Matthew 2:1-23

Introduction

In Charles Dicken’s A Tale of Two Cities, irony is used all throughout in different forms. One of the easiest ironies for Dickens to use was the irony that was lived out in history: the French revolutionaries fought for justice and used brutality to achieve that end. Irony is when we would expect one thing, but instead get a different and often opposite result. In fact, irony still occurs today in real life. For example, when one turns on the summer Olympics hosted by Paris, you might expect elegance and civility for the opening ceremony, but instead you’re met with a blue smurf-like man and a mockery of the Lord’s Supper.

Irony is an important tool for the biblical authors as well, and it’s important to pick up on it when we can. We might have expectations about how pagan magicians should act. We also might have expectations about how the king of Israel should act. We also have expectations of the Messiah. What we’re going to find as the narrative unfolds is that as long as our expectations are informed by the Bible, only the Messiah will meet our expectations.

The Wise Men’s Visit

The story begins, like any good story, with the setting, and Matthew mentions specific things here that are important. Matthew tells us the when and the where. Look at verse 1 of chapter 2

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judah in the days of Herod the king. . .”

These events take place after Jesus was born. And you have to sort of take your nativity sets and Christmas plays out for this one. Most scholars agree that it took the magicians years to travel to Bethlehem. So, Jesus could be 1-2 years old at this point. In other words, this is probably at least a year after the angels sang and the shepherds came. Next, Matthew gives the location: Bethlehem of Judah. He specified which Bethlehem (the one in Judah) because it fulfills prophecy. 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.”

Finally Matthew tells us this is in the days of Herod the King. Most date Herod’s death to be around 4BC, this could make Christ’s birth as early as 6BC. Mentioning Herod of course is also foreshadowing of what’s to come. Herod had Edomite blood, meaning he was partly a descendent of Esau and most Israelite resented him for that fact. He started getting more paranoid and cynical closer to his death. One Roman official made a play on words saying it would be better to be Herod’s ὑς than his υἱος. But he did a lot to beautify the temple and build up Jerusalem.

Then, some main characters enter the scene, “behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.”

The Greek word used for these wise men is μαγοι which is magician. These were most likely Parthian astrologers. Under past empires, such as the Babylonian empire, the magoi were religious priests who served as advisors to the king known for their ability to understand the mysteries of the universe such as interpreting dreams, stars, and other divination (why magoi is translated as wise men). The Scripture forbids such practices. It’s interesting because the Scripture never denies the practices ability to work or actually gain some supernatural knowledge or power. But it seems clear that any such knowledge or power is demonic which is why it is forbidden.

So, the bar would not be set very high as for the expectation of these pagan astrologers. Maybe we would expect them to try to come assassinate the Messiah, or do something else to stop God’s plans. But the story takes an ironic turn.Matthew 2:2–6 ESV

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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

Here the plot begins to rise. The wise men go around the biggest city in the area inquiring about the birth of a great king. To them his birth seemed so obvious they thought everyone would know and be excited about it. Here we learned what summoned them. They say, “we saw his star when it arose.” Now, there’s a lot of different ideas out there about what this could exactly be and how it could be tied to the Jewish people. I’m of the persuasion that this was a supernatural phenomenon. not a convergence of stars or a planet nor a comet. Whatever it was, they divined it had to do with the king of the Jews, perhaps noting another pagan prophet’s prophecy, 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.”

The wise men come out to worship this king. This word can also be used to pay homage, but certainly Matthew chooses it to show these wise men were doing more than they really knew they should be doing.

Verses 2 and 3 introduce for us our two major kings in the narrative: King Jesus who was recently born and King Herod who is about to die.

But notice also the big difference in the response to the news of the birth of the king. The pagan magicians want to worship him. But the people of God and their king are troubled. Notice that phrase at the end of v. 3 “and all of Jerusalem with him.” This isn’t just a story about a rebellious king, but a rebellious people. So king Herod summons his wise men to find out where this king is supposed to be born. Remember, Herod at this point is at peak paranoia. He ascertains that this king would be born in Bethlehem.

Now, its easy because of familiarity with the story not to get enraptured in these details. This is the king of the people of God. The king of the people of God asks the wisest of the people of God to go to the Word of God to discover where the promised ruler of the people of God is going to be born.

One would expect the people of God and their king would welcomed the ruler who was promised by God, seek him out and celebrate. But again, irony takes another twist that will later unfold.

Herod brings in the wise men to find out when they first saw the star (v.7). Then he sends the wise men to do his bidding under the guise that he too wants to worship this king—you know, the very thing he should do (v.8).

Again, miraculously, this star leads the wise men directly to Jesus (v. 9), showing the stark contrast between these pagan astrologers who should be blind but see clearly and king Herod who should see just fine but is blind to this star’s light. These wise men are practically giddy, look at Matthew 2:10 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” This is the exact opposite of Jerusalem who was “troubled.”

They worship him and give gifts fulfilling Scripture of foreign kings coming to worship the Messiah (Psalm 72, Isaiah 60:6) Matthew concludes this portion of the story with Matthew 2:12 “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”

King Herod’s Wrath

In v. 13, Joseph is warned to flee to Egypt. Here we see more irony that a pagan land is safer for the Messiah than the promised land. This also fulfills prophecy according to Matthew. This prophesy is what we call typology which we will talk about tonight, so please come to hear that.

In v. 16, Herod unloads his full wrath. Matt. 2:16-18Matthew 2:16–18 ESV

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew is painting the story in such a way to make a clear connection to Pharoah in the Old Testament who through all the Hebrew baby boys in the Nile River. But the dark turn is that this is not a foreign pagan king, this is the king of the people of God.

Three pagan wise men come and honor the true Messiah and the king of God’s people in rage kills all the baby boys in an attempt to kill God’s messiah. The point is clear. The people of God do not need the Messiah to rescue them from Roman oppression, they need to be rescued from sin. We all need to be rescued from sin.

The quote Matthew gives is from Jeremiah 31:15. In the original cont...