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Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
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Matthew Henry |
M A T T H E W.
CHAP. II.
In this chapter, we have the history of our Saviour’s infancy, where we
find how early he began to suffer, and that in him the word of
righteousness was fulfilled, before he himself began to fulfil all
righteousness. Here is,
I. The wise men’s solicitous enquiry after Christ,
II. Their devout attendance on him, when they found out where he was,
III. Christ’s flight into Egypt, to avoid the cruelty of Herod,
IV. The barbarous murder of the infants of Bethlehem,
V. Christ’s return out of Egypt into the land of Israel again,
| The Wise Men Come to Jerusalem. |
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1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of
Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to
Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of
the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be
born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it
is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least
among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor,
that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired
of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him,
bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
It was a mark of humiliation put upon the Lord Jesus that,
though he was the Desire of all nations, yet his coming into the
world was little observed and taken notice of, his birth was obscure
and unregarded: herein he emptied himself, and made himself of no
reputation. If the Son of God must be brought into the world, one might
justly expect that he should be received with all the ceremony
possible, that crowns and sceptres should immediately have been laid at
his feet, and that the high and mighty princes of the world should have
been his humble servants; such a Messiah as this the Jews expected, but
we see none of all this; he came into the world, and the
world knew him not; nay, he came to his own, and his
own received him not; for having undertaken to make satisfaction to
his Father for the wrong done him in his honour by the sin of
man, he did it by denying himself in, and despoiling himself of, the
honours undoubtedly due to an incarnate Deity; yet, as afterward, so in
his birth, some rays of glory darted forth in the midst of the greatest
instances of his abasement. Though there was the hiding of his
power, yet he had horns coming out of his hand
enough to condemn the world, and the Jews especially, for their
stupidity.
The first who took notice of Christ after his birth were the shepherds
&c.), who saw and heard glorious things concerning him, and made
them known abroad, to the amazement of all that heard them,
After that, Simeon and Ann a spoke of him, by the Spirit, to all that
were disposed to heed what they said,
Now, one would think, these hints should have been taken by the men of
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they should with
both arms have embraced the long-looked-for Messiah; but, for aught
that appears, he continued nearly two years after at Bethlehem, and no
further notice was taken of him till these wise men came. Note, Nothing
will awaken those that are resolved to be regardless. Oh the amazing
stupidity of these Jews! And no less that of many who are called
Christians! Observe,
I. When this enquiry was made concerning Christ. It was in the days
of Herod the king. This Herod was an Edomite, made king of Judea by
Augustus and Antonius, the then chief rulers of the Roman state, a man
made up of falsehood and cruelty; yet he was complimented with the
title of Herod the Great. Christ was born in the 35th year of
his reign, and notice is taken of this, to show that the sceptre
had now departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between
his feet; and therefore now was the time for Shiloh to come, and
to him shall the gathering of the people be: witness these wise
men,
II. Who and what these wise men were; they are here called
Magoi—Magicians. Some that it in a good sense; the
Magi among the Persians were their philosophers and their
priests; nor would they admit any one for their king who had not first
been enrolled among the Magi; others think they dealt in
unlawful arts; the word is used of Simon, the sorcerer
and of Elymas, the sorcerer
(Acts xiii. 6),
nor does the scripture use it in any other sense; and then it was an
early instance and presage of Christ’s victory over the devil, when
those who had been so much his devotees became the early adorers even
of the infant Jesus; so soon were trophies of his victory over the
powers of darkness erected. Well, whatever sort of wise men they were
before, now they began to be wise men indeed when they set
themselves to enquire after Christ.
This we are sure of,
1. That they were Gentiles, and not belonging to the commonwealth of
Israel. The Jews regarded not Christ, but these Gentiles enquired him
out. Note, Many times those who are nearest to the means, are furthest
from the end. See
The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a happy presage and
specimen of what would follow when those who were afar off
should be made nigh by Christ.
2. That they were scholars. They dealt in arts, curious arts;
good scholars should be good Christians, and then they complete
their learning when they learn Christ.
3. That they were men of the east, who were noted for their
soothsaying,
Isa. ii. 6.
Arabia is called the land of the east
(Gen. xxv. 6),
and the Arabians are called men of the east,
Judg. vi. 3.
The presents they brought were the products of that country; the
Arabians had done homage to David and Solomon as types of Christ.
Jethro and Job were of that country. More than this we have not to say
of them. The traditions of the Romish church are frivolous, that they
were in number three (though one of the ancients says that they were
fourteen), that they were kings, and that they lie buried in Colen,
thence called the three kings of Colen; we covet not to be wise
above what is written.
III. What induced them to make this enquiry. They, in their country,
which was in the east, had seen an extraordinary star,
such as they had not seen before; which they took to be an indication
of an extraordinary person born in the land of Judea, over which
land this star was seen to hover, in the nature of a comet, or a meteor
rather, in the lowers regions of the air; this differed so much from
any thing that was common that they concluded it to signify something
uncommon. Note, Extraordinary appearances of God in the creatures
should put us upon enquiring after his mind and will therein; Christ
foretold signs in the heavens. The birth of Christ was notified
to the Jewish shepherds by an angel, to the Gentile philosophers
by a star: to both God spoke in their own language, and in the
way they were best acquainted with. Some think that the light which the
shepherds saw shining round about them, the night after Christ was
born, was the very same which to the wise men, who lived at such a
distance, appeared as a star; but this we cannot easily admit, because
the same star which they had seen in the east they saw a great
while after, leading them to the house where Christ lay; it was a
candle set up on purpose to guide them to Christ. The idolaters
worshipped the stars as the host of heaven, especially the
eastern nations, whence the planets have the names of their
idol-gods; we read of a particular star they had in veneration,
Thus the stars that had been misused came to be put to the right use,
to lead men to Christ; the gods of the heathen became his servants.
