Then
Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.” They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
Matthew 2:7-12
Matthew 2 [6.] ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are in no way least among the princes of Judah:
for out of you shall come a governor,
who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
Matthew 2 [7.] Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.”
Matthew 2 [9.] They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
Matthew 2 [13.] Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
Meaning:
The chief priests and scribes had told Herod that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem, quoting the prophet Micah (Matthew 2:1-6; Micah 5:2). Now Herod acts on that information, and the wise men complete their long journey. These verses set the false worship of a jealous king beside the true worship of foreign visitors.
- “Then Herod secretly called the wise men”
Herod met the wise men in secret and asked exactly when the star had appeared. He wanted to know the child’s age, information he would later use with terrible cruelty (Matthew 2:16). He then sent them on with a pious request: “bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.” His words sounded devout, but his heart was murderous. Herod is the first of many in the Gospels who speak politely to Jesus or about him while plotting against him.
- “the star, which they saw in the east, went before them”
The star the wise men had first seen now led them the short distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and “stood over where the young child was.” However it is explained, Matthew presents it as God’s own guidance. Long before, Balaam had spoken of “a star” coming out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17), and the risen Jesus calls himself “the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). God met these seekers where they were and brought them to his Son. As God promised his people, “You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
- “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy”
Matthew piles up words to describe their delight. Their long search was over. Then “they fell down and worshiped him”. By now the family was living in a house, and Jesus is called a “young child” rather than a newborn baby, suggesting that some time had passed since his birth. The wise men bowed before a child in an ordinary home, in a small town, with no royal court around him. Their worship anticipates the day when “every knee should bow” to Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11).
- “gold, frankincense, and myrrh”
These were costly gifts fit for a king. Isaiah had foreseen nations coming to Israel’s light: “They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh” (Isaiah 60:6). Many Christians have seen meaning in each gift: gold for a king, frankincense for worship offered to God, and myrrh, a spice used in burial, pointing to his death. At the cross Jesus would be offered “wine mixed with myrrh” (Mark 15:23). The gifts may also have helped to provide for the family’s flight into Egypt.
- “they went back to their own country another way”
God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to Herod. Herod’s scheme was quietly defeated. God protects his purposes, and no human plot can overthrow them.
The Significance of Matthew 2:7-12
- Joy in finding Christ
The wise men’s joy came from finding Jesus, not from the journey or the gifts. True joy is found in his presence, as the psalm says: “In your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).
- Worship that gives
The wise men did not come empty-handed. Worship involves giving ourselves and our best to God. Paul urges believers “to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1).
- Sincere and false worship
Herod spoke of worship while planning murder. God sees the heart. Words of devotion mean nothing if they hide resistance to Jesus.
Cross-References:
Numbers 24:17: "A star will come out of Jacob." Balaam’s prophecy of a coming ruler.
Isaiah 60:6: "They will bring gold and frankincense, and will proclaim the praises of Yahweh." The nations bringing gifts.
Jeremiah 29:13: "You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." The promise to those who seek God.
Philippians 2:10-11: The day when every knee will bow to Jesus.
Conclusion: Matthew 2:7-12 contrasts Herod’s hidden hostility with the wise men’s sincere worship. Guided by the star, they found the young child with Mary, rejoiced greatly, bowed down and offered gold, frankincense and myrrh. Warned in a dream, they returned home another way, and Herod’s scheme was defeated. The passage invites every reader to seek Christ with joy and to worship him with their best.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible