This chapter opens with the visit of the wise men from the East. They come to Jerusalem asking, “Where is the King of the Jews that has been born? for we have seen His star in the east, and have come to do Him homage” (Matt. 2:2 JND). How many there were in their company we are not told, but it is likely there were more than the three usually depicted in pictures.
Their coming was all the more remarkable since at this time the Jews were under the sway of the Roman Empire, and they had a foreign king over them, Herod an Edomite. This fact shows that the Lord was displeased with His people, for according to the law an Edomite could not come into the congregation until the third generation, yet here was one who was their king.
Surely God Himself must have moved these eastern men to undertake that long weary journey of perhaps a thousand miles, more or less, for it is likely they traveled on camels over dangerous routes. We do not know how much spiritual intelligence they had. However there is no doubt that the word that God had put into the mouth of that wicked prophet Baalam long before had spread abroad in Gentile lands: “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. . . . Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion” (Num. 24:17-19). It has been said that many Gentiles in the East had long expected the rise of some great one in the land of Palestine. It may be that the wise men connected this report with the sudden appearance of the star; at any rate they had set out for Jerusalem, the capital of the land of Israel.
Effects of Christ’s Presentation
Herod and all Jerusalem were greatly troubled to have these representatives of an eastern nation come and inquire after One who had been born as their King. And to think that they in the religious center of that nation knew nothing of His birth! In the Gospel of Luke it tells us that an announcement of this wonderful event had been given by the angels to some poor shepherds watching over their flocks by night in the country near Bethlehem. But the angels had passed Jerusalem by. Their message to the shepherds was announced as “good tidings of great joy,” and the shepherds had received it with joy. Although different effects are produced in souls when Christ is presented. The shepherds praised God, and later the wise men rejoiced, but Herod “was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” It seems they did not share the desire of the shepherds to go and see. Still the high priests and scribes had the intelligence of the Scriptures. They could tell Herod that Bethlehem of Judea was the place where Messiah was to be born, according to the prophet Micah, chapter 5:2. This shows that it is possible to have a certain knowledge of the Scriptures and yet have no love for Him of whom they testify. These men from the East had only a little light, but they acted on what they had, and they got the blessing. That’s the way faith will always act.
Bethlehem means “The house of bread,” and Ephratah means “fruitful.” Many precious memories were connected with Bethlehem-Ephratah. Rachel died there; Ruth first met Boaz there; David was born there, and best of all, Jesus was born there. Those who seek Him find in Him the place of all blessing and fruitfulness.
Further Meditation
1. Why was Herod so disturbed?
2. How does faith respond to hearing about the Messiah?
3. For more on Baalam and his prophecy you might find Jonah and His Experiences and Balaam: His Words and Ways by W. W. Fereday to be quite helpful.