Some think this star put them in mind of Balaam’s prophecy, that a star
should come out of Jacob, pointing at a sceptre, that shall
rise out of Israel; see
Balaam came from the mountains of the east, and was one of their
wise men. Others impute their enquiry to the general expectation
entertained at that time, in those eastern parts, of some great
prince to appear. Tacitus, in his history (lib. 5), takes notice
of it; Pluribus persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis
contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret oriens, profectique
Judæa rerum potirentur–A persuasion existed in the minds of many
that some ancient writings of the priests contained a prediction that
about that time an eastern power would prevail, and that persons
proceeding from Judea would obtain dominion. Suetonius also, in the
life of Vespasian, speaks of it; so that this extraordinary
phenomenon was construed as pointing to that king; and we may
suppose a divine impression made upon their minds, enabling them to
interpret this star as a signal given by Heaven of the birth of
Christ.
IV. How they prosecuted this enquiry. They came from the east to
Jerusalem, in further quest of this prince. Wither shall they come to
enquire for the king of the Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-city,
whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord? They might
have said, “If such a prince be born, we shall hear of him shortly in
our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to
him.” But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that
they took a long journey on purpose to enquire after him. Note, Those
who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or
perils in seeking after him. Then shall we know, if we follow on to
know the Lord.
Their question is, Where is he that is born king of the Jews?
They do not ask, whether there were such a one born? (they are
sure of that, and speak of it with assurance, so strongly was it set
home upon their hearts); but, Where is he born? Note, Those who
know something of Christ cannot but covet to know more of
him. They call Christ the King of the Jews, for so the Messiah
was expected to be: and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual
Israel, he is born a King.
To this question they doubted not but to have a ready answer, and to
find all Jerusalem worshipping at the feet of this new king; but they
come from door to door with this question, and no man can give them any
information. Note, There is more gross ignorance in the world, and in
the church too, than we are aware of. Many that we think should direct
us to Christ are themselves strangers to him. They ask, as the spouse
of the daughters of Jerusalem, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?
But they are never the wiser. However, like the spouse, they pursue the
enquiry, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? Are they
asked, “Why do ye make this enquiry?” It is because they have seen
his star in the east. Are they asked, “What business have ye with
him? What have the men of the east to do with the King of the
Jews?” They have their answer ready, We are come to worship
him. They conclude he will, in process of time, be their
king, and therefore they will betimes ingratiate themselves with
him and with those about him. Note, Those in whose hearts the day-star
is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, must make
it their business to worship him. Have we seen Christ’s star? Let us
study to give him honour.
V. How this enquiry was treated at Jerusalem. News of it at last came
to court; and when Herod heard it he was troubled,
v. 3.
He could not be a stranger to the prophecies of the Old
Testament, concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, and the times
fixed for his appearing by Daniel’s weeks; but, having himself reigned
so long and so successfully, he began to hope that those promises would
for ever fail, and that his kingdom would be established and
perpetuated in spite of them. What a damp therefore must it needs be
upon him, to hear talk of this King being born, now, when the time
fixed for his appearing had come! Note, Carnal wicked hearts dread
nothing so much as the fulfilling of the scriptures.
But though Herod, an Edomite, was troubled, one would have thought
Jerusalem should rejoice greatly to hear that her King comes; yet, it
seems, all Jerusalem, except the few there that waited for
the consolation of Israel, were troubled with Herod, and were
apprehensive of I know not what ill consequences of the birth of this
new king, that it would involve them in war, or restrain their lusts;
they, for their parts, desired no king but Herod; no, not the Messiah
himself. Note, The slavery of sin is foolishly preferred by many to the
glorious liberty of the children of God, only because they apprehend
some present difficulties attending that necessary revolution of the
government in the soul. Herod and Jerusalem were thus troubled, from a
mistaken notion that the kingdom of the Messiah would clash and
interfere with the secular powers; whereas the star that proclaimed him
king plainly intimated that his kingdom was heavenly, and not of this
lower world. Note, The reason why the kings of the earth, and the
people, oppose the kingdom of Christ, is because they do not know it,
but err concerning it.
VI. What assistance they met with in this enquiry from the scribes and
the priests,
Nobody can pretend to tell where the King of the Jews is, but Herod
enquires where it was expected he should be born. The persons he
consults are, the chief priests, who were teachers by office; and the
scribes, who made it their business to study the law; their lips
must keep knowledge, but then the people must enquire the law at
their mouth,
Mal. ii. 7.
It was generally known that Christ should be born at Bethlehem
(John vii. 42);
but Herod would have counsel’s opinion upon it, and therefore applies
himself to the proper persons; and, that he might be the better
satisfied, he has them altogether, all the chief priests, and all
the scribes; and demands of them what was the place,
according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, where Christ
should be born? Many a good question is put with an ill design, so
was this by Herod.
The priests and scribes need not take any long time to give an answer
to this query; nor do they differ in their opinion, but all agree that
the Messiah must be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, here
called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from another city
of the same name in the land of Zebulun,
Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; the fittest place
for him to be born in who is the true manna, the bread which came
down from heaven, which was given for the life of the world.
