mh_parser/vol_split/40 - Matthew/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="Matt.iii" n="iii" next="Matt.iv" prev="Matt.ii" progress="1.19%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="Matt.iii-p0.1">M A T T H E W.</h2>
<h3 id="Matt.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Matt.iii-p1">In this chapter, we have the history of our
Saviour's infancy, where we find how early he began to suffer, and
that in him the word of righteousness was fulfilled, before he
himself began to fulfil all righteousness. Here is, I. The wise
men's solicitous enquiry after Christ, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.1-Matt.2.8" parsed="|Matt|2|1|2|8" passage="Mt 2:1-8">ver. 1-8</scripRef>. II. Their devout attendance on him,
when they found out where he was, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.9-Matt.2.12" parsed="|Matt|2|9|2|12" passage="Mt 2:9-12">ver. 9-12</scripRef>. III. Christ's flight into Egypt,
to avoid the cruelty of Herod, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.13-Matt.2.15" parsed="|Matt|2|13|2|15" passage="Mt 2:13-15">ver.
13-15</scripRef>. IV. The barbarous murder of the infants of
Bethlehem, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.16-Matt.2.18" parsed="|Matt|2|16|2|18" passage="Mt 2:16-18">ver. 16-18</scripRef>. V.
Christ's return out of Egypt into the land of Israel again,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.19-Matt.2.23" parsed="|Matt|2|19|2|23" passage="Mt 2:19-23">ver. 19-23</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Matt.iii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2" parsed="|Matt|2|0|0|0" passage="Mt 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Matt.iii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.1-Matt.2.8" parsed="|Matt|2|1|2|8" passage="Mt 2:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Matt.2.1-Matt.2.8">
<h4 id="Matt.iii-p1.8">The Wise Men Come to
Jerusalem.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Matt.iii-p2">1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea
in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the
east to Jerusalem,   2 Saying, 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.   3 When Herod the king had heard <i>these
things,</i> he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.   4
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it
is written by the prophet,   6 And thou Bethlehem, <i>in</i>
the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for
out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people
Israel.   7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise
men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
  8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child; and when ye have found <i>him,</i>
bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p3">It was a <i>mark of humiliation</i> put
upon the Lord Jesus that, though he was the <i>Desire of all
nations,</i> yet his coming into the world was little observed and
taken notice of, his birth was obscure and unregarded: herein he
emptied himself, and made himself of no reputation. If the Son of
God must be brought into the world, one might justly expect that he
should be received with all the ceremony possible, that crowns and
sceptres should immediately have been laid at his feet, and that
the high and mighty princes of the world should have been his
humble servants; such a Messiah as this the Jews expected, but we
see none of all this; he <i>came into the world,</i> and the
<i>world knew him not;</i> nay, he <i>came to his own,</i> and
<i>his own received him not;</i> for having undertaken to make
satisfaction to his Father for the wrong done him <i>in his
honour</i> by the sin of man, he did it by denying himself in, and
despoiling himself of, the honours undoubtedly due to an incarnate
Deity; yet, as afterward, so in his birth, some rays of glory
darted forth in the midst of the greatest instances of his
abasement. Though <i>there was the hiding of his power,</i> yet he
had <i>horns coming out of his hand</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Hab.3.4" parsed="|Hab|3|4|0|0" passage="Hab 3:4">Hab. iii. 4</scripRef>) enough to condemn the world, and
the Jews especially, for their stupidity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p4">The first who took notice of Christ after
his birth were the shepherds (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.15" parsed="|Luke|2|15|0|0" passage="Lu 2:15">Luke ii.
15</scripRef>, &amp;c.), who saw and heard glorious things
concerning him, and <i>made them known abroad,</i> to the amazement
of all that heard them, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.17-Matt.2.18" parsed="|Matt|2|17|2|18" passage="Mt 2:17,18"><i>v.</i>
17, 18</scripRef>. After that, Simeon and Ann a spoke of him, by
the Spirit, to all that were disposed to heed what they said,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.38" parsed="|Luke|2|38|0|0" passage="Lu 2:38">Luke ii. 38</scripRef>. Now, one would
think, these hints should have been taken by the men of Judah and
the <i>inhabitants of Jerusalem,</i> and they should with both arms
have embraced the long-looked-for Messiah; but, for aught that
appears, he continued nearly two years after at Bethlehem, and no
further notice was taken of him till these wise men came. Note,
Nothing will awaken those that are resolved to be regardless. Oh
the amazing stupidity of these Jews! And no less that of many who
are called Christians! Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p5">I. When this enquiry was made concerning
Christ. It was <i>in the days of Herod the king.</i> This Herod was
an Edomite, made king of Judea by Augustus and Antonius, the then
chief rulers of the Roman state, a man made up of falsehood and
cruelty; yet he was complimented with the title of <i>Herod the
Great.</i> Christ was born in the 35th year of his reign, and
notice is taken of this, to show that the <i>sceptre</i> had now
<i>departed from Judah,</i> and <i>the lawgiver from between his
feet;</i> and therefore now was the time for Shiloh to come, and
<i>to him shall the gathering of the people be:</i> witness these
wise men, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.10" parsed="|Gen|49|10|0|0" passage="Ge 49:10">Gen. xlix.
10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p6">II. Who and what these <i>wise men</i>
were; they are here called <b><i>Magoi</i></b>—<i>Magicians.</i>
Some that it in a good sense; the <i>Magi</i> among the
<i>Persians</i> were their philosophers and their priests; nor
would they admit any one for their king who had not first been
enrolled among the <i>Magi;</i> others think they dealt in unlawful
arts; the word is used of Simon, the sorcerer (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.8.9 Bible:Acts.8.11" parsed="|Acts|8|9|0|0;|Acts|8|11|0|0" passage="Ac 8:9,11">Acts viii. 9, 11</scripRef>), and of Elymas, the
sorcerer (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.13.6" parsed="|Acts|13|6|0|0" passage="Ac 13:6">Acts xiii. 6</scripRef>), nor
does the scripture use it in any other sense; and then it was an
early instance and presage of Christ's victory over the devil, when
those who had been so much his devotees became the early adorers
even of the infant Jesus; so soon were trophies of his victory over
the powers of darkness erected. Well, whatever sort of wise men
they were before, now they began to be <i>wise men</i> indeed when
they set themselves to enquire after Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p7">This we are sure of, 1. That they were
Gentiles, and not belonging to the commonwealth of Israel. The Jews
regarded not Christ, but these Gentiles enquired him out. Note,
Many times those who are nearest to the means, are furthest from
the end. See <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.8.11-Matt.8.12" parsed="|Matt|8|11|8|12" passage="Mt 8:11,12"><i>ch.</i> viii. 11,
12</scripRef>. The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a
happy presage and specimen of what would follow when those who were
<i>afar off</i> should be <i>made nigh by Christ.</i> 2. That they
were <i>scholars.</i> They dealt in arts, curious arts; good
scholars should be good Christians, and <i>then</i> they complete
their <i>learning</i> when they <i>learn Christ.</i> 3. That they
were <i>men of the east,</i> who were noted for their
<i>soothsaying,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.2.6" parsed="|Isa|2|6|0|0" passage="Isa 2:6">Isa. ii.
