Matthew 2:11

Matthew 2:11

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.

a. NLT: They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

b. NIV: On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

c. Amplified Bible: And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.

d. Young’s Literal Translation: and having come to the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and having fallen down they bowed to him, and having opened their treasures, they presented to him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh,

e. Worrell Translation: And, coming into the house, they saw the Child with Mary, His mother; and falling down, they paid Him homage; and, having opened their treasures, they presented to Him gifts—gold and frankincense and myrrh.     

1. “And when they were come into the house…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. when they were come [2064 * erchomai] [Strong: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.]

c. into [1519 * eis] [Strong: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

d. house [3614 * oikia] [Strong: properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics):--home, house(-hold).]

1). The young family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus were no longer in the “stable”, they were now in a “house”. When Jesus was born there was no room for the family at an inn and they laid him in a manger.

a). manger [5336 * phatne] [Zodhiates: a manger or crib at which cattle are fed. In Luke 13:15 it is rendered “stall”, as the word is sometimes used in the Greek writers.]

2). We must realize that all of the events of Luke 2:1-39 have already taken place. After these events of fulfilling the law, which would have taken 41 total days, Joseph, Mary and Jesus went back to Nazareth. They then moved to Bethlehem and it was about two years after the actual birth of Christ that the Magi showed up.

2. “…they saw the young child with Mary his mother…”

a. they saw [2147 * heurisko] [Strong: a prolonged form of a primary heuro hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) heureo hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.]

b. young child [3813 * paidion][Thayer: a young child, a little boy, a little girl.] [Strong: neuter diminutive of 3816; a childling (of either sex), i.e. (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian:--(little, young) child, damsel.]

1). The night Jesus was born he is described in the Greek language as a “babe” while at the time of the visit of the Magi, he is a “young child”. The second point in this verse shows that the Magi did not visit Jesus the night he was born, but later in his life. The first point is they were not in a stable but in a house and the second point is Jesus is referred to as a “young child” and not an “infant”. This is bolstered by the fact that Herod in his attempt to kill the young king of Israel, had all the children in Bethlehem, from two years old and down.

a). Matthew 2:16  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.

b). babe [1025 * brephos][Thayer: an unborn child, embryo, a foetus, a new-born child, an infant, a babe.]

2). If the Magi did visit Jesus on the night He was born, how did Joseph and Mary fulfill all the Jewish requirements of the law? (Luke 2:21-24). The text in Matthew clearly says that the angel woke Joseph up probably in the middle of the night and told him to flee to Egypt. If the visit of the Magi actually occurred the evening Jesus was born and the next morning the holy family fled into Egypt, the Mosaic requirements would have not been fulfilled. The fact is the events of Luke 2:1-39 took place a considerable amount of time before Matthew 2:1-23, probably about two years previously.

c. with [3326 * meta] [Strong: a primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession) with which it is joined; occupying an intermediate position between 575 or 1537 and 1519 or 4314; less intimate than 1722 and less close than 4862):--after(-ward), X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-)on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-)to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.]

d. Mary [3137 * Maria] [Strong: or Mariam mar-ee-am' of Hebrew origin (4813); Maria or Mariam (i.e. Mirjam), the name of six Christian females:-- Mary.]

e. his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

f. mother [3384 * meter] [Strong: apparently a primary word; a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote):--mother.]

3.  “…and fell down, and worshipped him…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. fell down [4098 * pipto] [Strong: a reduplicated and contracted form of peto pet'-o; (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); probably akin to 4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):--fail, fall (down), light on.]

c. worshipped [4352 * proskyneo] [Strong: to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence,  in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication, used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank, to the Jewish high priests, to God, to Christ…]

1). The Magi were Persians, so their form of worship would be to be “upon their knees and touch the ground with their foreheads”. Add to this fact they knew this was no ordinary King, but He to whom the Prophet Daniel, who was their leader centuries earlier, prophesied of His coming. See notes on Matthew 2:1 Chuck Missler, Who were the Magi?

d. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

4. “…and when they had opened their treasures…”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. opened [455 * anoigo] [Strong: from 303 and oigo (to open); to open up (literally or figuratively, in various applications):--open.]

c. their [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

d. treasures [2344 * thesaurus] [Strong: from 5087; a deposit, i.e. wealth (literally or figuratively):--treasure.]

5. “…they presented unto him gifts…”

a. they presented [4374 * prosphero] [Strong: from 4314 and 5342 (including its alternate); to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat:--bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.]

b. him [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

c. gifts [1435 * doron] [Strong: a present; specially, a sacrifice:--gift, offering.]

1). It is custom even today but on a smaller scale perhaps a formality, for a visiting king or visiting dignitaries to bring a gift. During these Biblical times, the gifts were much more extravagant.

a). 2 Chronicles 9:23, 24 And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.

9:24 And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

b). 2 Chronicles 9:9 And she [the Queen of Sheba] gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.

 2). During the Millennial reign of Christ this tradition will continue but will be much more extravagant.

a). Revelation 21:24-26 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

21:25And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

b). Isaiah 60:11, 12 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.

60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

c). Psalm 68:29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

6. “…gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

a. gold [5557 * chrusos] [Strong: perhaps from the base of 5530 (through the idea of the utility of the metal); gold; by extension, a golden article, as an ornament or coin:--gold.]

b. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. frankincense [3030 * libanos] [Strong: of foreign origin (3828); the incense-tree, i.e. (by implication) incense itself:--frankincense.]

d. and [2532 * kai] See “and” above.

e. myrrh [4666 * smurna] [Strong: apparently strengthened for 3464; myrrh:--myrrh.]

1). It was these items which were worth a lot of money, that financed their trip to Egypt and perhaps provided the means to stay there until the threat of Herod hunting down the Messiah was no longer a threat.