‏ Matthew 2

* The wise men's search after Christ. (1-8) The wise men worship

Jesus. (9-12) Jesus carried into Egypt. (13-15) Herod causes the

infants of Bethlehem to be massacred. (16-18) Death of Herod,

Jesus brought to Nazareth. (19-23)

1-8 Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of

grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of

Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human

learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by

attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark

place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those

in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of

the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him.

Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his

family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born

infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the

dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the

Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be

persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they

interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a

belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the

truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope

for success therein. 9-12 What joy these wise men felt upon this sight of the star,

none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy

night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit

of bondage, at length receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing

with their spirits that they are the children of God. We may

well think what a disappointment it was to them, when they found

a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother the only

attendant he had. However, these wise men did not think

themselves baffled; but having found the King they sought, they

presented their gifts to him. The humble inquirer after Christ

will not be stumbled at finding him and his disciples in obscure

cottages, after having in vain sought them in palaces and

populous cities. Is a soul busy, seeking after Christ? Would it

worship him, and does it say, Alas! I am a foolish and poor

creature, and have nothing to offer? Nothing! Hast thou not a

heart, though unworthy of him, dark, hard, and foul? Give it to

him as it is, and be willing that he use and dispose of it as it

pleases him; he will take it, and will make it better, and thou

shalt never repent having given it to him. He shall frame it to

his own likeness, and will give thee himself, and be thine for

ever. The gifts the wise men presented were gold, frankincense,

and myrrh. Providence sent these as a seasonable relief to

Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. Thus our

heavenly Father, who knows what his children need, uses some as

stewards to supply the wants of others, and can provide for

them, even from the ends of the earth. 13-15 Egypt had been a house of bondage to Israel, and

particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; yet it is to be a

place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God, when he pleases,

can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. This

was a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mary. But their faith,

being tried, was found firm. If we and our infants are at any

time in trouble, let us remember the straits in which Christ was

when an infant. #16-18| Herod killed all the male children, not

only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages of that city.

Unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often carries men

to absurd cruelties. It was no unrighteous thing with God to

permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as

it begins. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs

of original sin. But the murder of these infants was their

martyrdom. How early did persecution against Christ and his

kingdom begin! Herod now thought that he had baffled the Old

Testament prophecies, and the efforts of the wise men in finding

Christ; but whatever crafty, cruel devices are in men's hearts,

the counsel of the Lord shall stand. 19-23 Egypt may serve to sojourn in, or take shelter in, for

awhile, but not to abide in. Christ was sent to the lost sheep

of the house of Israel, to them he must return. Did we but look

upon the world as our Egypt, the place of our bondage and

banishment, and heaven only as our Canaan, our home, our rest,

we should as readily arise and depart thither, when we are

called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt. The family must settle

in Galilee. Nazareth was a place held in bad esteem, and Christ

was crucified with this accusation, Jesus the Nazarene. Wherever

Providence allots the bounds of our habitation, we must expect

to share the reproach of Christ; yet we may glory in being

called by his name, sure that if we suffer with him, we shall

also be glorified with him.