6</scripRef>. Arabia is called the land of <i>the east</i>
(<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.25.6" parsed="|Gen|25|6|0|0" passage="Ge 25:6">Gen. xxv. 6</scripRef>), and the
<i>Arabians</i> are called <i>men of the east,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.6.3" parsed="|Judg|6|3|0|0" passage="Jdg 6:3">Judg. vi. 3</scripRef>. The presents they brought
were the products of that country; the Arabians had done homage to
David and Solomon as types of Christ. Jethro and Job were of that
country. More than this we have not to say of them. The traditions
of the Romish church are frivolous, that they were in number three
(though one of the ancients says that they were fourteen), that
they were kings, and that they lie buried in Colen, thence called
the <i>three kings of Colen;</i> we covet not to be wise above what
is written.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p8">III. What induced them to make this
enquiry. They, in their country, which was in the <i>east,</i> had
seen an <i>extraordinary star,</i> such as they had not seen
before; which they took to be an indication of an extraordinary
person born in the land of <i>Judea,</i> over which land this star
was seen to hover, in the nature of a comet, or a meteor rather, in
the lowers regions of the air; this differed so much from any thing
that was common that they concluded it to signify something
uncommon. Note, Extraordinary appearances of God in the creatures
should put us upon enquiring after his mind and will therein;
Christ foretold <i>signs in the heavens.</i> The birth of Christ
was notified to the Jewish shepherds by <i>an angel,</i> to the
Gentile philosophers by a <i>star:</i> to both God spoke in their
own language, and in the way they were best acquainted with. Some
think that the light which the shepherds saw shining round about
them, the night after Christ was born, was the very same which to
the wise men, who lived at such a distance, appeared as a star; but
this we cannot easily admit, because the same star which they had
seen in the <i>east</i> they saw a great while after, leading them
to the house where Christ lay; it was a candle set up on purpose to
guide them to Christ. The idolaters worshipped the stars as the
<i>host of heaven,</i> especially the <i>eastern</i> nations,
whence the planets have the names of their idol-gods; we read of a
particular <i>star</i> they had in veneration, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Amos.5.26" parsed="|Amos|5|26|0|0" passage="Am 5:26">Amos v. 26</scripRef>. Thus the stars that had been
misused came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ; the
gods of the heathen became his servants. Some think this star put
them in mind of Balaam's prophecy, that a star should come out of
Jacob, pointing at a <i>sceptre,</i> that shall <i>rise out of
Israel;</i> see <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.24.17" parsed="|Num|24|17|0|0" passage="Nu 24:17">Num. xxiv.
17</scripRef>. Balaam came from the <i>mountains of the east,</i>
and was one of their <i>wise men.</i> Others impute their enquiry
to the general expectation entertained at that time, in those
<i>eastern</i> parts, of some great prince to appear. Tacitus, in
his history (<i>lib.</i> 5), takes notice of it; <i>Pluribus
persuasio inerat, antiquis sacerdotum literis contineri, eo ipso
tempore fore, ut valesceret oriens, profectique Judæa rerum
potirentur—A persuasion existed in the minds of many that some
ancient writings of the priests contained a prediction that about
that time an eastern power would prevail, and that persons
proceeding from Judea would obtain dominion. Suetonius</i> also, in
the life of <i>Vespasian,</i> speaks of it; so that this
extraordinary phenomenon was construed as pointing to <i>that
king;</i> and we may suppose a divine impression made upon their
minds, enabling them to interpret this star as a signal given by
Heaven of the birth of Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p9">IV. How they prosecuted this enquiry.
<i>They came from the</i> east to Jerusalem, in further quest of
this prince. Wither shall they come to enquire for the king of the
Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-city, <i>whither the tribes go
up, the tribes of the Lord?</i> They might have said, "If such a
prince be born, we shall hear of him shortly in our own country,
and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him." But so
impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that they
took a long journey on purpose to enquire after him. Note, Those
who truly desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard
pains or perils in seeking after him. <i>Then shall we know, if we
follow on to know the Lord.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p10">Their question is, <i>Where is he that is
born king of the Jews?</i> They do not ask, <i>whether there were
such a one born?</i> (they are sure of that, and speak of it with
assurance, so strongly was it set home upon their hearts); but,
<i>Where is he born?</i> Note, Those who know <i>something</i> of
Christ cannot but covet to <i>know more</i> of him. They call
Christ the <i>King of the Jews,</i> for so the Messiah was expected
to be: and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual Israel,
he is <i>born a King.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p11">To this question they doubted not but to
have a ready answer, and to find all Jerusalem worshipping at the
feet of this new king; but they come from door to door with this
question, and no man can give them any information. Note, There is
more gross ignorance in the world, and in the church too, than we
are aware of. Many that we think should direct us to Christ are
themselves strangers to him. They ask, as the spouse of the
daughters of Jerusalem, <i>Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?</i> But
they are never the wiser. However, like the spouse, they pursue the
enquiry, <i>Where is he that is born king of the Jews?</i> Are they
asked, "Why do ye make this enquiry?" It is because they have
<i>seen his star in the east.</i> Are they asked, "What business
have ye with him? What have the men of the <i>east</i> to do with
the <i>King of the Jews?</i>" They have their answer ready, <i>We
are come to worship him.</i> They conclude he will, in process of
time, be <i>their king,</i> and therefore they will betimes
ingratiate themselves with him and with those about him. Note,
Those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing
of the knowledge of Christ, must make it their business to worship
him. Have we seen Christ's star? Let us study to give him
honour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p12">V. How this enquiry was treated at
Jerusalem. News of it at last came to court; and <i>when Herod
heard it he was troubled,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.3" parsed="|Matt|2|3|0|0" passage="Mt 2:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. He could not be a stranger to the prophecies of the
<i>Old Testament,</i> concerning the Messiah and his kingdom, and
the times fixed for his appearing by Daniel's weeks; but, having
himself reigned so long and so successfully, he began to hope that
those promises would for ever fail, and that his kingdom would be
established and perpetuated in spite of them. What a damp therefore
must it needs be upon him, to hear talk of this King being born,
now, when the time fixed for his appearing had come! Note, Carnal
wicked hearts dread nothing so much as the fulfilling of the
scriptures.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p13">But though Herod, an Edomite, was troubled,
one would have thought Jerusalem should rejoice greatly to hear
that her King comes; yet, it seems, <i>all Jerusalem,</i> except
the few there that <i>waited for the consolation of Israel, were
troubled with</i> Herod, and were apprehensive of I know not what
ill consequences of the birth of this new king, that it would
involve them in war, or restrain their lusts; they, for their
parts, desired no king but Herod; no, not the Messiah himself.
