The Adoration of the Infant Jesus: Matthew 2:1-12

V. 1-2

The wise men were from the east and were more than likely foreigners, not Jews. People in the non-Jewish population new some about the coming Messiah.

V. 3

It is here that we see Herod begin to become troubled about this Messiah. The reason why he was troubled was because of his paranoid behavior. Herod was an egotistical, power hungry maniac. He would stop at nothing to prevent anything existing that even had the slightest potential of threatening his authority.

V. 4

It is important to note here that the Roman government appointed the chief priests.

V. 6

In this verse, Matthew paraphrases Micah 5:2. The passage of Micah 5:2-5 is a messianic prophecy and is the second found in Matthew.

V. 11

Note that the wise men worshipped Jesus. Only God is worthy to receive worship. Jews were very defensive about this and yet Joseph and Mary, both Jews, did not prevent the wise men from worshipping Jesus. In both Revelation 22:8-9 and Matthew 4:10 it is stated that only God should be worshipped. It is this event that indicates that Jesus is God. Also, here the wise men give gifts to Jesus. It is this event that would later cause people to start the tradition of giving gifts at Christmas time.