MATTHEW 2
THE WISE MEN VISITED JESUS + HEROD PLOTTED EVIL SCHEMES
During this time, Herod is king of Judea. After seeing a bright star, a group of wise men, possibly astrologers or dream interpreters, go to King Herod. Believing the star is an indication of the birth of Jesus, the wise men ask King Herod where Jesus is and refer to Him as “King of the Jews.” When Herod asks the chief priests and teachers of the law, they quote the prophet Micah’s prophecy that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
King Herod is angered and alarmed by this news. Wanting to know the exact location of Jesus, King Herod sends the wise men to Jerusalem and orders them to report back. King Herod acts as though he also wants to worship Jesus, but in reality, he was plotting to have Him killed.
Another star appears, leading the wise men to Jesus in Jerusalem. The wise men respond with great joy upon seeing the star and make their way to Jesus. When they reach Him, they worship Him and give Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Before their departure, the wise men have a dream that warns them against returning to King Herod, so they go another route.
Soon after their departure, Joseph is visited by an angel who instructs them to flee to Egypt. King Herod plotted to kill Jesus, and they need to leave Jerusalem for protection. This relocation to Egypt fulfills the prophecy of Hosea, who said that God will call His Son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1). God provided for the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 12), and now God will use Egypt as a refuge for Jesus!
After realizing that the wise men were not returning to him, King Herod is furious and kills all the boys under two years old who were born in Bethlehem, attempting to take out Jesus. This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah, who said there would be lamentation and bitter weeping over the loss of children (Jeremiah 31:15).
After the death of Herod, an angel appears to Joseph, letting him know it is safe to return to Israel with his family. Instead of returning to Jerusalem, they return to the city of Nazareth in the district of Galilee.