Note, The slavery of sin is foolishly preferred by many to the
glorious liberty of the children of God, only because they
apprehend some present difficulties attending that necessary
revolution of the government in the soul. Herod and Jerusalem were
thus troubled, from a mistaken notion that the kingdom of the
Messiah would clash and interfere with the secular powers; whereas
the star that proclaimed him king plainly intimated that his
kingdom was heavenly, and not of this lower world. Note, The reason
why the kings of the earth, and the people, oppose the kingdom of
Christ, is because they do not know it, but err concerning it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p14">VI. What assistance they met with in this
enquiry from the scribes and the priests, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.4-Matt.2.6" parsed="|Matt|2|4|2|6" passage="Mt 2:4-6"><i>v.</i> 4-6</scripRef>. Nobody can pretend to tell
where the King of the Jews is, but Herod enquires where it was
expected <i>he should be born.</i> The persons he consults are, the
chief priests, who were teachers by office; and the scribes, who
made it their business to study the law; their <i>lips must keep
knowledge,</i> but then the people must <i>enquire the law at their
mouth,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Mal.2.7" parsed="|Mal|2|7|0|0" passage="Mal 2:7">Mal. ii. 7</scripRef>. It
was generally known that Christ should be <i>born at Bethlehem</i>
(<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:John.7.42" parsed="|John|7|42|0|0" passage="Joh 7:42">John vii. 42</scripRef>); but Herod
would have counsel's opinion upon it, and therefore applies himself
to the proper persons; and, that he might be the better satisfied,
he has them altogether, <i>all the chief priests, and all the
scribes;</i> and <i>demands of them</i> what was the place,
according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, <i>where Christ
should be born?</i> Many a good question is put with an ill design,
so was this by Herod.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p15">The priests and scribes need not take any
long time to give an answer to this query; nor do they differ in
their opinion, but all agree that the Messiah must be <i>born in
Bethlehem, the city of David,</i> here called <i>Bethlehem of
Judea,</i> to distinguish it from another city of the same name in
the land of Zebulun, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.19.15" parsed="|Josh|19|15|0|0" passage="Jos 19:15">Josh. xix.
15</scripRef>. <i>Bethlehem</i> signifies the <i>house of
bread;</i> the fittest place for him to be born in who is the true
manna, <i>the bread which came down from heaven,</i> which was
<i>given for the life of the world.</i> The proof they produce is
taken from <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.2" parsed="|Mic|5|2|0|0" passage="Mic 5:2">Mic. v. 2</scripRef>, where
it is foretold that though <i>Bethlehem be little among the
thousands of Judah</i> (so it is in <i>Micah</i>), no very populous
place, yet it shall be found <i>not the least among the princes of
Judah</i> (so it is here); for Bethlehem's honour lay not, as that
of other cities, in the multitude of the people, but in the
magnificence of the princes it produced. Though, upon some
accounts, Bethlehem was little, yet herein it had the pre-eminence
above all the cities of Israel, that <i>the Lord shall count, when
he writes up the people, that this man,</i> even <i>the man Christ
Jesus, was born there,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.87.6" parsed="|Ps|87|6|0|0" passage="Ps 87:6">Ps. lxxxvii.
6</scripRef>. <i>Out of thee shall come a Governor,</i> the <i>King
of the Jews.</i> Note, Christ will be a <i>Saviour</i> to those
only who are willing to take him for their <i>Governor.</i>
Bethlehem was the <i>city of David,</i> and David the glory of
Bethlehem; there, therefore, must David's son and successor be
born. There was a famous well at <i>Bethlehem,</i> by the gate,
which David longed to drink of (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.23.15" parsed="|2Sam|23|15|0|0" passage="2Sa 23:15">2
Sam. xxiii. 15</scripRef>); in Christ we have not only bread enough
and to spare, but may come and take also <i>of the water of life
freely.</i> Observe here how Jews and Gentiles compare notes about
Jesus Christ. The Gentiles know the time of his birth by a star;
the Jews know the place of it by the scriptures; and so they are
capable of informing one another. Note, It would contribute much to
the increase of knowledge, if we did thus mutually communicate what
we know. Men grow rich by bartering and exchanging; so, if we have
knowledge to communicate to others, they will be ready to
communicate to us; thus many shall discourse, shall <i>run to and
fro, and knowledge shall be increased.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p16">VII. The bloody project and design of
Herod, occasioned by this enquiry, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.7-Matt.2.8" parsed="|Matt|2|7|2|8" passage="Mt 2:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>. Herod was now an old man, and
had reigned thirty-five years; this king was but newly born, and
not likely to enterprise any thing considerable for many years; yet
Herod is jealous of him. Crowned heads cannot endure to think of
successors, much less of rivals; and therefore nothing less than
the blood of this infant king will satisfy him; and he will not
give himself liberty to think that, if this new-born child should
be indeed the Messiah, in opposing him, or making any attempts upon
him, he would <i>be found fighting against God,</i> than which
nothing is more vain, nothing more dangerous. Passion has got the
mastery of reason and conscience.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p17">Now, 1. See how cunningly he laid the
project (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.7-Matt.2.8" parsed="|Matt|2|7|2|8" passage="Mt 2:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>).
<i>He privily called the wise men,</i> to talk with them about this
matter. He would not openly own his fears and jealousies; it would
be his disgrace to let the wise men know them, and dangerous to let
the people know them. Sinners are often tormented with secret
fears, which they keep to themselves. Herod learns of the wise men
the <i>time when the star appeared,</i> that he might take his
measures accordingly; and then employs them to enquire further, and
bids them bring him an account. All this might look suspicious, if
he had not covered it with a show of religion: <i>that I may come
and worship him also.</i> Note, The greatest wickedness often
conceals itself under a mask of piety. Absalom cloaks his
rebellious project with a vow.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p18">2. See how strangely he was befooled and
infatuated in this, that he trusted it with the wise men, and did
not choose some other managers, that would have been true to his
interests. It was but seven miles from Jerusalem; how easily might
he have sent spies to watch the wise men, who might have been as
soon there to destroy the child as they to worship him! Note, God
can hide from the eyes of the church's enemies those methods by
which they might easily destroy the church; when he intends to
<i>lead princes away spoiled,</i> his way is to <i>make the judges
fools.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Matt.iii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.9-Matt.2.12" parsed="|Matt|2|9|2|12" passage="Mt 2:9-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Matt.2.9-Matt.2.12">
<h4 id="Matt.iii-p18.2">The Wise Men Worship Christ.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Matt.iii-p19">9 When they had heard the king, they departed;
and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them,
till it came and stood over where the young child was.   10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
  11 And 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.   12 And being
warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they
departed into their own country another way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p20">We have here the wise men's humble
attendance upon this new-born <i>King of the Jews,</i> and the
honours they paid him. From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem,
resolving to <i>seek till they should find;</i> but it is very
strange that they went alone; that not one person of the court,
church, or city, should accompany them, if not in conscience, yet
in civility to them, or touched with a curiosity to see this young
prince. As <i>the queen of the south,</i> so <i>the wise men of the
east,</i> will <i>rise up in judgment against</i> the men of that
generation, and of this too, <i>and will condemn them;</i> for they
<i>came from a far country,</i> to worship Christ; while the Jews,
his kinsmen, would not stir a step, would not go to the next town
to bid him welcome. It might have been a discouragement to these
wise men to find him whom they sought thus neglected at home. Are
we come so far to honour <i>the King of the Jews,</i> and do the
Jews themselves put such a slight upon him and us? Yet they persist
in their resolution. Note, We must continue our attendance upon
Christ, though we be alone in it; whatever others do, we must
<i>serve the Lord;</i> if they will not go to heaven with us, yet
we must not go to hell with them. Now,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p21">I. See how they found out Christ by the
same star that they had seen in their own country, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.9-Matt.2.10" parsed="|Matt|2|9|2|10" passage="Mt 2:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. Observe, 1. How
graciously God directed them. By the first appearance of the star
they were given to understand where they might enquire for this
King, and then it disappeared, and they were left to take the usual
methods for such an enquiry. Note, Extraordinary helps are not to
be expected where ordinary means are to be had. Well, they had
traced the matter as far as they could; they were upon their
journey to Bethlehem, but that is a populous town, where shall they
find him when they come thither? Here they were at a loss, at their
wit's end, but not at their faith's end; they believed that God,
who had brought them thither by his word, would not leave them
there; nor did he; for, behold, <i>the star which they saw in the
east went before them.</i> Note, If we go on as far as we can in
the way of duty, God will direct and enable us to do that which of
ourselves we cannot do; <i>Up, and be doing, and the Lord will be
with thee. Vigilantibus, non dormientibus, succurit lex—The law
affords its aid, not to the idle, but to the active.</i> The star
had left them a great while, yet now returns. They who follow God
in the dark shall find that light is sown, is reserved, for them.
