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.

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

a. The young family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus were no longer in the “stable”, they were now in a “house”. 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. 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.

1). 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. young child [3813 * paidion][Thayer: a young child, a little boy, a little girl.]

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”.

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

c. 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 very next morning Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled into Egypt. If that was the case, 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.

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

a. 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…]

b. 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, 2 Chuck Missler, Who were the Magi?

4. “…and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

a. 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.

1). 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.

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.

2). 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.

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

1). 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.

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

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

2). 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.

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

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