PDF - Monergism Books

30
Matthew
is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of
Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of
you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel’”
(vv. 5–6). They reported to Herod that the prophet Micah had predicted
the exact town in which the Messiah would be born, namely, Bethlehem.
We see in the prophecy of Micah the unusual linkage between king and
shepherd, and we see again the link to David in the Old Testament, who
was the great shepherd king. So Jesus comes not only as a King for His
people but also, as He described Himself, as a good shepherd who came to
tend and care for His sheep (John 10:11).
Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men,
determined from them what time the star appeared. And he
sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for
the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back
word to me, that I may come and worship him also” (vv. 7–8).
Such treachery—how evil is the heart of man. Herod said he wanted to
come and worship the Child King, but all the while he really wanted to
kill Him.
The Child Worshiped
When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star
which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came
and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the
star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they
had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary
His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him (vv. 9–11). Their
journey from the East was long and dangerous. Most likely they traveled
from ancient Persia, which is now Iran, or from the part of Babylonia that
may now be Iraq. In any case, the travel involved was significant. When
the guiding star brought them to Mary and Joseph and the Child, they
were filled with joy, and they went in to worship Him. We must wonder
what was going on in the mind of Mary and Joseph when the entourage
came bearing treasures and falling on their knees to worship their Son.
And when they had opened their treasures, they presented
gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (v. 11). Biblical
scholars see a certain symbolism contained in the particular gifts that
were offered. The first gift was gold, which was the only fitting gift to
give a king in the ancient world. Gold was the metal of royalty, and the
fact that gold was lavishly spread at the feet of Jesus’ parents, and Jesus