Mateo 2

1 Visitantes del oriente
Jesús nació en Belén de Judea durante el reinado de Herodes. Por ese tiempo, algunos sabios
de países del oriente llegaron a Jerusalén y preguntaron:

2 «¿Dónde está el rey de los judíos que acaba de nacer? Vimos su estrella mientras salía
y hemos venido a adorarlo».

3 Cuando el rey Herodes oyó eso, se perturbó profundamente igual que todos en Jerusalén.

4 Mandó llamar a los principales sacerdotes y maestros de la ley religiosa y les preguntó:
—¿Dónde se supone que nacerá el Mesías?

5 —En Belén de Judea —le dijeron— porque eso es lo que escribió el profeta:

6 “Y tú, Belén, en la tierra de Judá,
no eres la menor entre las ciudades reinantes
de Judá,
porque de ti saldrá un gobernante
que será el pastor de mi pueblo Israel”
.

7 Luego Herodes convocó a los sabios a una reunión privada y, por medio de ellos, se enteró del momento en el que había aparecido la estrella por primera vez.

8 Entonces les dijo: «Vayan a Belén y busquen al niño con esmero. Cuando lo encuentren, vuelvan y díganme dónde está para que yo también vaya y lo adore».

9 Después de esa reunión, los sabios siguieron su camino, y la estrella que habían visto en el oriente los guió hasta Belén. Iba delante de ellos y se detuvo sobre el lugar donde estaba el niño.

10 Cuando vieron la estrella, ¡se llenaron de alegría!

11 Entraron en la casa y vieron al niño con su madre, María, y se inclinaron y lo adoraron. Luego abrieron sus cofres de tesoro y le dieron regalos de oro, incienso y mirra.

12 Cuando llegó el momento de irse, volvieron a su tierra por otro camino, ya que Dios les advirtió en un sueño que no regresaran a Herodes.

13 Huida a Egipto
Después de que los sabios se fueron, un ángel del Señor se le apareció a José en un sueño. «¡Levántate! Huye a Egipto con el niño y su madre —dijo el ángel—. Quédate allí hasta que yo te diga que regreses, porque Herodes buscará al niño para matarlo».

14 Esa noche José salió para Egipto con el niño y con María, su madre,

15 y se quedaron allí hasta la muerte de Herodes. Así se cumplió lo que el Señor había dicho por medio del profeta: «De Egipto llamé a mi Hijo»
.

16 Cuando Herodes se dio cuenta de que los sabios se habían burlado de él, se puso furioso. Entonces, basado en lo que dijeron los sabios sobre la primera aparición de la estrella, Herodes envió soldados para matar a todos los niños que vivieran en Belén y en sus alrededores y que tuvieran dos años o menos.

17 Esta acción brutal cumplió lo que Dios había anunciado por medio del profeta Jeremías:

18 «En Ramá se oyó una voz,
llanto y gran lamento.
Raquel llora por sus hijos,
se niega a que la consuelen,
porque están muertos»
.

19 Regreso a Nazaret
Cuando Herodes murió, un ángel del Señor se le apareció en un sueño a José en Egipto.

20 «¡Levántate! —dijo el ángel—. Lleva al niño y a su madre de regreso a la tierra de Israel, porque ya murieron los que trataban de matar al niño».

21 Entonces José se levantó y regresó a la tierra de Israel con Jesús y su madre;

22 pero cuando se enteró de que el nuevo gobernante de Judea era Arquelao, hijo de Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allí. Entonces, luego de ser advertido en un sueño, se fue a la región de Galilea.

23 Después la familia fue a vivir a una ciudad llamada Nazaret y así se cumplió lo que los profetas habían dicho: «Lo llamarán 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.