Israel was led by a pillar of fire to <i>the promised land,</i> the
wise men by a star to <i>the promised Seed,</i> who is himself
<i>the bright and morning Star,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.16" parsed="|Rev|22|16|0|0" passage="Re 22:16">Rev. xxii. 16</scripRef>. God would rather <i>create a
new thing</i> than leave those at a loss who diligently and
faithfully sought him. This star was the token of God's presence
with them; for he is light, and goes before his people as their
Guide. Note, If we by faith eye God in all our ways, we may see
ourselves under his conduct; he <i>guides with his eye</i>
(<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.32.8" parsed="|Ps|32|8|0|0" passage="Ps 32:8">Ps. xxxii. 8</scripRef>), and said to
them, <i>This is the way, walk in it:</i> and there is a day-star
that arises in the hearts of those that enquire after Christ,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:2Pet.1.19" parsed="|2Pet|1|19|0|0" passage="2Pe 1:19">2 Pet. i. 19</scripRef>. 2. Observe
how joyfully they followed God's direction (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.10" parsed="|Matt|2|10|0|0" passage="Mt 2:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>). <i>When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy.</i> Now they saw they were not
deceived, and had not taken this long journey in vain. <i>When the
desire cometh, it is a tree of life.</i> Now they were sure that
God was with them, and the tokens of his presence and favour cannot
but fill with joy unspeakable the souls of those that know how to
value them. Now they could laugh at the Jews in Jerusalem, who,
probably, had laughed at them as coming on a fool's errand. The
watchmen can give the spouse no tidings of her beloved; yet it
<i>is but a little that she passes from them, and she finds
him,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Song.3.3-Song.3.4" parsed="|Song|3|3|3|4" passage="So 3:3,4">Cant. iii. 3, 4</scripRef>.
We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. What a
transport of joy these wise men were in 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 <i>Spirit
of bondage,</i> at length <i>receive the spirit of adoption,
witnessing with their spirits that they are the children of
God;</i> this is light out of darkness; it is life from the dead.
Now they had reason to hope for a sight of <i>the Lord's Christ</i>
speedily, of the <i>Sun of righteousness,</i> for they see <i>the
Morning Star.</i> Note, We should be glad of every thing that will
show us the way to Christ. This star was sent to meet the wise men,
and to conduct them into the presence chamber of the King; by this
master of ceremonies they were introduced, to have their audience.
Now God fulfills his promise of meeting those that are disposed to
<i>rejoice and work righteousness</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.64.5" parsed="|Isa|64|5|0|0" passage="Isa 64:5">Isa. lxiv. 5</scripRef>), and they fulfill his precept.
<i>Let the hearts of those rejoice that seek the Lord,</i>
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.105.3" parsed="|Ps|105|3|0|0" passage="Ps 105:3">Ps. cv. 3</scripRef>. Note, God is
pleased sometimes to favour young converts with such tokens of his
love as are very encouraging to them, in reference to the
difficulties they meet with at their setting out of the ways of
God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p22">II. See how they made their address to him
when they had found him, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.11" parsed="|Matt|2|11|0|0" passage="Mt 2:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>. We may well imagine their expectations were raised
to find this royal babe, though slighted by the nation, yet
honourably attended at home; and what a disappointment it was to
them when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor
mother all the retinue he had! Is this <i>the Saviour of the
world?</i> Is this <i>the King of the Jews,</i> nay, and <i>the
Prince of the kings of the earth?</i> Yes, this is he, who,
<i>though he was rich,</i> yet, <i>for our sakes, became</i> thus
<i>poor.</i> However, these wise men were so wise as to see through
this veil, and in this despised babe to discern <i>the glory as of
the Only-begotten of the Father;</i> they did not think themselves
balked or baffled in their enquiry; but, as having found the King
they sought, they presented themselves first, and then their gifts,
to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p23">1. They presented themselves to him:
<i>they fell down, and worshipped him.</i> We do not read that they
gave such honour to Herod, though he was in the height of his royal
grandeur; but to this babe they gave this honour, not only as to a
king (then they would have done the same to Herod), but as to a
God. Note, All that have found Christ fall down before him; they
adore him, and submit themselves to him. <i>He is thy Lord, and
worship thou him.</i> It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men,
and by this it will appear they know Christ, and understand
themselves and their true interests, if they be humble, faithful
worshippers of the Lord Jesus.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p24">2. <i>They presented their gifts to
him.</i> In the eastern nations, when they did homage to their
kings, they made them presents; thus the subjection of the kings of
Sheba to Christ is spoken of (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.72.10" parsed="|Ps|72|10|0|0" passage="Ps 72:10">Ps.
lxxii. 10</scripRef>), <i>They shall bring presents, and offer
gifts.</i> See <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.60.6" parsed="|Isa|60|6|0|0" passage="Isa 60:6">Isa. lx. 6</scripRef>.
