“Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”

2:7

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

Herod “secretly” consulted with the wise men. He put together a surreptitious plan to kill Jesus. This is duplicity at its core.

Herod’s desire to know the “time the star appeared” had to do with discovering how old Jesus was.

2:8

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

The words “young Child” refer to small children up to a couple of years old.

Herod lied to the wise men under the pretext that he wanted to “worship Him also.”

2:9

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

The wise men came from the Mesopotamian Valley. This was a protracted trip.

2:10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

The reaction to the discovery of the star was joy; “with exceedingly great joy.” This was a special star for the purpose of special revelation. Their response may indicate that they truly believed.

2:11

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Note that Joseph and Mary were living in a “house,” not a stable.

The wise men worshiped with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. “Gold” is a special gift for a king. “Frankincense” (pure incense) is a gift for a priest (a perfume). “Myrrh” is a gift for one who is to die; it was used for the burial of kings. Jesus was the unique person of the universe. He was God but He was also man. He was not half God and half man. He was both truly God and perfect humanity. As man, He would die for the sins of the world.

2:12

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

God warned the “wise men” not to return to Herod. God overrules the plans of men.

PRINCIPLE:

Some seek to understand the Bible for their own ends rather than to understand the true purpose.

APPLICATION:

It is important in Bible study to study the passage first for what it says and second for how it engages with our souls. The Lord rebuked the Laodicean church for its indifference.

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Re 3:14-19