Gospel of Matthew Chapter Overviews

Gospel of Matthew

Compiled by WD Kemner March 2024

CHAPTER 2: Herod and the child Jesus

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 1-2

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 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.

Chapter begins with Jesus ALREADY born. This chapter occurs at a later point in time than Chapter 1 did.

“Wisemen” – The Greek word is “magoi”. Same as is referenced in the Book of Daniel.

There is no record of how many or what nationality these men were. Traditions have generated the story as having three. This is largely due to the fact that there were three gifts listed. This is an assumption. There may have been more.

These men would also have been traveling with a large contingent. Consisting of servants to do the work as well as guards to secure their treasures.

There would be a large supply of equipment, including all the scrolls they would need to continue their work during their travels. Now add the food and animals needed for all these people and the contingent would be seen for miles.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 3

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Genesis 49:10 - Jacob is blessing his children and during the blessing of son Judah he states that:

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah…until Shiloh come…”

Judah’s descendants would reign as kings over the other descendants ONLY UNTIL Jesus came. When Jesus came there WOULD NOT be a descendent of Judah on the throne. Herod was not a descendent of Judah! Maybe this also SHOULD HAVE been a “SIGN” to the Jews that the Messiah had been born.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 4-5

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

The chief priests and scribes in Israel had access to the very same writings that the Wisemen had been studying. As is true today, man’s own ignorance to read the words God provides.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 6

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

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.

Quoting the following Prophecy from Micah 5:2:

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 7-8

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 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.

These are Wisemen, intellectually superior than most people. Even without the warning from God not to return; it would have been easy to see the obvious contempt of Herod. Would these men have been “dumb” enough to believe a king currently on a throne would want to worship his potential replacement? Herod in his arrogance believes so.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 9-10

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

The star (moved location) went to where the child was. Does not say Bethlehem. Possibly Nazareth? Also calls Jesus “young child”. Not a baby.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 11-12

Parallel Passages: Only in Matthew

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. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

“…when they were come into the house, they saw the young child…” It was a “house” and a “young child”.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 13-15

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod:

The family had been provided for by the gifts from the Wisemen. They flee to Egypt; the land that the Hebrews had fled from. Leaving with gifts of Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold. Plenty to live on in the foreign land. History shows Herod did not live but a couple more years.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 15b

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

…that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

The family stayed in Egypt until death of Herod. Fulfilling prophecy from Hosea 11:1:

“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 16

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Herod kills all males under age 2 throughout the area surrounding Bethlehem. The slaughter encompassed a larger area that just Bethlehem. He had no idea who or where, but he was not going to risk the threat to the throne.

The world has always attempted to state events documented in scripture never happened. One such event is the killing of babies by a king such as Herod.

The following article begins in that manner, as though the author of the article supports that idea. However, the author does an excellent job of documenting the paranoia of Herod which history cannot dispute.

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Associates for Biblical Research (biblearchaeology.org) article is titled “The Slaughter of the Innocents”.

The URL if needed: https://biblearchaeology.org/research/new-testament-era/2411-the-slaughter-of-the-innocents-historical-fact-or-legendary-fiction?highlight=WyJoYXNtb25lYW5zIl0

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Documents created by other authors are referenced to by external hyperlinks. Those items are protected by the copyrights which govern those websites and permission to use materials from those sites must be obtained from those authors.

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Matthew Chapter 2 verses 17-18

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Even the deaths of those babies and children at the hands of Herod had been predicted. Jeremiah 31:15 is quoted.

Ramah was about five miles north of Jerusalem. Bethlehem is to the south of Jerusalem. Indicates Herod’s slaughter extended for at least a five mile radius of Jerusalem. Ten mile diameter, all children under age 2 were killed. He was NOT taking any chances.

“Rachel weeping…” – see the notes in Jeremiah chapter 31 study.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 19

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

“…when Herod was Dead…” an angel appears. It is likely that it would be Gabriel again.

Matthew Chapter 2 verses 20-23

Parallel Passages: Luke 2:39

Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Joseph leaves Egypt to return to Israel when told to do so by the angel of the Lord. It is interesting that verses are dedicated to the concern Joseph had about returning, even though an Angel said it was okay.

It states that he is also warned by God in another dream to turn aside from Judea and go to Galilee. He goes to Nazareth. It is stated by Matthew in such a manner as to make it appear that Nazareth was not the town Joseph left from when he fled to Egypt.

The “Star” and the “Wisemen”

The stars were important to man for thousands of years. Before the age of technology and the printed word, men understood the importance of celestial bodies. When men became focused upon themselves, they lost all concern of what happens in the sky. They lost all knowledge of why the celestial bodies were of importance.

Men were not only using the stars for direction but they also understood and believed that what happened in the sky was dictated by a supreme being. This has all been lost through the centuries. It was said that we were “knowing the times” based upon what had taken place and what currently was happening with the celestial bodies. The scriptures from Genesis to Job to the Psalms to Matthew are full of information that could fill books on the study of astronomy.

See the Word Study on “Constellations” for more insight into Astronomy and the Bible.