Matthew 2

King James Version

Full text for Matthew Chapter 2

1¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, 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.

3When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6And 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.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8And 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.

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.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And 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.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

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.

14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

15And 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.

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.

17Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

18In 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.

19¶ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20Saying, 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.

21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea 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:

23And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Matthew chapter two recounts the visit of wise men from the east to worship the newborn King of the Jews in Bethlehem, guided by a star. King Herod, troubled by this news, sought to destroy the child, leading to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus's flight into Egypt by divine warning. After Herod's death and the subsequent slaughter of innocent children in Bethlehem, the family returned to the land of Israel, eventually settling in Nazareth, fulfilling prophecy.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with wise men arriving in Jerusalem, seeking the newborn King of the Jews, having seen His star. This news greatly troubled King Herod, who, after consulting with chief priests and scribes about the Messiah's birthplace, directed the wise men to Bethlehem under the guise of wanting to worship Him himself. Guided by the star, the wise men found Jesus, worshipped Him, and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but were divinely warned not to return to Herod. Subsequently, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt, as Herod intended to kill the child. Herod, realizing he had been deceived, ordered the massacre of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity. After Herod's death, an angel again appeared to Joseph, instructing him to return to Israel, but fearing Archelaus, Herod's successor, Joseph was divinely guided to settle in Nazareth, fulfilling prophetic words.

Long Summary

Matthew chapter two details the events surrounding the infancy of Jesus, beginning with the arrival of wise men from the east in Jerusalem, who sought the one born King of the Jews, having observed His star. This inquiry deeply troubled King Herod and all Jerusalem, prompting Herod to gather the chief priests and scribes to ascertain where Christ should be born, who cited the prophet Micah, indicating Bethlehem of Judaea. Herod then secretly met with the wise men, inquiring about the star's appearance time, and sent them to Bethlehem with instructions to report back so he might also worship the child. The star, which they had seen in the east, miraculously guided them until it stood over the house where the young child was, causing them great joy. Upon finding Jesus with Mary, they worshipped Him and presented precious gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, being warned by God in a dream, the wise men departed to their own country by another route, avoiding Herod. An angel of the Lord then appeared to Joseph in a dream, commanding him to flee with Jesus and Mary to Egypt, as Herod sought to destroy the child, a flight that fulfilled the prophecy, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Enraged by the wise men's deception, Herod ordered the brutal slaughter of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its surrounding areas, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning Rachel weeping for her children. After Herod's death, an angel again appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, instructing him to return to the land of Israel, as those who sought the child's life were dead. Upon hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judaea, Joseph was afraid to go there, but being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee and settled in Nazareth, thus fulfilling the prophetic saying, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Core Concepts

  • The Wise Men's QuestWise men from the east journeyed to Jerusalem, guided by a star, seeking to worship the newborn King of the Jews. Their diligent search and subsequent worship signify the recognition of Jesus's sovereignty by Gentile nations.
  • Herod's Treachery and FearKing Herod was greatly troubled by the news of a new king and deceptively sought information to destroy Jesus, rather than worship Him. His fear of a rival led to a murderous plot and ultimately the slaughter of innocent children.
  • Divine Guidance through DreamsGod intervened directly through dreams, warning the wise men not to return to Herod and instructing Joseph to flee to Egypt and later to return to Israel. These divine communications protected Jesus from Herod's malice.
  • Flight to EgyptJoseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape Herod's murderous intent, remaining there until Herod's death. This journey fulfilled the prophecy, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'
  • Slaughter of the InnocentsIn his wrath, Herod ordered the killing of all male children two years old and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity. This horrific act fulfilled the prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children.
  • Fulfillment of ProphecyThe chapter repeatedly emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus's birth in Bethlehem, His calling out of Egypt, the lamentation for the innocents, and His eventual dwelling in Nazareth as a Nazarene.
  • The Star of BethlehemA celestial phenomenon, the star, served as a divine guide for the wise men, leading them first to Jerusalem and then directly to the location of the young child in Bethlehem. It was a sign of the King's birth.