The proof they produce is taken from
where it is foretold that though Bethlehem be little among the
thousands of Judah (so it is in Micah), no very populous
place, yet it shall be found not the least among the princes of
Judah (so it is here); for Bethlehem’s honour lay not, as that of
other cities, in the multitude of the people, but in the magnificence
of the princes it produced. Though, upon some accounts, Bethlehem was
little, yet herein it had the pre-eminence above all the cities of
Israel, that the Lord shall count, when he writes up the people,
that this man, even the man Christ Jesus, was born there,
Ps. lxxxvii. 6.
Out of thee shall come a Governor, the King of the Jews.
Note, Christ will be a Saviour to those only who are willing to
take him for their Governor. Bethlehem was the city of
David, and David the glory of Bethlehem; there, therefore, must
David’s son and successor be born. There was a famous well at
Bethlehem, by the gate, which David longed to drink of
in Christ we have not only bread enough and to spare, but may come and
take also of the water of life freely. Observe here how Jews and
Gentiles compare notes about Jesus Christ. The Gentiles know the time
of his birth by a star; the Jews know the place of it by the
scriptures; and so they are capable of informing one another. Note, It
would contribute much to the increase of knowledge, if we did thus
mutually communicate what we know. Men grow rich by bartering and
exchanging; so, if we have knowledge to communicate to others, they
will be ready to communicate to us; thus many shall discourse, shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
VII. The bloody project and design of Herod, occasioned by this
enquiry,
Herod was now an old man, and had reigned thirty-five years; this king
was but newly born, and not likely to enterprise any thing considerable
for many years; yet Herod is jealous of him. Crowned heads cannot
endure to think of successors, much less of rivals; and therefore
nothing less than the blood of this infant king will satisfy him; and
he will not give himself liberty to think that, if this new-born child
should be indeed the Messiah, in opposing him, or making any attempts
upon him, he would be found fighting against God, than which
nothing is more vain, nothing more dangerous. Passion has got the
mastery of reason and conscience.
Now,
1. See how cunningly he laid the project
(v. 7, 8).
He privily called the wise men, to talk with them about this
matter. He would not openly own his fears and jealousies; it would be
his disgrace to let the wise men know them, and dangerous to let the
people know them. Sinners are often tormented with secret fears, which
they keep to themselves. Herod learns of the wise men the time when
the star appeared, that he might take his measures accordingly; and
then employs them to enquire further, and bids them bring him an
account. All this might look suspicious, if he had not covered it with
a show of religion: that I may come and worship him also. Note,
The greatest wickedness often conceals itself under a mask of piety.
Absalom cloaks his rebellious project with a vow.
2. See how strangely he was befooled and infatuated in this, that he
trusted it with the wise men, and did not choose some other managers,
that would have been true to his interests. It was but seven miles from
Jerusalem; how easily might he have sent spies to watch the wise men,
who might have been as soon there to destroy the child as they to
worship him! Note, God can hide from the eyes of the church’s enemies
those methods by which they might easily destroy the church; when he
intends to lead princes away spoiled, his way is to make the
judges fools.
| The Wise Men Worship Christ. |
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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.
We have here the wise men’s humble attendance upon this new-born
King of the Jews, and the honours they paid him. From Jerusalem
they went to Bethlehem, resolving to seek till they should find;
but it is very strange that they went alone; that not one person of the
court, church, or city, should accompany them, if not in conscience,
yet in civility to them, or touched with a curiosity to see this young
prince. As the queen of the south, so the wise men of the
east, will rise up in judgment against the men of that
generation, and of this too, and will condemn them; for they
came from a far country, to worship Christ; while the Jews, his
kinsmen, would not stir a step, would not go to the next town to bid
him welcome. It might have been a discouragement to these wise men to
find him whom they sought thus neglected at home. Are we come so far to
honour the King of the Jews, and do the Jews themselves put such
a slight upon him and us? Yet they persist in their resolution. Note,
We must continue our attendance upon Christ, though we be alone in it;
whatever others do, we must serve the Lord; if they will not go
to heaven with us, yet we must not go to hell with them. Now,
I. See how they found out Christ by the same star that they had seen in
their own country,
Observe,
1. How graciously God directed them. By the first appearance of the
star they were given to understand where they might enquire for this
King, and then it disappeared, and they were left to take the usual
methods for such an enquiry. Note, Extraordinary helps are not to be
expected where ordinary means are to be had. Well, they had traced the
matter as far as they could; they were upon their journey to Bethlehem,
but that is a populous town, where shall they find him when they come
thither? Here they were at a loss, at their wit’s end, but not at their
faith’s end; they believed that God, who had brought them thither by
his word, would not leave them there; nor did he; for, behold, the
star which they saw in the east went before them. Note, If we go on
as far as we can in the way of duty, God will direct and enable us to
do that which of ourselves we cannot do; Up, and be doing, and the
Lord will be with thee. Vigilantibus, non dormientibus, succurit
lex–The law affords its aid, not to the idle, but to the active.
The star had left them a great while, yet now returns. They who follow
God in the dark shall find that light is sown, is reserved, for them.
Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, the
wise men by a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the
bright and morning Star,
Rev. xxii. 16.
God would rather create a new thing than leave those at a loss
who diligently and faithfully sought him. This star was the token of
God’s presence with them; for he is light, and goes before his people
as their Guide. Note, If we by faith eye God in all our ways, we may
see ourselves under his conduct; he guides with his eye
(Ps. xxxii. 8),
and said to them, This is the way, walk in it: and there is a
day-star that arises in the hearts of those that enquire after Christ,
2. Observe how joyfully they followed God’s direction
(v. 10).
