Mateo 2

Visita de los sabios

1 Después de que Jesús nació en Belén de Judea en tiempos del rey Herodes, llegaron a Jerusalén unos sabios^[a] procedentes del Oriente.

2 —¿Dónde está el que ha nacido rey de los judíos? —preguntaron—. Vimos levantarse^[b] su estrella y hemos venido a adorarlo.

3 Cuando lo oyó el rey Herodes, se turbó, y toda Jerusalén con él.

4 Así que convocó de entre el pueblo a todos los jefes de los sacerdotes y maestros de la ley, y les preguntó dónde había de nacer el Cristo.

5 —En Belén de Judea —le respondieron—, porque esto es lo que ha escrito el profeta:

6 »“Pero tú, Belén, en la tierra de Judá,de ninguna manera eres la menor entre los principales de Judá;porque de ti saldrá un príncipeque será el pastor de mi pueblo Israel”.^[c]

7 Luego Herodes llamó en secreto a los sabios y se enteró por ellos del tiempo exacto en que había aparecido la estrella.

8 Los envió a Belén y les dijo:—Vayan e infórmense bien de ese niño y, tan pronto como lo encuentren, avísenme para que yo también vaya y lo adore.

9 Después de oír al rey, siguieron su camino, y sucedió que la estrella que habían visto levantarse iba delante de ellos hasta que se detuvo sobre el lugar donde estaba el niño.

10 Al ver la estrella, se llenaron de alegría.

11 Cuando llegaron a la casa, vieron al niño con María, su madre; y postrándose lo adoraron. Abrieron sus cofres y le presentaron como regalos oro, incienso y mirra.

12 Entonces, advertidos en sueños de que no volvieran a Herodes, regresaron a su tierra por otro camino.

La huida a Egipto

13 Cuando ya se habían ido, un ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y huye a Egipto. Quédate allí hasta que yo te avise, porque Herodes va a buscar al niño para matarlo».

14 Así que se levantó cuando todavía era de noche, tomó al niño y a su madre, y partió para Egipto,

15 donde permaneció hasta la muerte de Herodes. De este modo se cumplió lo que el Señor había dicho por medio del profeta: «De Egipto llamé a mi hijo».^[d]

16 Cuando Herodes se dio cuenta de que los sabios se habían burlado de él, se enfureció y mandó matar a todos los niños menores de dos años en Belén y en sus alrededores, de acuerdo con el tiempo que había averiguado de los sabios.

17 Entonces se cumplió lo dicho por el profeta Jeremías:

18 «Se oye un grito en Ramá,llanto y gran lamentación;es Raquel, que llora por sus hijosy no quiere ser consolada;¡sus hijos ya no existen!»^[e]

El regreso a Nazaret

19 Después de que murió Herodes, un ángel del Señor se le apareció en sueños a José en Egipto

20 y le dijo: «Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y vete a la tierra de Israel, que ya murieron los que amenazaban con quitarle la vida al niño».

21 Así que se levantó José, tomó al niño y a su madre, y regresó a la tierra de Israel.

22 Pero al oír que Arquelao reinaba en Judea en lugar de su padre Herodes, tuvo miedo de ir allá. Advertido por Dios en sueños, se retiró al distrito de Galilea,

23 y fue a vivir en un pueblo llamado Nazaret. Con esto se cumplió lo dicho por los profetas: «Lo llamarán nazareno».

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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.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)