troubled, viewing this as a threat to his throne and possibly also due to his guilty conscience. All Jerusalem was with him in fear of revolutionary commotions and perhaps Herod's rage.

Herod gathered all the chief priests and scribes together, convening the Sanhedrim, the supreme council of the nation. He demanded from them where Christ should be born according to prophecy.

They replied, "In Bethlehem of Judea," citing Micah 5:2. This was a prompt and involuntary testimony from the highest tribunal, which would later condemn Jesus to death.

And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, &c. This prophecy referred to Messiah's birth in Bethlehem, which would compensate for its natural insignificance by producing a ruler over Israel.

The Wise Men Are Sent to Bethlehem (Mt 2:7-12).

Herod privately called the wise men and inquired about the time the star appeared, seeking to determine Jesus' age. He then sent them to Bethlehem with instructions to search diligently for the young child and bring him word so he could come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed, but where were the Jewish ecclesiastics who could tell Herod where Christ should be born? God overruled their errors and crimes, ensuring that the news did not reach Herod before Jesus was placed beyond his reach.

The star went before them and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. They entered a house in Bethlehem, where they found the young child with Mary his mother. They fell down and worshipped him, offering gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These gifts were likely presented as a religious offering to God, not just to Jesus as a king. The richness of their gifts shows their devotion, and the gold would be highly serviceable for Jesus' parents in their unexpected journey to Egypt.

Being warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way. This divine warning saved them from Herod's wrath, and they were able to carry the glad news of what they had seen back home.