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Now they saw they were not deceived, and had not taken this long
journey in vain. When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Now they were sure that God was with them, and the tokens of his
presence and favour cannot but fill with joy unspeakable the souls of
those that know how to value them. Now they could laugh at the Jews in
Jerusalem, who, probably, had laughed at them as coming on a fool’s
errand. The watchmen can give the spouse no tidings of her beloved; yet
it is but a little that she passes from them, and she finds him,
Cant. iii. 3, 4.
We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. What a
transport of joy these wise men were in 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; this is light
out of darkness; it is life from the dead. Now they had reason to hope
for a sight of the Lord’s Christ speedily, of the Sun of
righteousness, for they see the Morning Star. Note, We
should be glad of every thing that will show us the way to Christ. This
star was sent to meet the wise men, and to conduct them into the
presence chamber of the King; by this master of ceremonies they were
introduced, to have their audience. Now God fulfills his promise of
meeting those that are disposed to rejoice and work
righteousness
(Isa. lxiv. 5),
and they fulfill his precept. Let the hearts of those rejoice that
seek the Lord,
Ps. cv. 3.
Note, God is pleased sometimes to favour young converts with such
tokens of his love as are very encouraging to them, in reference to the
difficulties they meet with at their setting out of the ways of
God.
II. See how they made their address to him when they had found him,
We may well imagine their expectations were raised to find this royal
babe, though slighted by the nation, yet honourably attended at home;
and what a disappointment it was to them when they found a cottage was
his palace, and his own poor mother all the retinue he had! Is this
the Saviour of the world? Is this the King of the Jews,
nay, and the Prince of the kings of the earth? Yes, this is he,
who, though he was rich, yet, for our sakes, became thus
poor. However, these wise men were so wise as to see through
this veil, and in this despised babe to discern the glory as of the
Only-begotten of the Father; they did not think themselves balked
or baffled in their enquiry; but, as having found the King they sought,
they presented themselves first, and then their gifts, to him.
1. They presented themselves to him: they fell down, and worshipped
him. We do not read that they gave such honour to Herod, though he
was in the height of his royal grandeur; but to this babe they gave
this honour, not only as to a king (then they would have done the same
to Herod), but as to a God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down
before him; they adore him, and submit themselves to him. He is thy
Lord, and worship thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of
men, and by this it will appear they know Christ, and understand
themselves and their true interests, if they be humble, faithful
worshippers of the Lord Jesus.
2. They presented their gifts to him. In the eastern nations,
when they did homage to their kings, they made them presents; thus the
subjection of the kings of Sheba to Christ is spoken of
They shall bring presents, and offer gifts. See
Note, With ourselves, we must give up all that we have to Jesus Christ;
and if we be sincere in the surrender of ourselves to him, we shall not
be unwilling to part with what is dearest to us, and most valuable, to
him and for him; nor are our gifts accepted, unless we first present
ourselves to him living sacrifices. God had respect to Abel, and
then to his offering. The gifts they presented were, gold,
frankincense, and myrrh, money, and money’s-worth. Providence sent
this for a seasonable relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor
condition. These were the products of their own country; what God
favours us with, we must honour him with. Some think there was a
significancy in their gifts; they offered him gold, as a king,
paying him tribute, to Cæsar, the things that are
Cæsar’s; frankincense, as God, for they honoured God with the
smoke of incense; and myrrh, as a Man that should die, for
myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies.
III. See how they left him when they had made their address to him,
Herod appointed them to bring him word what discoveries they had
made, and, it is probable, they would have done so, if they had not
been countermanded, not suspecting their being thus made his tools in a
wicked design. Those that mean honestly and well themselves are easily
made to believe that others do so too, and cannot think the world is as
bad as it really is; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out
of temptation. We do not find that the wise men promised to come
back to Herod, and, if they had, it must have been with the usual
proviso, If God permit; God did not permit them, and prevented
the mischief Herod designed to the Child Jesus, and the trouble it
would have been to the wise men to have been made involuntarily
accessory to it. They were warned of God,
chrematisthentes—oraculo vel responso accepto–by an
oracular intimation. Some think it intimates that they asked
counsel of God, and that this was the answer. Note, Those that act
cautiously, and are afraid of sin and snares, if they apply themselves
to God for direction, may expect to be led in the right way. They were
warned not to return to Herod, nor to Jerusalem; those were
unworthy to have reports brought them concerning Christ, that might
have seen with their own eyes, and would not. They departed into
their own country another way, to bring the tidings to their
countrymen; but it is strange that we never hear any more of them, and
that they or theirs did not afterwards attend him in the temple,
whom they had worshipped in the cradle. However, the direction they had
from God in their return would be a further confirmation of their faith
in this Child, as the Lord from heaven.
| The Flight into Egypt. |
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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.
We have here Christ’s flight into Egypt to avoid the cruelty of Herod,
and this was the effect of the wise men’s enquiry after him; for,
before that, the obscurity he lay in was his protection. It was but
little respect (compared with what should have been) that was paid to
Christ in his infancy: yet even that, instead of honouring him among
his people, did but expose him.
Now here observe,
1. The command given to Joseph concerning it,
Joseph knew neither the danger the child was in, nor how to escape it;
but God by an angel, tells him both in a dream, as before
he directed him in like manner what to do,
Joseph, before his alliance to Christ, had not been wont to converse
with angels as now. Note, those that are spiritually related to Christ
by faith have that communion and correspondence with Heaven which
before they were strangers to.
1. Joseph is here told what their danger was: Herod will seek the
young child to destroy him. Note, God is acquainted with all the
cruel projects and purposes of the enemies of his church. I know thy
rage against me, saith God to Sennacherib,
How early was the blessed Jesus involved in trouble! Usually, even
those whose riper years are attended with toils and perils have a
peaceable and quiet infancy; but it was not so with the blessed Jesus:
his life and sufferings began together; he was born a man striven
with, as Jeremiah was
(Jer. xv. 10),
who was sanctified from the womb,
Jer. i. 5.
