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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_2:7-12
7Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Mat_2:7
NASB "determined from them the exact time the star appeared"
NKJV "determined from them what time the star appeared"
NRSV "learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared"
TEV "and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared"
NJB "He asked them the exact date on which the star appeared"
Herod was interested in the age of the child. Since it took the Magi many months to travel from Persia, Jesus was at least one or two years of age at this time.
Mat_2:9
NASB "the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over the place where the Child was"
NKJV "the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was"
NRSV "and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was"
TEV "and it went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was"
NJB "the star they had seen rising went forward and halted over the place where the child was"
Presuppositions determine interpretation. I believe in the supernatural, although I cannot always explain why or how. The star moved and stopped! It must not have been so spectacular that many others saw it or recognized its significance. These men were trained in what to expect in the night sky. This phenomena did not fit a standard pattern. Therefore, it was not solely a natural phenomenon. This mixture of the natural and supernatural is similar to the plagues on Egypt.
The wise men did not come the same time as the shepherds. It has always surprised me that Matthew, writing to Jews, mentions Gentiles coming (saw the star) and Luke, writing to Gentiles, mentions Jewish shepherds coming (heard the angels). The theological truth is obvious-everyone is welcome to come (Gentiles, outcast Jews)!
Mat_2:10 "they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" Why did they rejoice?
1. their search was over
2. the star continued to guide them
3. there is a spiritual component to their search (cf. Mat_2:11); they found their new king and lord!
The intensive nature of this phrase leads one to option #3.
Mat_2:11 "the house" Obviously some time (up to two years) had passed from the time of the birth. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living in their own house.
▣ "the Child" The Greek term (paidion) used here was not the usual term for "infant" (brephos, cf. Luk_1:41; Luk_1:44; Luk_2:12; Luk_2:16), but "toddler" (cf. Luk_2:40; Mat_18:2). There was a lengthy period of time between the visit of the shepherds and the wise men.
▣ "gold, frankincense, and myrrh" Because three gifts were presented, tradition has asserted that there were three wise men. Tertullian even went so far as to assert that they were the kings mentioned in Isa_60:3. Much effort has been spent to interpret the significance of the gifts, but what is known definitely is that these gifts were expensive and were used by royalty. It is possible they are fulfillment of Isa_49:23 or Psa_72:10-12.
Mat_2:12 "having been warned by God in a dream" God spoke to these magi just as He revealed His will to Mary and Joseph in a dream (cf. Mat_1:13; Mat_1:19). They were spiritually sensitive men.