An Expected Journey
Matthew 2:1-12
The ancient legend of a star that is said to have appeared in the sky at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ has been speculated about for many centuries. According to the Gospel of Matthew, it supposedly led three men to Christ, so was it supernatural? Of course it wasn’t. There’s no such thing.
Carter, J., 2022. Will You See The New Christmas Star? The Truth Behind 2022's Star Of Bethlehem.
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After all, how many practising Christians believe that the nativity is literal history, or that Mary really was impregnated by the Holy Spirit? But how do we take Christmas seriously if we don’t take it literally?
Baggini, J., 2018. The spirit of Christmas doesn’t have to be Christian.
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When we approach the gospels as history and biography, we approach them in the wrong spirit. We must read them, not primarily as historians seeking information, but as men and women seeking God.
Barclay, W., 1953. Daily Study Bible.
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Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation
Church of England, 1571. Thirty-nine Articles of Religion.
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The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.
Begg, A., 2004. The Perfected Kingdom, Part Two.
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It has been said that the best reason for the serious study of the Bible- for learning how to read it well-is written across the history of Western culture: see what happens when people misread it, read it badly, or read it on false assumptions.
Alter, R., 1987. The Literary Guide to the Bible.
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Matthew 2:2
saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." (use)
Psalm 66:5
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. (use)
Matthew 2:3
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; (use)
Jeremiah 23:5
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (use)
Matthew 2:5
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet" (use)
Micah abounds in textual problems...
Hilers, D.R., & Hanson, P.D., 1984. Micah: A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Micah.
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Micah 5:2
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (use)
Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (use)
Hebrews 1:1
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, (use)
Who are these magi? Given that they do not appear again in the narrative, the reader is left to summarise that their narrative function is one of context setting. That they have come to worship creates high expectations for the ensuing narrative. Yet, at the same time Herod, the priests and scribes, and the people do nothing wrong per se, but their actions are peculiar and created a tense atmosphere that is not lost on the reader, especially in the closing line where the magi are warned not to return to Herod.
Piotrowski, N.G., 2016. Matthew's New David at the End of Exile. pg.61
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Genesis 14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) (use)
Genesis 25:6
But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, and while he was still living he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country. (use)
Exodus 18:1
Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. (use)
Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth (use)
1 Kings 4:30
so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. (use)
Daniel 5:11
There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, (use)
Daniel 7:13–14
I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (use)
Daniel 9:25
Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. (use)
Matthew 2:11
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (use)
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (use)
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (use)