Both Christ the head, and the church his body, agree in saying, Many
a time have they afflicted me, from my youth up. Pharaoh’s cruelty
fastens upon the Hebrews’ children, and a great red dragon stands ready
to devour the man-child as soon as it should be born,
Rev. xii. 4.
2. He is directed what to do, to escape the danger; Take the young
child, and flee into Egypt. Thus early must Christ give an example
to his own rule
(ch. x. 23):
When they persecute you in one city, flee to another. He that
came to die for us, when his hour was not yet come, fled for his
own safety. Self-preservation, being a branch of the law of nature, is
eminently a part of the law of God. Flee; but why into
Egypt? Egypt was infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and enmity to the
people of God; it had been a house of bondage to Israel, and
particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; in Egypt, as much as in
Ramah, Rachel had been weeping for her children; yet that is
appointed to be a place of refuge to the hold child Jesus. Note, God,
when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of
purposes; for the earth is the Lord’s, he makes what use he
pleases of it: sometimes the earth helps the woman
Rev. xii. 16.
God, who made Moab a shelter to his outcasts, makes Egypt a refuge for
his Son. This may be considered,
(1.) As a trial of faith of Joseph and Mary. They might be tempted to
think, “If this child be the Son of God, as we are told he is, has he
no other way to secure himself from a man that is a worm, than by such
a mean and inglorious retreat as this? Cannot he summon legions of
angels to be his life-guard, or cherubim with flaming swords to keep
this tree of life? Cannot he strike Herod dead, or wither the
hand that is stretched out against him, and so save us the trouble of
this remove?” They had been lately told that he should be the glory
of his people Israel; and is the land of Israel so soon become too
hot for him? But we find not that they made any such objections; their
faith, being tried, was found firm, they believe this is the Son of
God, though they see no miracle wrought for his preservation; but
they are put to the use of ordinary means. Joseph had great honour put
upon him in being the husband of the blessed virgin; but that honour
has trouble attending it, as all honours have in this world; Joseph
must take the young child, and carry him into Egypt; and
now it appeared how well God had provided for the young child and
his mother, in appointing Joseph to stand in so near a relation to
them; now the gold which the wise men brought would stand them in stead
to bear their charges. God foresees his people’s distresses, and
provides against them beforehand. God intimates the continuance of his
care and guidance, when he saith, Be thou there until I bring thee
word, so that he must expect to hear from God again, and not stir
without fresh orders. Thus God will keep his people still in a
dependence upon him.
(2.) As an instance of the humiliation of our Lord Jesus. As there was
no room for him in the inn in Bethlehem, so there was no quiet room for
him in the land of Judea. Thus was he banished from the earthly Canaan,
that we, who for sin were banished from the heavenly Canaan, might not
be for ever expelled. If we and our infants be at any time in straits,
let us remember the straits Christ in his infancy was brought into, and
be reconciled to them.
(3.) As a token of God’s displeasure against the Jews, who took so
little notice of him; justly does he leave those who have slighted him.
We have also here an earnest of his favour to the Gentiles, to whom the
apostles were to bring the gospel when the Jews rejected it. If Egypt
entertain Christ when he is forced out of Judea, it will not be long
ere it be said, Blessed be Egypt my people,
Isa. xix. 25.
II. Joseph’s obedience to this command,
The journey would be inconvenient and perilous both to the young child
and to his mother; they were but poorly provided for it, and were
likely to meet with cold entertainment in Egypt: yet Joseph was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision, made no objection, nor was
dilatory in his disobedience. As soon as he had received his orders, he
immediately arose, and went away by night, the same
night, as it should seem, that he received the orders. Note, Those that
would make sure work of their obedience must make quick
work of it. Now Joseph went out, as his father Abraham did, with an
implicit dependence upon God, not knowing whither he went,
Heb. xi. 8.
Joseph and his wife, having little, had little to care of in this
remove. An abundance encumbers a necessary flight. If rich people have
the advantage of the poor while they possess what they have, the poor
have the advantage of the rich when they are called to part with
it.
Joseph took the young child and his mother. Some observe, that
the young child is put first, as the principal person, and Mary
is called, not the wife of Joseph, but, which was her great
dignity, the mother of the young child. This was not the first
Joseph that was driven from Canaan to Egypt for a shelter from the
anger of his brethren; this Joseph ought to be welcome there for the
sake of that.
If we may credit tradition, at their entrance into Egypt, happening to
go into a temple, all the images of their gods were overthrown by an
invisible power, and fell, like Dagon before the ark, according to that
prophecy, The Lord shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt
shall be moved at his presence,
Isa. xix. 1.
They continued in Egypt till the death of Herod, which, some think, was
seven years, others think, not so many months. There they were at a
distance from the temple and the service of it, and in the midst of
idolaters; but God sent them thither, and will have mercy, and not
sacrifice. Though they were far from the temple of the Lord, they
had with them the Lord of the temple. A forced absence from God’s
ordinances, and a forced presence with wicked people, may be the lot,
are not the sin, yet cannot but be the grief, of good people.