Note, With ourselves, we must give up all that we have to Jesus
Christ; and if we be sincere in the surrender of ourselves to him,
we shall not be unwilling to part with what is dearest to us, and
most valuable, to him and for him; nor are our gifts accepted,
unless we first present ourselves to him living sacrifices. <i>God
had respect to Abel, and</i> then to <i>his offering.</i> The gifts
they presented were, <i>gold, frankincense, and myrrh,</i> money,
and money's-worth. Providence sent this for a seasonable relief to
Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition. These were the
products of their own country; what God favours us with, we must
honour him with. Some think there was a significancy in their
gifts; they offered him <i>gold,</i> as a king, paying him tribute,
<i>to Cæsar, the things that are Cæsar's; frankincense,</i> as God,
for they honoured God with the smoke of incense; and <i>myrrh,</i>
as a Man that should die, for <i>myrrh</i> was used in embalming
dead bodies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p25">III. See how they left him when they had
made their address to him, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.12" parsed="|Matt|2|12|0|0" passage="Mt 2:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. Herod appointed them to <i>bring him word</i> what
discoveries they had made, and, it is probable, they would have
done so, if they had not been countermanded, not suspecting their
being thus made his tools in a wicked design. Those that mean
honestly and well themselves are easily made to believe that others
do so too, and cannot think the world is as bad as it really is;
but <i>the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of
temptation.</i> We do not find that the wise men promised to come
back to Herod, and, if they had, it must have been with the usual
proviso, <i>If God permit;</i> God did not permit them, and
prevented the mischief Herod designed to the Child Jesus, and the
trouble it would have been to the wise men to have been made
involuntarily accessory to it. They were <i>warned of God,</i>
<b><i>chrematisthentes</i></b>—<i>oraculo vel responso accepto—by
an oracular intimation.</i> Some think it intimates that they asked
counsel of God, and that this was the answer. Note, Those that act
cautiously, and are afraid of sin and snares, if they apply
themselves to God for direction, may expect to be led in the right
way. They were <i>warned not to return to Herod,</i> nor to
Jerusalem; those were unworthy to have reports brought them
concerning Christ, that might have seen with their own eyes, and
would not. <i>They departed into their own country another way,</i>
to bring the tidings to their countrymen; but it is strange that we
never hear any more of them, and that they or theirs did not
afterwards attend <i>him</i> in the temple, whom they had
worshipped in the cradle. However, the direction they had from God
in their return would be a further confirmation of their faith in
this Child, <i>as the Lord from heaven.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Matt.iii-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.13-Matt.2.15" parsed="|Matt|2|13|2|15" passage="Mt 2:13-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Matt.2.13-Matt.2.15">
<h4 id="Matt.iii-p25.3">The Flight into Egypt.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Matt.iii-p26">13 And when they were departed, behold, the
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 bring thee word: for Herod will seek the
young child to destroy him.   14 When he arose, he took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
  15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out
of Egypt have I called my son.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p27">We have here Christ's flight into Egypt to
avoid the cruelty of Herod, and this was the effect of the wise
men's enquiry after him; for, before that, the obscurity he lay in
was his protection. It was but little respect (compared with what
should have been) that was paid to Christ in his infancy: yet even
that, instead of honouring him among his people, did but expose
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p28">Now here observe, 1. The command given to
Joseph concerning it, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.13" parsed="|Matt|2|13|0|0" passage="Mt 2:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Joseph knew neither the danger the child was in, nor
how to escape it; but God by <i>an angel,</i> tells him both <i>in
a dream,</i> as before he directed him in like manner what to do,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.1.20" parsed="|Matt|1|20|0|0" passage="Mt 1:20"><i>ch.</i> i. 20</scripRef>. Joseph,
before his alliance to Christ, had not been wont to converse with
angels as now. Note, those that are spiritually related to Christ
by faith have that communion and correspondence with Heaven which
before they were strangers to.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p29">1. Joseph is here told what their danger
was: <i>Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.</i> Note,
God is acquainted with all the cruel projects and purposes of the
enemies of his church. <i>I know thy rage against me,</i> saith God
to Sennacherib, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.37.28" parsed="|Isa|37|28|0|0" passage="Isa 37:28">Isa. xxxvii.
28</scripRef>. How early was the blessed Jesus involved in trouble!
Usually, even those whose riper years are attended with toils and
perils have a peaceable and quiet infancy; but it was not so with
the blessed Jesus: his life and sufferings began together; he was
born <i>a man striven with,</i> as Jeremiah was (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.15.10" parsed="|Jer|15|10|0|0" passage="Jer 15:10">Jer. xv. 10</scripRef>), who was <i>sanctified from the
womb,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.1.5" parsed="|Jer|1|5|0|0" passage="Jer 1:5">Jer. i. 5</scripRef>. Both
Christ the head, and the church his body, agree in saying, <i>Many
a time have they afflicted me, from my youth up.</i> Pharaoh's
cruelty fastens upon the Hebrews' children, and a great red dragon
stands ready to <i>devour the man-child as soon as it should be
born,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.4" parsed="|Rev|12|4|0|0" passage="Re 12:4">Rev. xii. 4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p30">2. He is directed what to do, to escape the
danger; <i>Take the young child, and flee into Egypt.</i> Thus
early must Christ give an example to his own rule (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.10.23" parsed="|Matt|10|23|0|0" passage="Mt 10:23"><i>ch.</i> x. 23</scripRef>): <i>When they
persecute you in one city, flee to another.</i> He that came to die
for us, when <i>his hour was not yet come,</i> fled for his own
safety. Self-preservation, being a branch of the law of nature, is
eminently a part of the law of God. <i>Flee;</i> but why <i>into
Egypt?</i> Egypt was infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and enmity to
the people of God; it had been a house of bondage to Israel, and
particularly cruel to the infants of Israel; in Egypt, as much as
in Ramah, <i>Rachel had been weeping for her children;</i> yet that
is appointed to be a place of refuge to the hold child Jesus. Note,
God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best
of purposes; for <i>the earth is the Lord's,</i> he makes what use
he pleases of it: sometimes the earth <i>helps the woman</i>
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.16" parsed="|Rev|12|16|0|0" passage="Re 12:16">Rev. xii. 16</scripRef>. God, who made
Moab a shelter to his outcasts, makes Egypt a refuge for his Son.
This may be considered,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p31">(1.) As a trial of faith of Joseph and
Mary. They might be tempted to think, "If this child be the Son of
God, as we are told he is, has he no other way to secure himself
from a man that is a worm, than by such a mean and inglorious
retreat as this? Cannot he summon legions of angels to be his
life-guard, or cherubim with flaming swords to keep this <i>tree of
life?</i> Cannot he strike Herod dead, or wither the hand that is
stretched out against him, and so save us the trouble of this
remove?" They had been lately told that he should be <i>the glory
of his people Israel;</i> and is the land of Israel so soon become
too hot for him? But we find not that they made any such
objections; their faith, being tried, was found firm, they believe
<i>this is the Son of God,</i> though they see no miracle wrought
for his preservation; but they are put to the use of ordinary
means. Joseph had great honour put upon him in being the husband of
the blessed virgin; but that honour has trouble attending it, as
all honours have in this world; Joseph must <i>take the young
child,</i> and carry him <i>into Egypt;</i> and now it appeared how
well God had provided for <i>the young child and his mother,</i> in
appointing Joseph to stand in so near a relation to them; now the
gold which the wise men brought would stand them in stead to bear
their charges. God foresees his people's distresses, and provides
against them beforehand. God intimates the continuance of his care
and guidance, when he saith, <i>Be thou there until I bring thee
word,</i> so that he must expect to hear from God again, and not
stir without fresh orders. Thus God will keep his people still in a
dependence upon him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p32">(2.) As an instance of the humiliation of
our Lord Jesus. As there was no room for him in the inn in
Bethlehem, so there was no quiet room for him in the land of Judea.
