마태복음 Chapter 2

Translation: ESV

1

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,

Key Message

The fact that Gentile scholars from the ends of the earth came seeking the King of Israel declares from the beginning that Jesus is the Savior of all nations.

Two pieces of spatiotemporal information are presented: 'in the days of Herod the king' (historical context) and 'Bethlehem of Judea' (geographical context).

Two pieces of spatiotemporal information are presented: 'in the days of Herod the king' (historical context) and 'Bethlehem of Judea' (geographical context). Herod the Great was the Roman-appointed king of Judea who reigned from 37–4 BC, and Jesus' birth falls in the final years of his reign. The 'wise men (μάγοι, magi)' refers to a group of astronomers, astrologers, and philosophers from Mesopotamia or Persia; the Bible does not specify their number (the tradition of three comes from the three gifts). Their first destination being Jerusalem reflects the natural expectation that a king would reside in the capital.

2

saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'

Key Message

God leads even Gentiles to Christ through the created world — through a star.

The question of the wise men carries the central question that runs through the entire Gospel of Matthew: 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?' This title appears again on the inscription above the cross (27:37), connecting birth and death in a single theological arc.

3

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Key Message

The birth of the true King is a fundamental challenge to the existing order and power of the world.

'Was troubled (ἐταράχθη)' is a word meaning strong anxiety and agitation; not only Herod but 'all Jerusalem' was shaken together.

4

and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Key Message

Biblical knowledge is not in itself salvation. There is a decisive difference between knowing and obeying.

Herod summons the religious leaders for political purposes, asking about the birthplace of the Messiah.

5

They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:'

Key Message

God's word is already written. The question is not whether you know it, but how you respond to it.

The religious leaders immediately cite Micah 5:2 and pinpoint Bethlehem.

6

'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'

Key Message

The Messiah comes not as a dominating king but as a serving shepherd. This is the paradox of God starting from the lowest place.

This is a combined quotation of Micah 5:2 and 2 Samuel 5:2.

7

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.

Key Message

The wickedness of power seeks to use even good things for its own ends. Spiritual discernment is necessary.

'Secretly (λάθρᾳ)' means covertly, in secret.

8

and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, 'Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.'

Key Message

Religious language can also be used to disguise malice. A tree is known by its fruit.

Herod tries to use the wise men with the hypocritical words 'I too may come and worship.

9

After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

Key Message

God is a guide who leads each person to Christ in a way they can understand.

The star reappearing and 'coming to rest over' the place where the child was describes a miraculous guidance difficult to explain by natural phenomena alone.

10

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Key Message

The joy of finding Christ is a full and overflowing joy unlike any joy the world offers.

The original text doubly emphasizes joy: 'they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy (ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα).

11

And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Key Message

True worship means offering the best. The gifts of the Gentile wise men declare Jesus' kingship, divinity, and suffering all at once.

The wise men entering a 'house (οἰκίαν)' suggests that a significant amount of time had passed since Jesus was born (not the manger but a house).

12

And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Key Message

A person who has encountered God walks not on the same road they came by, but in a different, changed direction.

The wise men had promised to report back to Herod (2:8), but with God's instruction through a dream they take a different route.

13

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.'

Key Message

God's protection is given in advance, and our duty is to obey immediately.

As soon as the wise men depart, the angel appears to Joseph again.

14

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt

Key Message

Faith's obedience does not wait for a convenient time. It acts immediately when the moment requires it.

Joseph's action repeats the pattern of 1:24: 'he rose.

15

and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'

Key Message

Jesus is the true Israel who embodied Israel's history. In him, the national experience becomes individual salvation.

This is a quotation of Hosea 11:1.

16

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Key Message

God does not look away from or fail to remember the reality of innocent people suffering before the violence of power.

Herod's massacre of the infants is historically controversial but entirely consistent with his character.

17

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

Key Message

God does not turn away from human suffering. Our tears too are recorded in God's word.

Matthew's fulfillment formula appears again.

18

'A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.'

Key Message

God does not rush to resolve our grief. He first fully acknowledges it.

Rachel was the mother of Benjamin and Joseph, the wife Jacob loved most.

19

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

Key Message

No tyrant can forever block God's plan. Sovereignty over history belongs to God.

Herod's death signifies the end of the threat, and God's angel immediately informs Joseph of the return.

20

saying, 'Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.'

Key Message

God not only sends us but also personally confirms safety and guides us when it is time to return.

'Rise, take the child and his mother' directly repeats the command of verse 13, creating a symmetrical structure in the round-trip journey.

21

And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

Key Message

Obedience must be repeated. It does not end with a single act of obedience; new obedience is required at every moment.

Joseph's obedience is once again immediate and complete.

22

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

Key Message

God does not ignore our rational fears but shows us a new path within them.

Joseph feared the territory of Judea because of Archelaus' cruel character.

23

And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Key Message

God chooses what the world despises. The history of salvation begins in low and obscure places.

The 'word spoken by the prophets' that Matthew quotes cannot be found in this form anywhere in the Old Testament.