III. The fulfilling of the scripture in a this–that scripture
(Hos. xi. 1),
Out of Egypt have I called my son. Of all the evangelists,
Matthew takes most notice of the fulfilling of the scripture in what
concerned Christ, because his gospel was first published among the
Jews, with whom that would add much strength and lustre to it. Now this
word of the prophet undoubtedly referred to the deliverance of Israel
out of Egypt, in which God owned them for his son, his first-born
(Exod. iv. 22);
but it is here applied, by way of analogy, to Christ, the Head of the
church. Note, The scripture has many accomplishments, so full and
copious is it, and so well ordered in all things. God is every day
fulfilling the scripture. Scripture is not of private interpretation:
we must give it its full latitude. “When Israel was a child, then I
loved him; and, though I loved him, I suffered him to be a
great while in Egypt; but, because I loved him, in due time I
called him out of Egypt.” They that read this must, in their thoughts,
not only look back, but look forward; that which has been shall be
again
(Eccl. i. 9);
and the manner of expression intimates this; for it is not said, I
called him, but I called my son, out of Egypt.Note, It is
no new thing for God’s sons to be in Egypt, in a strange land, in a
house of bondage; but they shall be fetched out. They may be hid in
Egypt, but they shall not be left there. All the elect of God, being by
nature children of wrath, are born in a spiritual Egypt, and in
conversion are effectually called out. It might be objected against
Christ that he had been in Egypt. Must the Sun of righteousness
arise out of that land of darkness! But this shows that to be no
strange thing; Israel was brought out of Egypt, to be advanced to the
highest honours; and this is but doing the same thing.
| The Slaughter of the Children. |
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16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men,
was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children
that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had
diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the
prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping,
and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would
not be comforted, because they are not.
Here is,
I. Herod’s resentment of the departure of the wise men. He waited long
for their return; he hopes, though they be slow, they will be sure, and
he shall crush this rival at his first appearing; but he hears, upon
enquiry, that they are gone off another way, which increases his
jealousy, and makes him suspect they are in the interest of this new
King, which made him exceedingly wroth; and he is the more
desperate and outrageous for his being disappointed. Note, Inveterate
corruption swells the higher for the obstructions it meets with in a
sinful pursuit.
II. His political contrivance, notwithstanding this, to take off him
that is born King of the Jews. If he could not reach him by a
particular execution, he doubted not but to involve him in a general
stroke, which, like the sword of war, should devour one as well as
another. This would be sure work; and thus those that would destroy
their own iniquity must be sure to destroy all their
iniquities. Herod was an Edomite, enmity to Israel was bred in the bone
with him. Doeg was an Edomite, who, for David’s sake, slew all the
priests of the Lord. It was strange that Herod could find any so
inhuman as to be employed in such a bloody and barbarous piece of work;
but wicked hands never want wicked tools to work with. Little children
have always been taken under the special protection, not only of human
laws, but of human nature; yet these are sacrificed to the rage of this
tyrant, under whom, as under Nero, innocence is the least security.
Herod was, throughout his reign, a bloody man; it was not long before,
that he destroyed the whole Sanhedrim, or bench of judges; but blood to
the blood-thirsty is like drink to those in a dropsy; Quo plus sunt
potæ, plus sitiuntur aquæ–The more they drink, the more
thirsty they become. Herod was now about seventy years old, so that
an infant, at this time under two years old, was not likely ever
to give him any disturbance. Nor was he a man over fond of his own
children, or of their preferment, having formerly slain two of his own
sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, and his son Antipater after this, but
five days before he himself died; so that it was purely to gratify his
own brutish lusts of pride and cruelty that he did this. All is fish
that comes to his net.
Observe, What large measures he took,
1. As to time; He slew all from two years old and under. It is
probable that the blessed Jesus was at this time not a year old; yet
Herod took in all the infants under two years old, that he might
be sure not to miss of his prey. He cares not how many heads fall,
which he allows to be innocent, provided that escape not which he
supposes to be guilty.
2. As to place; He kills all the male children, not only in
Bethlehem, but in all the coasts thereof, in all the
villages of that city. This was being overmuch wicked,
Eccl. vii. 17.
Hate, an unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often
transports men to the most absurd and unreasonable instances of
cruelty. It was no unrighteous thing for God to permit this; every life
is forfeited to his justice as soon as it commences; that sin which
entered by one man’s disobedience, introduced death with it; and we are
not to suppose any thing more than that common guilt, we are not to
suppose that these children were sinners above all that were in
Israel, because they suffered such things. God’s judgments are a
great deep. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs
of original sin. But we must look upon this murder of the infants under
another character: it was their martyrdom. How early did persecution
commence against Christ and his kingdom! Think ye that he came to
send peace on the earth? No, but a sword, such a sword as
this,
A passive testimony was hereby given to the Lord Jesus. As when he was
in the womb, he was witnessed to by a child’s leaping in the womb for
joy at his approach, so now, at two years old, he had
contemporary witnesses to him of the same age. They shed their blood
for him, who afterwards shed his for them. These were the infantry of
the noble army of martyrs. If these infants were thus baptized
with blood, though it were their own, into the church triumphant, it
could not be said but that, with what they got in heaven, they were
abundantly recompensed for what they lost on earth. Out of the
mouths of these babes and sucklings God did perfect his praise;
otherwise, it is not good to the Almighty that he should thus
afflict.