Thus was he banished from the earthly Canaan, that we, who for sin
were banished from the heavenly Canaan, might not be for ever
expelled. If we and our infants be at any time in straits, let us
remember the straits Christ in his infancy was brought into, and be
reconciled to them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p33">(3.) As a token of God's displeasure
against the Jews, who took so little notice of him; justly does he
leave those who have slighted him. We have also here an earnest of
his favour to the Gentiles, to whom the apostles were to bring the
gospel when the Jews rejected it. If Egypt entertain Christ when he
is forced out of Judea, it will not be long ere it be said,
<i>Blessed be Egypt my people,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p33.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.19.25" parsed="|Isa|19|25|0|0" passage="Isa 19:25">Isa. xix. 25</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p34">II. Joseph's obedience to this command,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p34.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.14" parsed="|Matt|2|14|0|0" passage="Mt 2:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. The journey
would be inconvenient and perilous both to the young child and to
his mother; they were but poorly provided for it, and were likely
to meet with cold entertainment in Egypt: yet Joseph <i>was not
disobedient to the heavenly vision,</i> made no objection, nor was
dilatory in his disobedience. As soon as he had received his
orders, he immediately <i>arose,</i> and went away <i>by night,</i>
the same night, as it should seem, that he received the orders.
Note, Those that would make <i>sure</i> work of their obedience
must make <i>quick</i> work of it. Now Joseph went out, as his
father Abraham did, with an implicit dependence upon God, <i>not
knowing whither he went,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p34.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.8" parsed="|Heb|11|8|0|0" passage="Heb 11:8">Heb. xi.
8</scripRef>. Joseph and his wife, having little, had little to
care of in this remove. An abundance encumbers a necessary flight.
If rich people have the advantage of the poor while they possess
what they have, the poor have the advantage of the rich when they
are called to part with it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p35"><i>Joseph took the young child and his
mother.</i> Some observe, that <i>the young child</i> is put first,
as the principal person, and Mary is called, not <i>the wife of
Joseph,</i> but, which was her great dignity, <i>the mother of the
young child.</i> This was not the first Joseph that was driven from
Canaan to Egypt for a shelter from the anger of his brethren; this
Joseph ought to be welcome there for the sake of that.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p36">If we may credit tradition, at their
entrance into Egypt, happening to go into a temple, all the images
of their gods were overthrown by an invisible power, and fell, like
Dagon before the ark, according to that prophecy, <i>The Lord shall
come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his
presence,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p36.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.19.1" parsed="|Isa|19|1|0|0" passage="Isa 19:1">Isa. xix. 1</scripRef>.
They continued in Egypt till the death of Herod, which, some think,
was seven years, others think, not so many months. There they were
at a distance from the temple and the service of it, and in the
midst of idolaters; but God sent them thither, and will <i>have
mercy, and not sacrifice.</i> Though they were far from the temple
of the Lord, they had with them the Lord of the temple. A forced
absence from God's ordinances, and a forced presence with wicked
people, may be the lot, are not the sin, yet cannot but be the
grief, of good people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p37">III. The fulfilling of the scripture in a
this—that scripture (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p37.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.11.1" parsed="|Hos|11|1|0|0" passage="Ho 11:1">Hos. xi.
1</scripRef>), <i>Out of Egypt have I called my son.</i> Of all the
evangelists, Matthew takes most notice of the fulfilling of the
scripture in what concerned Christ, because his gospel was first
published among the Jews, with whom that would add much strength
and lustre to it. Now this word of the prophet undoubtedly referred
to the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, in which God owned them
for his son, his first-born (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p37.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.4.22" parsed="|Exod|4|22|0|0" passage="Ex 4:22">Exod. iv.
22</scripRef>); but it is here applied, by way of analogy, to
Christ, the Head of the church. Note, The scripture has many
accomplishments, so full and copious is it, and so well ordered in
all things. God is every day fulfilling the scripture. Scripture is
not of private interpretation: we must give it its full latitude.
"<i>When Israel was a child, then I loved him;</i> and, though <i>I
loved him,</i> I suffered him to be a great while in Egypt; but,
because <i>I loved him,</i> in due time I called him out of Egypt."
They that read this must, in their thoughts, not only look back,
but look forward; <i>that which has been shall be again</i>
(<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p37.3" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.1.9" parsed="|Eccl|1|9|0|0" passage="Ec 1:9">Eccl. i. 9</scripRef>); and the manner
of expression intimates this; for it is not said, I called
<i>him,</i> but I called <i>my son,</i> out of Egypt.Note, It is no
new thing for God's sons to be in Egypt, in a strange land, in a
house of bondage; but they shall be fetched out. They may be hid in
Egypt, but they shall not be left there. All the elect of God,
being by nature children of wrath, are born in a spiritual Egypt,
and in conversion are effectually called out. It might be objected
against Christ that he had been in Egypt. Must <i>the Sun of
righteousness</i> arise out of that land of darkness! But this
shows that to be no strange thing; Israel was brought out of Egypt,
to be advanced to the highest honours; and this is but doing the
same thing.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Matt.iii-p37.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.16-Matt.2.18" parsed="|Matt|2|16|2|18" passage="Mt 2:16-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Matt.2.16-Matt.2.18">
<h4 id="Matt.iii-p37.5">The Slaughter of the
Children.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Matt.iii-p38">16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of
the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof,
from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
diligently enquired of the wise men.   17 Then was fulfilled
that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,   18 In
Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great
mourning, Rachel weeping <i>for</i> her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p39">Here is, I. Herod's resentment of the
departure of the wise men. He waited long for their return; he
hopes, though they be slow, they will be sure, and he shall crush
this rival at his first appearing; but he hears, upon enquiry, that
they are gone off another way, which increases his jealousy, and
makes him suspect they are in the interest of this new King, which
made him <i>exceedingly wroth;</i> and he is the more desperate and
outrageous for his being disappointed. Note, Inveterate corruption
swells the higher for the obstructions it meets with in a sinful
pursuit.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p40">II. His political contrivance,
notwithstanding this, to take off him that is <i>born King of the
Jews.</i> If he could not reach him by a particular execution, he
doubted not but to involve him in a general stroke, which, like the
sword of war, should <i>devour one as well as another.</i> This
would be sure work; and thus those that would destroy <i>their
own</i> iniquity must be sure to destroy <i>all</i> their
iniquities. Herod was an Edomite, enmity to Israel was bred in the
bone with him. Doeg was an Edomite, who, for David's sake, <i>slew
all the priests of the Lord.</i> It was strange that Herod could
find any so inhuman as to be employed in such a bloody and
barbarous piece of work; but wicked hands never want wicked tools
to work with. Little children have always been taken under the
special protection, not only of human laws, but of human nature;
yet these are sacrificed to the rage of this tyrant, under whom, as
under Nero, innocence is the least security. Herod was, throughout
his reign, a bloody man; it was not long before, that he destroyed
the whole Sanhedrim, or bench of judges; but blood to the
blood-thirsty is like drink to those in a dropsy; <i>Quo plus sunt
potæ, plus sitiuntur aquæ—The more they drink, the more thirsty
they become.</i> Herod was now about seventy years old, so that an
infant, at this time <i>under two years old,</i> was not likely
ever to give him any disturbance. Nor was he a man over fond of his
own children, or of their preferment, having formerly slain two of
his own sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, and his son Antipater
after this, but five days before he himself died; so that it was
purely to gratify his own brutish lusts of pride and cruelty that
he did this. All is fish that comes to his net.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p41">Observe, What large measures he took, 1. As
to time; He <i>slew all from two years old and under.</i> It is
probable that the blessed Jesus was at this time not a year old;
yet Herod took in all the infants <i>under two years old,</i> that
he might be sure not to miss of his prey. He cares not how many
heads fall, which he allows to be innocent, provided that escape
not which he supposes to be guilty. 2. As to place; He kills all
the male children, not only <i>in Bethlehem,</i> but <i>in all the
coasts thereof,</i> in all the villages of that city. This was
being <i>overmuch wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p41.1" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.7.17" parsed="|Eccl|7|17|0|0" passage="Ec 7:17">Eccl.
