Matthewchapter 2

A.Wise Men Follow the Star to the Childvv. 1-12

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and learned from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.

B.Flight into Egypt by Nightvv. 13-15

13 When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” 14 So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

C.Herod Kills the Children of Bethlehemvv. 16-18

16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: 18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

D.Home at Last to Nazarethvv. 19-23

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.” 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Magi from the east follow the star to Herod's Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem.

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Magi from the east follow the star to Herod's Jerusalem, then to Bethlehem. Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Joseph's flight to Egypt with the child, Herod's slaughter of the innocents at Bethlehem, and the return to Nazareth. Three fulfillment formulas close the chapter (Mic 5:2; Hos 11:1; Jer 31:15).

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Matthew — Matthew overview

A. 1–12 Wise Men Follow the Star to the Child
B. 13–15 Flight into Egypt by Night
C. 16–18 Herod Kills the Children of Bethlehem
D. 19–23 Home at Last to Nazareth

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Matthew 25 verses
- Matthew 2:2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- Matthew 2:13When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.”
- Matthew 2:19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
- Matthew 2:20“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
- Matthew 2:22But when he learned that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee,
- Read Matthew 2 →
Luke 25 verses
- Luke 2:4So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.
- Luke 2:10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
- Luke 2:16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.
- Luke 2:20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.
- Luke 2:39When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
- Read Luke 2 →
John 72 verses
- John 7:42Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
- John 7:52“Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”
- Read John 7 →
Numbers 242 verses
- Numbers 24:8God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
- Numbers 24:17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
- Read Numbers 24 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Exodus 12 verses
- Exodus 1:10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
- Exodus 1:22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
- Read Exodus 1 →
Matthew 12 verses
- Matthew 1:20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 1:24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife.
- Read Matthew 1 →
Exodus 42 verses
- Exodus 4:19Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”
- Exodus 4:22Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
- Read Exodus 4 →
Micah 51 verse
- Micah 5:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.
- Read Micah 5 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.