Matthew 2

The Visit of the Wise Men

1 Now after a Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, 1 wise men b from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, c "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen d His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all e the chief priests and f scribes of the people together, g he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6 'But h you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
i Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 2

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the 3 wise men, determined from them what time the j star appeared. 8 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." 9 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. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, k they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned l in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight to Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, m "Out of Egypt I called My Son." 4

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

18 "A n voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more." 5

The Return to Nazareth

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 o saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who p sought the young Child's life are dead." 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a q dream, he turned aside r into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called s Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled t which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

  1. Cross References
    Micah 5:2
    "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
    Luke 2:4 - 7
    Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 25:6
    But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his son, to the country of the east.
    1 Kings 4:30
    Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.
  3. Cross References
    Luke 2:11
    For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 24:17
    I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
    Isaiah 60:3
    The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
  5. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 36:14
    Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 34:13
    Were over the burden bearers and were overseers of all who did work in any kind of service. And some of the Levites were scribes, officers, and gatekeepers.
  7. Cross References
    Malachi 2:7
    For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
  8. Cross References
    Micah 5:2
    "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
    John 7:42
    "Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?"
  9. Cross References
    Genesis 49:10
    The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
    Revelation 2:27
    He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' - as I also have received from My Father.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 24:17
    I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
  11. Cross References
    Psalms 72:10
    The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts.
    Isaiah 60:6
    The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD.
  12. Cross References
    Job 33:15
    In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds.
    Job 33:16
    Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.
    Matthew 1:20
    But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
  13. Cross References
    Numbers 24:8
    God brings him out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows.
    Hosea 11:1
    When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
  14. Cross References
    Jeremiah 31:15
    Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.
  15. Cross References
    Luke 2:39
    So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
  16. Cross References
    Matthew 2:16
    Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.
  17. Cross References
    Matthew 2:12
    Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.
    Matthew 2:13
    Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.
    Matthew 2:19
    Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.
  18. Cross References
    Matthew 3:13
    Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
    Luke 2:39
    So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
  19. Cross References
    Luke 1:26
    Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth.
    Luke 2:39
    So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
    John 1:45
    Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
    John 1:46
    And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see.
  20. Cross References
    Judges 13:5
    "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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