vii. 17</scripRef>. Hate, an unbridled wrath, armed with an
unlawful power, often transports men to the most absurd and
unreasonable instances of cruelty. It was no unrighteous thing for
God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon
as it commences; that sin which entered by one man's disobedience,
introduced death with it; and we are not to suppose any thing more
than that common guilt, we are not to suppose that these children
<i>were sinners above all that were in Israel,</i> because they
suffered such things. <i>God's judgments are a great deep.</i> The
diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin.
But we must look upon this murder of the infants under another
character: it was their martyrdom. How early did persecution
commence against Christ and his kingdom! <i>Think ye that he came
to send peace on the earth?</i> No, <i>but a sword,</i> such a
sword as this, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p41.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.10.34-Matt.10.35" parsed="|Matt|10|34|10|35" passage="Mt 10:34,35"><i>ch.</i> x. 34,
35</scripRef>. A passive testimony was hereby given to the Lord
Jesus. As when he was in the womb, he was witnessed to by a child's
leaping in the womb for joy at his approach, so now, at <i>two
years old,</i> he had contemporary witnesses to him of the same
age. They shed their blood for him, who afterwards shed his for
them. These were the infantry of <i>the noble army of martyrs.</i>
If these infants were thus baptized with blood, though it were
their own, into the church triumphant, it could not be said but
that, with what they got in heaven, they were abundantly
recompensed for what they lost on earth. <i>Out of the mouths of
these babes and sucklings God did perfect his praise;</i>
otherwise, <i>it is not good to the Almighty that he should thus
afflict.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p42">The tradition of the Greek church (and we
have it in the Æthiopic missal) is, that the number of the children
slain was 14,000; but that is very absurd. I believe, if the births
of the male children in the weekly bills were computed, there would
not be found so many <i>under two years old,</i> in one of the most
populous cities in the world, that was not near a fortieth part of
it. But it is an instance of the vanity of tradition. It is strange
that Josephus does not relate this story; but he wrote long after
St. Matthew, and it is probable that he <i>therefore</i> would not
relate it, because he would not so far countenance the Christian
history; for he was a zealous Jew; but, to be sure, if it had not
been true and well attested, he would have contested it. Macrobius,
a heathen writer, tells us, that when Augustus Cæsar heard that
Herod, among the children he order to be slain <i>under two years
old,</i> slew his own son, he passed this jest upon him, That it
was better to be Herod's swine than his son. The usage of the
country forbade him to kill a swine, but nothing could restrain him
from killing his son. Some think that he had a young child at nurse
in Bethlehem; others think that, through mistake, two events are
confounded—the murder of the infants, and the murder of his son
Antipater. But for the church of Rome to put the Holy Innocents, as
they call them, into their calendar, and observe a day in memory of
them, while they have so often, by their barbarous massacres,
justified, and even out—one Herod, is but to do as their
predecessors did, who built the tombs of the prophets, while they
themselves filled up the same measure.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p43">Some observe another design of Providence
in the murder of the infants. By all the prophecies of the Old
Testament it appears that Bethlehem was the place, and this the
time, of the Messiah's nativity; now all the children of Bethlehem,
born at this time, being murdered, and Jesus only escaping, none
but Jesus could pretend to be the Messiah. Herod now thought he had
baffled all the Old Testament prophecies, had defeated the
indications of the star, and the devotions of the wise men, by
ridding the country of this new King; having burnt the hive, he
concludes he had killed the master bee; but God in heaven
<i>laughs</i> at him, <i>and has</i> him <i>in derision.</i>
Whatever crafty cruel devices are in men's hearts, <i>the counsel
of the Lord shall stand.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p44">III. The fulfilling of scripture in this
(<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p44.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.17-Matt.2.18" parsed="|Matt|2|17|2|18" passage="Mt 2:17,18"><i>v.</i> 17, 18</scripRef>);
<i>Then was fulfilled</i> that prophecy (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p44.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.15" parsed="|Jer|31|15|0|0" passage="Jer 31:15">Jer. xxxi. 15</scripRef>), <i>A voice was heard in
Ramah.</i> See and adore the fulness of the scripture! That
prediction was accomplished in Jeremiah's time, when Nebuzaradan,
after he had destroyed Jerusalem, brought all his prisoners to
Ramah (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p44.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.1" parsed="|Jer|40|1|0|0" passage="Jer 40:1">Jer. xl. 1</scripRef>), and
there disposed of them as he pleased, for the sword, or for
captivity. Then was the cry <i>in Ramah heard</i> to Bethlehem (for
those two cities, the one in Judah's lot, and the other in
Benjamin's, were not far asunder); but now the prophecy is again
fulfilled in the great sorrow that was for the death of these
infants. The scripture was fulfilled,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p45">1. In the place of this mourning. The noise
of it was heard from Bethlehem to Ramah; for Herod's cruelty
extended itself to <i>all the coasts of Bethlehem,</i> even into
the lot of Benjamin, among the children of Rachel. Some think the
country about Bethlehem was called <i>Rachel,</i> because there she
died, and was buried. Rachel's sepulchre was hard by Bethlehem,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p45.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.35.16 Bible:Gen.35.19 Bible:1Sam.10.2" parsed="|Gen|35|16|0|0;|Gen|35|19|0|0;|1Sam|10|2|0|0" passage="Ge 35:16,19,1Sa 10:2">Gen. xxxv. 16, 19. Compare
1 Sam. x. 2</scripRef>. Rachel had her heart much set upon
children: the son she died in travail of she called <i>Benoni—the
son of her sorrow.</i> These mothers were like Rachel, lived near
Rachel's grave, and many of them descended from Rachel; and
therefore their lamentations are elegantly represented by
<i>Rachel's weeping.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p46">2. In the degree of this mourning. It was
<i>lamentation and mourning, and great mourning;</i> all little
enough to express the sense they had of this aggravated calamity.
