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| 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, |
When Jesus was born – For the suffering of death; the first step in the divine plan for our salvation. R1603:6
About October 1, BC 2; 33-½ years prior to his death in April AD 33. B60
Herod – Of the house of Esau, an Edomite. R4956:2
There came wise men – Magi, sages, philosophers. R1674:3
According to tradition, three in number. R3702:3, 4098:4
When we remember that Daniel was at one time a prince in Persia, it is easy to see how Daniel's prophecy respecting Messiah's birth would be handed down, and well known to the disciples of Zoroaster. R3702:3
The Nestorians say that Zoroaster was a pupil of Jeremiah. R3703:3
We are not informed whether or not these were Hebrews; but we consider it probable that they were part of the twelve tribes scattered abroad "waiting for the consolation of Israel." (Acts 26:7; Luke 2:25) R4098:3
Not only wise men, but reverential men, full of faith. R3703:3
Although heathen, not of Israel, they were good men. R3703:3
Thirty years before our Lord was anointed as the Messiah. B247
Even the Gentile world was in expectation of the coming Messiah. (Luke 3:15) R1674:3; B21; C85
Typifying the Millerite movement in 1844 AD. B247, B241; C85
Those in full harmony with God were not left in ignorance of so important an event. B21
Astrologers, rather than astronomers, affecting to read in the stars the history of nations and individuals. R3703:1
The term originally belonged to a class of priests among the Medes and Persians who constituted the king's privy council and who cultivated astrology, medicine, occult and natural science. R1674:3
From the east – Supposedly Persia. R4534:3, 3702:2, 1674:3
In the Far East, the Chinese and Japanese and other nations have cherished a very ancient tradition that God would descend to the earth in visible form to enlighten men and to redeem them from their sins. R1674:3
Today even the Mohammedans and the Brahmins of the East are waiting for Messiah and the Golden Age, seeking evidences. Contrast this with the unbelief of the prominent ministers of "Christendom." R4956:5
To Jerusalem – Apparently the star's leading discontinued when they reached Judea. R4534:3, 4098:6
The Lord may have given them additional explanation of the matter, even as he subsequently warned them in a dream. R3703:1
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| 2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east and are come to worship him. |
King of the Jews – Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Virgil, Confucius and Zoroaster all bear testimony that there prevailed throughout the entire East at this time an intense conviction, derived from the prophecies, that about this time a child from heaven would be born in Judea, gain dominion over the whole world, establish the Golden Age and take away sin. R4098:4, 3703:2
He was born King of the Jews, but that work was still future--at his second coming when he appears in glory and becomes King of Israel--on the spirit plane. R4534:6, 4956:5, 1675:1
Have seen his star – God made some astrological sign which the wise men understood and reverently followed. R4534:4
Because they had no special revelation from God, the nobler minds among the other nations gave special study to the starry heavens along the lines of astronomy or astrology. R4534:2
Thus, kindly, God condescends to human ignorance and weakness. R1675:1
It is not a rare occasion for stars to suddenly blaze up, and then suddenly fade in a year or two. Such a star was observed in 1901. We think this was different, however. R3703:2
We have the assurance that there was a truth connected with the manifestation of a special peculiar star, but we have "the more sure word of prophecy." (2 Pet. 1:9) R3703:1
Come to worship him – Showing their reverence to the mighty God of Israel, their faith in the divinely inspired prophecies, and their zeal as truth-seekers and their humility to inquire of the God of another nation. R1675:1
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| 3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. |
Herod the king – Although called King of the Jews, Herod was the representative of their conquerors, the Romans. R4098:5
An Edomite, who had built a temple grander than Solomon's. R4956:2
He was troubled – By the suggestion that his dynasty might be overthrown. R4956:2, 4098:5
With jealousy on his own behalf, and on behalf of the Roman Empire. R3702:6
Similarly, those who are now in influence and power are troubled at the prospect of a change in government which their own wise men announce as imminent. R4966:2, 4534:3, 4099:1
Any announcement today that Messiah's Kingdom is nigh meets with resentment. R4534:3, 4956:2
And all Jerusalem – All under Herod's political influence. R4098:5
Evidently they were in a very self-satisfied condition, experiencing great prosperity, and had ceased to specially long and pray for Messiah. R4956:2
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| 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. |
When he had gathered – Evidently, knowing of the Jewish tradition respecting Messiah, he sent for those who were learned in the Scriptures. R4098:5
Priests and scribes – Although they answered correctly, they showed no enthusiasm in quoting the prophecies of Messiah's birth. R4956:3
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| 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written through the prophet, |
They said unto him – Showing their faith, even though it was an irreverent and selfishly jealous faith; indirect evidence of the esteem which the Hebrew Scriptures commanded. R1675:2
In Bethlehem – Only six miles distant. R3703:2
For thus it is written – Though the scribes and chief priests understood his birthplace from Micah 5:2, they could not see that, as the Judge of Israel, he would be smitten with "a rod upon the cheek." (Mic. 5:1) R436:1
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6 And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah:
For out of thee shall come forth a leader,
Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel. |
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| 7 Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared. |
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| 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him. |
Bring me word again – Let the civil government, if it chooses, fight down everything associated with the new dispensation; the religious elements remain quite indifferent. R4956:5