The tradition of the Greek church (and we have it in the Æthiopic
missal) is, that the number of the children slain was 14,000; but that
is very absurd. I believe, if the births of the male children in the
weekly bills were computed, there would not be found so many under
two years old, in one of the most populous cities in the world,
that was not near a fortieth part of it. But it is an instance of the
vanity of tradition. It is strange that Josephus does not relate this
story; but he wrote long after St. Matthew, and it is probable that he
therefore would not relate it, because he would not so far
countenance the Christian history; for he was a zealous Jew; but, to be
sure, if it had not been true and well attested, he would have
contested it. Macrobius, a heathen writer, tells us, that when Augustus
Cæsar heard that Herod, among the children he order to be slain
under two years old, slew his own son, he passed this jest upon
him, That it was better to be Herod’s swine than his son. The usage of
the country forbade him to kill a swine, but nothing could restrain him
from killing his son. Some think that he had a young child at nurse in
Bethlehem; others think that, through mistake, two events are
confounded–the murder of the infants, and the murder of his son
Antipater. But for the church of Rome to put the Holy Innocents, as
they call them, into their calendar, and observe a day in memory of
them, while they have so often, by their barbarous massacres,
justified, and even out–one Herod, is but to do as their predecessors
did, who built the tombs of the prophets, while they themselves filled
up the same measure.
Some observe another design of Providence in the murder of the infants.
By all the prophecies of the Old Testament it appears that Bethlehem
was the place, and this the time, of the Messiah’s nativity; now all
the children of Bethlehem, born at this time, being murdered, and Jesus
only escaping, none but Jesus could pretend to be the Messiah. Herod
now thought he had baffled all the Old Testament prophecies, had
defeated the indications of the star, and the devotions of the wise
men, by ridding the country of this new King; having burnt the hive, he
concludes he had killed the master bee; but God in heaven laughs
at him, and has him in derision. Whatever crafty cruel
devices are in men’s hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall
stand.
III. The fulfilling of scripture in this
(v. 17, 18);
Then was fulfilled that prophecy
A voice was heard in Ramah. See and adore the fulness of the
scripture! That prediction was accomplished in Jeremiah’s time, when
Nebuzaradan, after he had destroyed Jerusalem, brought all his
prisoners to Ramah
(Jer. xl. 1),
and there disposed of them as he pleased, for the sword, or for
captivity. Then was the cry in Ramah heard to Bethlehem (for
those two cities, the one in Judah’s lot, and the other in Benjamin’s,
were not far asunder); but now the prophecy is again fulfilled in the
great sorrow that was for the death of these infants. The scripture was
fulfilled,
1. In the place of this mourning. The noise of it was heard from
Bethlehem to Ramah; for Herod’s cruelty extended itself to all the
coasts of Bethlehem, even into the lot of Benjamin, among the
children of Rachel. Some think the country about Bethlehem was called
Rachel, because there she died, and was buried. Rachel’s
sepulchre was hard by Bethlehem,
Compare 1 Sam. x. 2.
Rachel had her heart much set upon children: the son she died in
travail of she called Benoni–the son of her sorrow. These
mothers were like Rachel, lived near Rachel’s grave, and many of them
descended from Rachel; and therefore their lamentations are elegantly
represented by Rachel’s weeping.
2. In the degree of this mourning. It was lamentation and mourning,
and great mourning; all little enough to express the sense they had
of this aggravated calamity. There was a great cry in Egypt when the
first-born were slain, and so there was here when the youngest was
slain; for whom we naturally have a particular tenderness. Here was a
representation of this world we live in. We hear in it lamentation,
and weeping, and mourning, and see the tears of the
oppressed, some upon one account, and some upon another. Our ways
lie through a vale of tears. This sorrow was so great, that they
would not be comforted. They hardened themselves in it, and took
a pleasure in their grief. Blessed be God, there is no occasion of
grief in this world, no, not that which is supplied by sin itself, that
will justify us in refusing to be comforted! They would not
be comforted, because they are not, that is, they are not in
the land of the living, are not as they were, in their mothers’
embraces. If, indeed, they were not, there might be some excuse
for sorrowing as though we had no hope; but we know they are not lost,
but gone before; if we forget that they are, we lose the best
ground of our comfort,
Some make this grief of the Bethlehemites to be a judgment upon them
for their contempt of Christ. They that would not rejoice for the
birth of the Son of God, are justly made to weep for the death of their
own sons; for they only wondered at the tidings the shepherds
brought them, but did not welcome them.
The quoting of this prophecy might serve to obviate an objection which
some would make against Christ, upon this sad providence. “Can the
Messiah, who is to be the Consolation of Israel, be introduced with all
this lamentation?” Yes, for so it was foretold, and the scripture must
be accomplished. And besides, if we look further into this prophecy, we
shall find that the bitter weeping in Ramah was but a prologue
to the greatest joy, for it follows, Thy work shall be rewarded, and
there is hope in thy end. The worse things are, the sooner they
will mend. Unto them a child was born, sufficient to repair their
losses.
| Christ’s Return from Egypt. |
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19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the
young child’s life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and
came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the
room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:
notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside
into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be
called a Nazarene.
We have here Christ’s return out of Egypt into the land of
Israel again. Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in,
for a while, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel, and therefore to them he must return.
Observe,
I. What it was that made way for his return– the death of Herod, which
happened not long after the murder of the infants; some think not above
three months. Such quick work did divine vengeance make! Note, Herods
must die; proud tyrants, that were the terror of the mighty, and the
oppressors of the godly, in the land of the living, their day
must come to fall, and down to the pit they must go. Who art thou
then, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die?
especially considering that at death, not only their envy and hatred
are perished
(Eccl. ix. 6),
and they cease from troubling
(Job iii. 17),
but they are punished. Of all sins, the guilt of innocent blood fills
the measure soonest. It is a dreadful account which Josephus gives of
the death of this same Herod (Antiq. 17.146-199), that he was
seized with a disease which burned him inwardly with an inexpressible
torture; that he was insatiably greedy of meat; had the colic, and
gout, and dropsy; such an intolerable stench attended his disease, that
none could come near him: and so passionate and impatient was he, that
he was a torment to himself, and a terror to all that attended him: his
innate cruelty, being thus exasperated, made him more barbarous than
ever; having ordered his own son to be put to death, he imprisoned many
of the nobility and gentry, and ordered that as soon as he was dead
they should be killed; but that execution was prevented. See what kind
of men have been the enemies and persecutors of Christ and his
followers! Few have opposed Christianity but such as have first
divested themselves of humanity, as Nero and Domitian.
