Matthew 2:1-12

Rachel Workman: 2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men^[a] from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ² “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose,^[b] and we have come to worship him.” ³ King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. ⁴ He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
⁶ ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
    are not least among the ruling cities^[c] of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
    who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’^[d]”
⁷ Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. ⁸ Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” It's funny really the things we say without really meaning them. God knew Herod wasn't interested in worship just like he knows some of the things we say we don't really feel or intend or mean. It's kinda like telling someone what the biblical thing to do it and then doing the opposite.
⁹ After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! ¹¹ They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In verse 10 it says when they saw the star they were filled with joy. I can only imagine the joy they felt.

¹² When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

____________________________________________________________________________________

John Burnett:  2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, ^[a]magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ² “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the ^[b]Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written ^[c]by the prophet: 

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them ^[d]the exact time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” ⁹ After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹ After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they ^[e]fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

God used a star to announce the birth of His son to the maji.  Here is another prophecy written hundreds of years before it occurred that goes to show God’s providence and power.  He controls everything according to His purposes.  These maji traveled long distance from their country to worship Jesus and fell to the ground to worship.  I drive 50 minutes to go and worship and sit in comfortable chairs but I don’t always (should probably say very seldom) come to worship with the attitude these men demonstrated.  They knew He was worthy and so do I.

____________________________________________________________________________________

Pat Bell: God knew Herod’s thoughts and told the wise men not to return. God knows our thoughts. Nothing is secret from him. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Allen Michaels:  2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” These Magi (wise men) from faraway lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah when most of God’s chosen people in Israel did not. Matthew pictures Jesus as King over the whole world, not just Judea.

The Magi traveled thousands of miles to see the king of the Jews. When they finally found him they responded with joy, worship, and gifts. This is so different from the approach people often take today. We expect God to come looking for us, to explain himself, prove who he is, and give us gifts. But those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for what they can get, but for who he is.

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah 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 shepherd my people Israel.’(Micah 5:2,4)”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Herod’s plan was to kill Jesus. Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great military and political deliverer, like Alexander the Great. Herod knew this and took no chances by ordering all baby boys in Bethlehem killed.

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Unlike the stories and music we’ve heard over the years, Jesus was probably one or two years old when the Magi found him. And. There are no animals mentioned either. The Magi gave these expensive gifts because they were worthy presents for a future king. They brought gifts and worshiped Jesus for who he was. This is the essence of true worship – honoring Christ for who he is and being willing to give him what is valuable to us. Worship God because he is the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the best we have to give. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. After finding Jesus and worshiping him, the Magi were warned by God not to return through Jerusalem as they had intended. Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God’s Word. We have to ask ourselves if we are willing to be led a different way?