That I may come – Herod's selfish faith was in strong contrast with the reverent and devotional faith of the wise men. R1675:4
Worship him also – The crafty Herod feigned reverence, but only that he might destroy the child. R4534:3,5
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| 9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. |
They departed – None of the priests and teachers of the day followed them to Bethlehem to find the newborn king of the Jews. They had become Higher Critics and no longer believed the prophets. They had less faith in them than had Herod. R4956:3
And, lo, the star – Probably a bright, electrical, luminous spot travelling near the earth. R3703:2
Thus, even in his infancy, this light that was to lighten the Gentiles began to shine into some waiting and devout Gentile hearts. R1675:5
Near Rachel's tomb, by Bethlehem, is a cistern where tradition says the star appeared to the wise men the second time to guide them to Bethlehem and the manger. R1401:2
Till it came – Greek, elthon, it ceased to go. Its arrival was accomplished; it stood. R149:5*
Stood over – Apparently indicating the very house in which they found the newborn king. R4098:6
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| 10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. |
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| 11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. |
And fell down – Prostrated themselves, physically expressing their reverence. R3703:4
And worshipped him – By prostrating themselves; in their hearts and with their tongues, by giving expression to their rejoicing; and by opening their treasure boxes to him. R3703:4
The humble surroundings did not alter the reverent condition of their hearts. R4534:5, 3703:4
Unto him gifts – Let us be true wise men and present to him our treasures--all that we have and are--our hearts. R4534:6, 1604:4
Gold – Representing obedience and consecration. R4534:5, 3703:4,5
Our earthly substance. R3703:5
And frankincense – Representing praise, devotion, heart adoration, appreciation, gratitude. R4534:6, 3703:4,5
And myrrh – Representing submission, a willingness for service, to the extent of bitterness and suffering. R4534:6, 3703:4,5
Have we shown a joy to honor the King even to the extent of suffering with him? R3703:5
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| 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. |
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| 13 Now when they were departed, behold, an 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 tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. |
Angel of the Lord – "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." (Heb. 1:14) R1681:3
Flee into Egypt – We should be on the lookout for divine deliverance and the opening of a way of escape from things too difficult for us to endure. F508
God did not miraculously interfere with Herod's plans. The lease of power granted to the kingdoms of this world has not yet expired. R1681:6
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| 14 And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; |
When he arose – The faith and prompt obedience of Joseph and Mary to the warning and counsel of the angel of the Lord is notable. They did not hesitate or question, but immediately acted. R1681:3
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| 15 and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son. |
Death of Herod – Unreliably and variously dated by scholars as 4 BC, 2 AD, 7 AD; therefore not reliable evidence in establishing the date of Jesus' birth. B56, B57
By the prophet – This prophecy has three fulfillments: the deliverance of Israel in the days of Pharaoh; the return of the infant Jesus to the land of his birth; and The Christ being called out of the world (Egypt). R1681:6, 436:1; C316
Out of Egypt – Type of the world. C316
I called my Son – To the higher, divine nature. C316
Likewise his joint-heirs are called out of Egypt. "They are not of this world even as I am not of this world." (John 17:16) C316
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| 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men. |
Slew all the children – Seeking to destroy Christ that thus the kingdom of Israel might be preserved to his own family--as it was through his six successors. R4534:3
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| 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, |
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18 A voice was heard in Ramah,
Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
And she would not be comforted, because they are not. |
Lamentation and weeping – But another note of the long wail of distress of the groaning creation which will be permitted for wise and benevolent ends until the "times of restitution." R1682:4
Rachel – Rachel was the mother of two of the tribes, Joseph and Benjamin, which tribes occupied Palestine at the time of the first advent. R436:1
They are not – Not in hell or purgatory; they have ceased to exist. CR430:2; R822:5
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| 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, |
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| 20 Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's soul. |
Young child's life – Greek, psuche, soul, being. E335
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| 21 And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. |
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| 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the stead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, |
Archelaus – Herod's son and successor, who even surpassed his father in oppression, cruelty, egotism and sensuality. R1681:3
He turned aside – Not disregarding the Lord's directions, which were to go into the land of Israel--in any part of which they might settle. R1681:6
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| 23 and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. |
Called Nazareth – A despised place, the object doubtless being to bring the truth into disrepute; as Second Adventism has brought the time features into disrepute. B29
Called a Nazarene – Although born in Bethlehem, he was reared in Nazareth, "that he might be called a Nazarene"--that he might not have the honor of the "City of David," but the odium of "a mean city." R4556:3
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