1. Who are the wise men from the East?
NET, "The Greek term magi here describes a class of wise men and priests who were astrologers."
Note, the Bible never said there were 3 of them, but we always have 3 wise men in the Christmas play.
They saw "his star when it rose," v.2, 9 我們在東方看見他的星, referring to the astrological significance of a star in a particular portion of the sky (NET).
They were looking for the "King of the Jews" and they wanted to worship Him v.2.
2. Who are the 民間的文士?
NET translated them as the experts in the laws. They provided the OT clues as the location for Christ, the ruler and the shepherd v.4,6.
Both group of people (wise men and the experts in the laws) point out that Jesus was someone important. His birth was seen in the astrology phenomenon and was predicted many years ago in the OT.
3. Do we see that Jesus was very important to us? Do we long to worship Him like the wise men? They travel and found out where was He and they presented their treasures to Him. Do we use the same effort to worship Him and made offerings to Him?
4. Herod's reaction to the new king was very different. At first, he was alarmed v.3, and then he killed all the children under 2 v.16 because he did not like another king who was coming to take his place. The parents were weeping for their children v.18.
Wasn't it a sad day for the Israel when their little ones who lived near the region were killed? It is because they were governed under another country. Their king was cruel to them and they suffered. Herod was a nightmare to the Israelites. People have all the reasons to be fearful to him.
However, you see how God protected the child king. Joseph was ahead of Herod. He escaped to Egypt at night. "When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged...he kill all the children..." Even though Herod seemed so powerful but he could not killed the new King. God helped and protected His own people and He always out run the enemies.
We do not need to be afraid. Do you have things/people in your life that you are afraid of? Do you think they are so powerful and fearful? God is one Who is in ultimate control.
v.13-23 (2026)
1. Context and content
The infancy of the King was honored by the magi in Bethlehem v.1-12 and was treated with hostility by Herod v.13-23. Even though the change of mood was this drastic, God was not surprise. He was ahead of Herod in every steps and sent His angel to inform Joseph before anything would happen to the child King. At the end of every steps, the OT's prophecy was fulfilled. That means, not only God knew before the move of Herod, He knew way back in time.
2. The focus of all these moving was the child v.13, 14, 19, 21. Joseph was chosen to protect the child under the guidance of God. He had no relationship with the child except he was engaged with His mother. Moving from Bethlehem to Egypt and then back to Nazareth was not a small matter. That means, he truly believed what the angel of the Lord told him in 1:21-25 that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit, He would save His people from their sins and He is the "God with us."
3. Then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled, that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.
(BKC) Since Matthew used the plural prophets, perhaps his idea was not based on a specific prophecy but on the idea that appeared in a number of prophecies concerning Messiah’s despised character. Nazareth was the town which housed the Roman garrison for the northern regions of Galilee. Therefore most Jews would not have any associations with that city. In fact those who lived in Nazareth were thought of as compromisers who consorted with the enemy, the Romans. Therefore to call one “a Nazarene” was to use a term of contempt. So because Joseph and his family settled in Nazareth, the Messiah was later despised and considered contemptible in the eyes of many in Israel
Reflection: The Lord is ahead of us all the time. He knew and He protect. My worries and my limited abilities to protect myself are so ridiculously incomparable. How shall I not trust in Him?
Joseph believed in Jesus and thus he made great effort to protect Him. What have I done with my Lord?
Jesus was not raised in Woodbury, or any "good" reputation district. Therefore, He was despised even in the eyes of His own disciples. Actually, He came from heaven and is the Son of God. He went through this so that He identified with those who were weak and oppressed. How do I see them? Do I despise them?
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