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Scripture Texts: Matthew 2:1 After Yeshua was born in Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah during the time when Herod was king, Magi from the east came to Yerushalayim 2 and asked, “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard of this he became very agitated, and so did everyone else in Yerushalayim. 4 He called together all the head cohanim and Torah-teachers of the people and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?” 5 “In Beit-Lechem of Y’hudah,” they replied, “because the prophet wrote,
6 ‘And you, Beit-Lechem in the land of Y’hudah,
are by no means the least among the rulers of Y’hudah;
for from you will come a Ruler
who will shepherd my people Isra’el.’”[Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:1(2)]
7 Herod summoned the Magi to meet with him privately and asked them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Beit-Lechem with these instructions: “Search carefully for the child; and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had listened to the king, they went away; and the star which they had seen in the east went in front of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 Upon entering the house, they saw the child with his mother Miryam; and they prostrated themselves and worshipped him. Then they opened their bags and presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 But they had been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their own country.
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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for: Matthew 2:1-12
(Read all of Matthew 2)
Verse 2
[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.
To do him homage — To pay him that honour, by bowing to the earth before him, which the eastern nations used to pay to their monarchs.
Verse 4
[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.
The chief priests — That is, not only the high priest and his deputy, with those who formerly had borne that office: but also the chief man in each of those twenty-four courses, into which the body of priests were divided, 1 Chronicles 24:6-19. The scribes were those whose peculiar business it was to explain the Scriptures to the people. They were the public preachers, or expounders of the law of Moses. Whence the chief of them were called doctors of the law.
Verse 6
[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.
Thou art in nowise the least among the princes of Judah — That is, among the cities belonging to the princes or heads of thousands in Judah. When this and several other quotations from the Old Testament are compared with the original, it plainly appears, the apostles did not always think it necessary exactly to transcribe the passages they cited, but contented themselves with giving the general sense, though with some diversity of language. The words of Micah, which we render, Though thou be little, may be rendered, Art thou little? And then the difference which seems to be here between the prophet and the evangelist vanishes away. Micah 5:2.
Verse 8
[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.
And if ye find him, bring me word - Probably Herod did not believe he was born; otherwise would not so suspicious a prince have tried to make sure work at once?
Verse 10
[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Seeing the star — Standing over where the child was.
Verse 11
[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.
They presented to him gifts — It was customary to offer some present to any eminent person whom they visited. And so it is, as travellers observe, in the eastern countries to this day.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh — Probably these were the best things their country afforded; and the presents ordinarily made to great persons. This was a most seasonable, providential assistance for a long and expensive journey into Egypt, a country where they were entirely strangers, and were to stay for a considerable time.
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The Daily Devotionals:
Monday, December 26, 2916
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Do you know someone who is expecting to give birth or receive a newborn into their home?
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Do you know a family with small children who feel persecuted or threatened in some way?
- Can you find a family like this in the news?
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- If Bethlehem was an unexpected place for the blessing of the Messiah to come from, where might we look for a blessing to come from in our day?
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Herod the King is portrayed as devious and deceptive, hiding his true motive for wanting to find the Christ child.
- Do you think the powerful are more or less honest in our day?
- Why do you think that?
Friday, December 30, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- Do you know how to find the North Star in the night sky?
- When was the last time you looked for it?
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- If you were royalty and possessed great wealth, what would you bring to the baby Jesus?
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Text to read: Matthew 2:1-12
- How are you planning to “change your itinerary” in 2017?
First United Methodist Church
2111 Camino Del Rio South
San Diego, California 92108, United States
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