Matthew 2:4-6
Here is a quotation from Micah (5:2), a prophet who lived over seven Hundred years before the events in Matthew, Micah predicted that in unimportant little Bethlehem a leader would be born who came from eternity past. This leader’s greatness would be known all over the world! How much more exact could the prophet be? God fulfills every letter of his promises to his loved ones in ways that are beyond our understanding. You can rest at ease knowing that God is always in charge of your affairs, too.
The Wise Men
Matthew 2:1-12
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea when Herod was king. After Jesus’ birth wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem and they asked, “Where is the one who was born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star rising and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod and all Jerusalem heard about this, they became disturbed. He called together all the chief priests and scribes and tried to find out from them where the Messiah was supposed to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this: Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah. A leader will come from you. He will shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod secretly called the wise men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared.
As he sent them to Bethlehem, he said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you have found him, report to me so that I may go and worship him too.” After they had heard the king, they started out. The star they had seen rising led them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star.
When they entered the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary. So they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.