II. The orders given from heaven concerning their return, and Joseph’s
obedience to those orders,
God had sent Joseph into Egypt, and there he staid till the same that
brought him thither ordered him thence. Note, In all our removes, it is
good to see our way plain, and God going before us; we should not move
either one way or the other without order. These orders were sent him
by an angel. Note, Our intercourse with God, if it be kept up on our
part, shall be kept up on his, wherever we are. No place can exclude
God’s gracious visits. Angels come to Joseph in Egypt, to Ezekiel in
Babylon, and to John in Patmos. Now,
1. The angel informs him of the death of Herod and his accomplices:
They are dead, which sought the young Child’s life. They are
dead, but the young Child lives. Persecuted saints sometimes live to
tread upon the graves of their persecutors. Thus did the church’s King
weather the storm, and many a one has the church in like manner
weathered. They are dead, to wit, Herod and his son Antipater,
who, though there were mutual jealousies between them, yet, probably,
concurred in seeking the destruction of this new King. If Herod first
kill Antipater, and then die himself, the coasts are cleared, and
the Lord is known by the judgments which he executes, when one
wicked instrument is in the ruin of another.
2. He directs him what to do. He must go and return to the
land of Israel; and he did so without delay; not pleading the
tolerably good settlement he had in Egypt, or the inconveniences of the
journey, especially if, as is supposed, it was in the beginning of
winter that Herod died. God’s people follow his direction whithersoever
he leads them, wherever he lodges them. 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.
III. The further direction he had from God, which way to steer, and
where to fix in the land of Israel,
God could have given him these instructions with the former, but God
reveals his mind to his people by degrees, to keep them still waiting
on him, and expecting to hear further from him. These orders Joseph
received in a dream, probably, as those before, by the
ministration of an angel. God could have signified his will to Joseph
by the Child Jesus, but we do not find that in those removes he either
takes notice, or gives notice, of any thing that occurred; surely it
was because in all things it behoved him to be made like his
brethren; being a Child, he spake as a child, and did
as a child, and drew a veil over his infinite knowledge and
power; as a child he increased in wisdom.
Now the direction given this holy, royal family, is,
1. That it might not settle in Judea,
Joseph might think that Jesus, being born in Bethlehem, must be
brought up there; yet he is prudently afraid for the young
Child, because he hears that Archelaus reigns in Herod’s
stead, not over all the kingdom as his father did, but only over Judea,
the other provinces being put into other hands. See what a succession
of enemies there is to fight against Christ and his church! If one
drop off, another presently appears, to keep up the old enmity. But for
this reason Joseph must not take the young Child into Judea. Note, God
will not thrust his children into the mouth of danger, but when it is
for his own glory and their trial; for precious in the sight of the
Lord are the life and the death of his saints; precious is their
blood to him.
2. That it must settle in Galilee,
There Philip now ruled, who was a mild, quiet, man. Note, The
providence of God commonly so orders it, that his people shall not want
a quiet retreat from the storm and from the tempest; when one climate
becomes hot and scorching, another shall be kept more cool and
temperate. Galilee lay far north; Samaria lay between it and Judea;
thither they were sent, to Nazareth, a city upon a hill, in the centre
of the lot of Zebulun; there the mother of our Lord lived, when she
conceived that holy thing; and, probably, Joseph lived there
too,
Thither they were sent, and there they were well known, and were among
their relations; the most proper place for them to be in. There they
continued, and from thence our Saviour was called Jesus of
Nazareth, which was to the Jews a stumbling-block, for,
Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
In this is said to be fulfilled what was spoken by the prophets, He
shall be called a Nazarene. Which may be looked upon,
(1.) As a man of honour and dignity, though primarily it signifies no
more than a man of Nazareth; there is an allusion or mystery in
speaking it, speaking Christ to be,
[1.] The Man, the Branch, spoken of,
The word there is Netzar, which signifies either a
branch, or the city of Nazareth; in being denominated
from that city, he is declared to be that Branch.
[2.] It speaks him to be the great Nazarite; of whom the legal
Nazarites were a type and figure (especially Samson,
and Joseph, who is called a Nazarite among his brethren
and to whom that which was prescribed concerning the Nazarites, has
reference,
&c. Not that Christ was, strictly, a Nazarite, for he drank
wine, and touched dead bodies; but he was eminently so, both as
he was singularly holy, and as he was by a solemn designation and
dedication set apart to the honour of God in the work of our
redemption, as Samson was to save Israel. And it is a name we have all
reason to rejoice in, and to know him by. Or,
(2.) As a name of reproach and contempt. To be called a
Nazarene, was to be called a despicable man, a man from
whom no good was to be expected, and to whom no respect was to be paid.
The devil first fastened this name upon Christ, to render him mean, and
prejudice people against him, and it stuck as a nickname to him and his
followers. Now this was not particularly foretold by any one prophet,
but, in general, it was spoken by the prophets, that he should
be despised and rejected of men
a Worm, and no man
that he should be an Alien to his brethren
Ps. lxix. 7, 8.
Let no name of reproach for religion’s sake seem hard to us, when our
Master was himself called a Nazarene.
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