Rachel weeping for her children

This is the account of the Wise Men who came to pay tribute to the Jesus the child and the attempt of Herod to do evil. The wise men came from the East, could be astrologers or descendants of Israel in captivity. They know the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Herod was troubled by this, but it also seemed that the whole Jerusalem also had something to worry from this. It is not clear why they were troubled if the prophecy of the coming Messiah was fulfilled, but if they realised their guilt they should be repenting and rejoicing. But instead Herod was secretly plotting to find out where Messiah was by using the wise men. It also shows the arrogance and pride in men in thinking they can change the plans of Almighty God.

Prophecy fulfilled: Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, .... Yet out of you shall come forth to Me"

The wise men eventually found the child Jesus and worshipped Him. They were warned in a dream not to return to tell Herod, and they obeyed the message in their dream. Another angel then appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take his family to Egypt. Although Joseph biologically did not contribute to Jesus, God still regarded him as the rightful guardian of the child Jesus and gave him instructions. The angel also explained to Joseph the intention of Herod to destroy the children. Jesus would later return to Israel from Egypt.

Prophecy fulfilled: Hosea 11:1 "And out of Egypt I called My son".

While Herod was with the wise men, He asked about the timing of the star to work out the age of the child Messiah. When Herod realised the wise men did not return to him to tell him the location of the child Messiah, Herod estimated the child would be not older than 2 years old, hence he ordered that children under two to be destroyed.

Prophecy fulfilled: Jeremiah 31:15 - "Rachel weeping for her children"

Some time later when Herod was dead, an angel told Joseph that the danger for them is past and so Joseph returned with his family to Israel. But Joseph was concerned about the new successor of Herod, so instead of returning to Bethlehem, he moved his family to Nazareth in the Galilee region.

Prophecy fulfilled: "He shall be called a Nazarene"



Matthew 2
Wise Men from the East

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”[a]
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 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.”

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

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

The Flight into Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”[b]

Massacre of the Innocents

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”[c]
The Home in Nazareth

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 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.”