Mateo 2

1 Y cuando nació Jesús en Belén de Judea en días del rey Herodes, he aquí unos sabios vinieron del oriente a Jerusalén,

2 diciendo: ¿Dónde está el Rey de los Judíos, que ha nacido? Porque su estrella hemos visto en el oriente, y venimos a adorarle.

3 Y oyendo esto el rey Herodes, se turbó, y toda Jerusalén con él.

4 Y convocados todos los príncipes de los sacerdotes, y los escribas del pueblo, les preguntó dónde había de nacer el Cristo.

5 Y ellos le dijeron: En Belén de Judea; porque así está escrito por el profeta:

6 Y tú, Belén, de tierra de Judá, no eres muy pequeña entre los príncipes de Judá; porque de ti saldrá un Guiador, que apacentará a mi pueblo Israel.

7 Entonces Herodes, llamando en secreto a los sabios, entendió de ellos diligentemente el tiempo de la aparición de la estrella;

8 y enviándolos a Belén, dijo: Andad allá, y preguntad con diligencia por el niño; y después que le hallaréis, hacédmelo saber, para que yo también vaya y le adore.

9 Y ellos, habiendo oído al rey, se fueron; y he aquí la estrella que habían visto en el oriente, iba delante de ellos, hasta que llegando, se puso sobre donde estaba el niño.

10 Y viendo la estrella, se regocijaron con muy grande gozo.

11 Y entrando en la casa, vieron al niño con su madre María, y postrándose, le adoraron; y abriendo sus tesoros, le ofrecieron dones: oro, e incienso y mirra.

12 Y siendo avisados por revelación Divino en sueños que no volviesen a Herodes, se volvieron a su tierra por otro camino.

13 Y partidos ellos, he aquí el ángel del Señor aparece en sueños a José, diciendo: Levántate, y toma al niño y a su madre, y huye a Egipto, y permanece allá hasta que yo te lo diga; porque ha de acontecer, que Herodes buscará al niño para matarlo.

14 Y él despertando, tomó al niño y a su madre de noche, y se fue a Egipto;

15 y estuvo allá hasta la muerte de Herodes: para que se cumpliese lo que fue dicho por el Señor, por el profeta que dijo: De Egipto llamé a mi Hijo.

16 Herodes entonces, viéndose burlado de los sabios, se enojó mucho, y envió, y mató a todos los niños que había en Belén y en todos sus términos, de edad de dos años abajo, conforme al tiempo que había entendido de los sabios.

17 Entonces se cumplió lo que fue dicho por el Señor por el profeta Jeremías, que dijo:

18 Voz fue oída en Ramá, lamentación, lloro y gemido grande; Raquel que llora sus hijos, y no quiso ser consolada, porque perecieron.

19 Mas muerto Herodes, he aquí el ángel del Señor aparece en sueños a José en Egipto,

20 diciendo: Levántate, y toma al niño y a su madre, y vete a tierra de Israel; que muertos están los que procuraban la muerte del niño.

21 Entonces él se levantó, y tomó al niño y a su madre, y se vino a tierra de Israel.

22 Y oyendo que Arquelao reinaba en Judea en lugar de Herodes su padre, temió ir allá; mas amonestado por revelación Divino en sueños, se fue a las partes de Galilea.

23 Y vino, y habitó en la ciudad que se llama Nazaret, para que se cumpliese lo que fue dicho por los profetas, que había de ser llamado Nazareno.

Mateo 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The wise men's search after Christ. (1-8) The wise men worship Jesus. (9-12) Jesus carried into Egypt. (13-15) Herod causes the infants of Bethlehem to be massacred. (16-18) Death of Herod, Jesus brought to Nazareth. (19-23)

Verses 1-8 Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein.

Verses 9-12 What joy these wise men felt upon this sight of the star, none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit of bondage, at length receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of God. We may well think what a disappointment it was to them, when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother the only attendant he had. However, these wise men did not think themselves baffled; but having found the King they sought, they presented their gifts to him. The humble inquirer after Christ will not be stumbled at finding him and his disciples in obscure cottages, after having in vain sought them in palaces and populous cities. Is a soul busy, seeking after Christ? Would it worship him, and does it say, Alas! I am a foolish and poor creature, and have nothing to offer? Nothing! Hast thou not a heart, though unworthy of him, dark, hard, and foul? Give it to him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it pleases him; he will take it, and will make it better, and thou shalt never repent having given it to him. He shall frame it to his own likeness, and will give thee himself, and be thine for ever. The gifts the wise men presented were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Providence sent these as a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. Thus our heavenly Father, who knows what his children need, uses some as stewards to supply the wants of others, and can provide for them, even from the ends of the earth.

Verses 13-15 Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. This was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary. But their faith, being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are at any time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was when an infant. ( 16-18 ) Herod killed all the male children, not only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages of that city. Unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often carries men to absurd cruelties. It was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it begins. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin. But the murder of these infants was their martyrdom. How early did persecution against Christ and his kingdom begin! Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand.

Verses 19-23 Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for awhile, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to them he must return. Did we but look upon the world as our Egypt, the place of our bondage and banishment, and heaven only as our Canaan, our home, our rest, we should as readily arise and depart thither, when we are called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt. The family must settle in Galilee. Nazareth was a place held in bad esteem, and Christ was crucified with this accusation, Jesus the Nazarene. Wherever Providence allots the bounds of our habitation, we must expect to share the reproach of Christ; yet we may glory in being called by his name, sure that if we suffer with him, we shall also be glorified with him.