MATTHEW CHAPTER TWO
INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY
The purpose of this study work is to give you the original Greek language words and definitions for all the key words in this selected Bible text. This work does not make any effort to interpret the text in question, though some interpretation may occur naturally as a result of the study. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!
All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this website, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE or MSIE 3.0 or higher will be able to read the document easier. Greek tenses are abbreviated as follows:
Now when Jesus was born (Scholars cannot determine the exact time of Christ's birth, though the best estimate is considered March - April of 5 BC. He wouldn't have been born in December, as the sheep and shepherds were out in the fields)
in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, (These events transpired about 2 years prior to Herod's death. Herod, a friend to Octavius, grand nephew of Julius Augustus Caesar, was one of the most powerful non-Romans in Roman times. When Octavius became Caesar he trusted Herod. Herod was born in 73 BC. Alexandria, an Arab woman who briefly ruled as Queen of the Jews, was his grandmother. Herod restored the Jewish Kingdom to the size it was in the time of Solomon. He was a great hunter, horseman, and wrestler. Tall, handsome, and athletic, he was one of the greatest conversationalists in the ancient world. He did not allow anyone to make statues or pictures of himself, because he wanted to avoid offending the Jewish tradition against "making false images". As a rich man, he once went nearly bankrupt by buying grain for the Jews from Egypt during a harsh famine. The Jews repaid this kindness by trying to revolt against him later. On March 15, 44 BC Julius Caesar was assassinated, so Herod saved his throne by befriending Octavius. A few years prior to Christ's birth Herod wiped out all the cave bandits that lived in the region of Galilee, drastically lowering the crime rate)
behold, there came wise men (The Magi were a fraternity of scholars that studied the night skies. These people were Medes, Persians, and Babylonians. Daniel was a leader of this society in his day - see Daniel 2.48)
from the east to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:2
Saying, 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.
Matthew 2:3
When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, (Herod was old and sick, suffered rapid mood changes, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, diarrhea, and other illnesses. He wanted the Herodian line to continue after his death and that, coupled with his illness, made him somewhat crazy when he heard of a 'King of the Jews'. After going through 25 years of Jewish rebellion this 'King of the Jews" was the last straw)
and all Jerusalem with him.
Matthew 2:4
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes (The Sanhedrin, or Council of Seventy, who ruled religiously Israel)
of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Matthew 2:5
And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: (There were four "Bethlehems" in Israel, which is why this one was referred to by Province/ Judaea)
for thus it is written by the prophet,
Matthew 2:6
And 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 (POIMAINO = to shepherd. As a Shepherd Christ shall regather Israel at His Second Advent)
my people Israel.
Matthew 2:7
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, (Herod had four forts around Bethlehem, each within signaling distance of the other and of Jerusalem. Herod thought he could keep track of the Magi and thus find this "King of the Jews". He was thwarted by God)
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.
Matthew 2:9
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 (PAIDION = young child, nursing child, baby)
was.
Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced (CHAIRO = To be glad, rejoice)
with exceeding great joy.
Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, (OIKIA = house, not manger. From the use of OIKIA I suspect that the Magi, unlike the traditional Christmas story we hear, came to Jesus after the Shepherds of the field came, and the family was now in a house, not a manger)
they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped (PROSKUNEO = to worship as if God. This was the first time the deity of Christ was recognized)
him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Baths
were taken infrequently in the ancient world, so perfumes were often very
expensive. Myrrh was a perfume used in embalming the dead, and symbolized
the coming death of the Christ. Frankincense was used by nobility, and
symbolized the royalty of the Christ)
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Matthew 2:12
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Matthew 2:13
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.
Matthew 2:14
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Matthew 2:15
And 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.
Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked (EMPAIZO = deceived, deluded)
of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, (THUMOOMAI = filled with anger, threw a tantrum)
and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts (HOROS = borders, limits, horizons)
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
Matthew 2:17
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
Matthew 2:18
In Rama (This was a little town on the hill between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Nebuchanezzar collected all the Jewish captors in this town, chained them up, and marched them off into captivity. Children were separated from their parents and sent to different places, just as Herod separated children from their parents in death because of his tantrum. A prophecy that was written 500 years prior to the Herodian event is fulfilled)
was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel (One of Jacob's wives, idiomatic for "a Jewish mother")
weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Matthew 2:19
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Matthew 2:20
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead (Four people wanted Christ dead: Herod; Alexander, Herod's oldest son; Aristobulus, the son who would get part of Herod's Kingdom; and Antipater, another of Herod's sons. All four died within four months of Herod's death. The hand of God protected the Christ child)
which sought the young child's life.
Matthew 2:21
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Matthew 2:22
But when he heard that Archelaus (One of two sons Herod had by a Samaritan woman, he was made Herod's successor 4 days prior to Herod's death)
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: (Archelaus received rulership over Edomia, Judea, and Samaria. Though he didn't actively try to kill Christ he was nevertheless a harsh and cruel ruler. Joseph went north where Archelaus' brother, Herod Philip, ruled in Galilee. Herod Philip was a good administrator who planned to erect more buildings in Galilee. God used this to keep Joseph, a carpenter, gainfully employed while Jesus grew to manhood)
Matthew 2:23
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: (The center of Herod Philip's construction projects. A great place for a carpenter to live and work)
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. (NAZORAIOS = Nazarene, the name literally means "a root or branch". This was a fulfillment of prophecy. See John 1.46; 7.52; Isa 11.1)
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