Matthew 2:

Birth of Jesus Christ

                Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod. Wise men come from the east to Jerusalem and said; “…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 2:2)

When King Herod heard that there was born a King of the Jews, he was troubled. Nevertheless he inquired of the wise men and sent them secretly to Bethlehem to recover the child and bring him to Herod, so that he could worship the child. So, the wise men leave and follow the east star; “…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.” (Matthew 2:11)

                The wise men however were warned in a dream that Herod wanted to seek the child, in order to destroy him. Based on this information the wise men secretly departed into their own country, traveling a different path. When Herod found out that the wise men had mocked him, he “…slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.” (Matthew 2:16)

Soon after, Herod passes away and an angel of the Lord comes to Joseph and tells him; “…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.” (Matthew 2:20) So Joseph takes Jesus into the land of Israel to the city of Nazareth, so that he might be called Nazarene.