Matthew 2:9 ¶ When they had
heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw 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 exceeding great joy. 11 And when
they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
This star is moving. This is not the astronomical event we think
of today when we hear the word, a star. Here is that special thing, not too
unlike what we already know, but specially prepared by God for a unique
purpose. So, stop looking for this star in the heavens today. You’ll be
frustrated or repeat something that simply isn’t in keeping with the text and
you will be ridiculed as will faith in Christ.
By the time the magicians have arrived, the wise men find a young
child, not an infant. Judging by what Herod does next Jesus could have been two
or under, anywhere in that range. These heathen magicians worship Christ, the
subject of prophecy of which they were aware.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh represent, according to the ancient
Christian commentator, Origen, in his Contra Celsum, stand for different
things about Christ. Christ’s future kingship for gold.
2Samuel 12:30 And he took
their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold
with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth
the spoil of the city in great abundance.
Again, according to Origen, frankincense was representative, as
incense, of Christ’s divinity. As an example of its use;
Leviticus 2:1 And when any
will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour;
and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
Again according to Origen, the myrrh, as an embalming oil
signified Christ’s death.
John 19:39 And there came
also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound
it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Matthew 2:13 ¶ And when
they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a
dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee 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 into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of
Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
It is interesting how Egypt became not only a place of nurture and
safety for the ancient Hebrews but will also be a place now, under Roman
authority, for safety for the Messiah as a child.
Remember in the last chapter that the angel of the Lord appeared
to and spoke to Joseph.
Matthew 1:20 But while he
thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Verse 15 is a reference to Old Testament passages that refer to
Israel as a people. So, the initial context of those verses was Israel and the
prophetic context looked forward to the Messiah.
Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt
say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Hosea 11:1 ¶ When Israel
was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
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