There was a great cry in Egypt when the first-born were slain, and
so there was here when the youngest was slain; for whom we
naturally have a particular tenderness. Here was a representation
of this world we live in. We hear in it <i>lamentation, and
weeping, and mourning,</i> and see <i>the tears of the
oppressed,</i> some upon one account, and some upon another. Our
ways lie through a <i>vale of tears.</i> This sorrow was so great,
that they <i>would not be comforted.</i> They hardened themselves
in it, and took a pleasure in their grief. Blessed be God, there is
no occasion of grief in this world, no, not that which is supplied
by sin itself, that will justify us in refusing to <i>be
comforted!</i> They <i>would not be comforted, because they are
not,</i> that is, <i>they are not</i> in the land of the living,
<i>are not</i> as they were, in their mothers' embraces. If,
indeed, <i>they were not,</i> there might be some excuse for
sorrowing as though we had no hope; but we know they are not lost,
but gone before; if we forget that <i>they are,</i> we lose the
best ground of our comfort, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p46.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.4.13" parsed="|1Thess|4|13|0|0" passage="1Th 4:13">1 Thess.
iv. 13</scripRef>. Some make this grief of the Bethlehemites to be
a judgment upon them for their contempt of Christ. They that would
not rejoice for the birth of the Son of God, are justly made to
weep for the death of their own sons; for they only <i>wondered</i>
at the tidings the shepherds brought them, but did not
<i>welcome</i> them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p47">The quoting of this prophecy might serve to
obviate an objection which some would make against Christ, upon
this sad providence. "Can the Messiah, who is to be the Consolation
of Israel, be introduced with all this lamentation?" Yes, for so it
was foretold, and the scripture must be accomplished. And besides,
if we look further into this prophecy, we shall find that <i>the
bitter weeping</i> in Ramah was but a prologue to the greatest joy,
for it follows, <i>Thy work shall be rewarded, and there is hope in
thy end.</i> The worse things are, the sooner they will mend. Unto
them a child was born, sufficient to repair their losses.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Matt.iii-p47.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.19-Matt.2.23" parsed="|Matt|2|19|2|23" passage="Mt 2:19-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Matt.2.19-Matt.2.23">
<h4 id="Matt.iii-p47.2">Christ's Return from Egypt.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Matt.iii-p48">19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of
the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,   20 Saying,
Arise, and 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.   21 And he arose, and took the young child and his
mother, and came into the land of Israel.   22 But when he
heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned
of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
  23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be
called a Nazarene.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p49">We have here Christ's return out of Egypt
into the <i>land of Israel</i> again. Egypt may serve to sojourn
in, or take shelter in, for a while, but not to abide in. Christ
was <i>sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,</i> and
therefore to them he must return. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p50">I. What it was that made way for his
return—the death of Herod, which happened not long after the
murder of the infants; some think not above three months. Such
quick work did divine vengeance make! Note, Herods must die; proud
tyrants, that were the terror of the mighty, and the oppressors of
the godly, <i>in the land of the living,</i> their day must come to
fall, and down to the pit they must go. <i>Who art thou then, that
thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die?</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p50.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.51.12-Isa.51.13" parsed="|Isa|51|12|51|13" passage="Isa 51:12,13">Isa. li. 12, 13</scripRef>) especially
considering that at death, not only their envy and hatred are
perished (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p50.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.9.6" parsed="|Eccl|9|6|0|0" passage="Ec 9:6">Eccl. ix. 6</scripRef>), and
they cease from troubling (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p50.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.3.17" parsed="|Job|3|17|0|0" passage="Job 3:17">Job iii.
17</scripRef>), but they are punished. Of all sins, the guilt of
innocent blood fills the measure soonest. It is a dreadful account
which Josephus gives of the death of this same Herod (<i>Antiq.</i>
17.146-199), that he was seized with a disease which burned him
inwardly with an inexpressible torture; that he was insatiably
greedy of meat; had the colic, and gout, and dropsy; such an
intolerable stench attended his disease, that none could come near
him: and so passionate and impatient was he, that he was a torment
to himself, and a terror to all that attended him: his innate
cruelty, being thus exasperated, made him more barbarous than ever;
having ordered his own son to be put to death, he imprisoned many
of the nobility and gentry, and ordered that as soon as he was dead
they should be killed; but that execution was prevented. See what
kind of men have been the enemies and persecutors of Christ and his
followers! Few have opposed Christianity but such as have first
divested themselves of humanity, as Nero and Domitian.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p51">II. The orders given from heaven concerning
their return, and Joseph's obedience to those orders, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p51.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.19-Matt.2.21" parsed="|Matt|2|19|2|21" passage="Mt 2:19-21"><i>v.</i> 19-21</scripRef>. God had sent
Joseph into Egypt, and there he staid till the same that brought
him thither ordered him thence. Note, In all our removes, it is
good to see our way plain, and God going before us; we should not
move either one way or the other without order. These orders were
sent him by an angel. Note, Our intercourse with God, if it be kept
up on our part, shall be kept up on his, wherever we are. No place
can exclude God's gracious visits. Angels come to Joseph in Egypt,
to Ezekiel in Babylon, and to John in Patmos. Now, 1. The angel
informs him of the death of Herod and his accomplices: <i>They are
dead, which sought the young Child's life.</i> They are dead, but
the young Child lives. Persecuted saints sometimes live to tread
upon the graves of their persecutors. Thus did the church's King
weather the storm, and many a one has the church in like manner
weathered. <i>They are dead,</i> to wit, Herod and his son
Antipater, who, though there were mutual jealousies between them,
yet, probably, concurred in seeking the destruction of this new
King. If Herod first kill Antipater, and then die himself, the
coasts are cleared, and <i>the Lord is known by the judgments which
he executes,</i> when one wicked instrument is in the ruin of
another. 2. He directs him what to do. He must <i>go</i> and return
<i>to the land of Israel;</i> and he did so without delay; not
pleading the tolerably good settlement he had in Egypt, or the
inconveniences of the journey, especially if, as is supposed, it
was in the beginning of winter that Herod died. God's people follow
his direction whithersoever he leads them, wherever he lodges them.
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 <i>arise,</i> and depart thither,
when we are called for, as Joseph did out of Egypt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p52">III. The further direction he had from God,
which way to steer, and where to fix in the land of Israel,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p52.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.22-Matt.2.23" parsed="|Matt|2|22|2|23" passage="Mt 2:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22, 23</scripRef>. God
could have given him these instructions with the former, but God
reveals his mind to his people by degrees, to keep them still
waiting on him, and expecting to hear further from him. These
orders Joseph received <i>in a dream,</i> probably, as those
before, by the ministration of an angel. God could have signified
his will to Joseph by the Child Jesus, but we do not find that in
those removes he either takes notice, or gives notice, of any thing
that occurred; surely it was because <i>in all things it behoved
him to be made like his brethren;</i> being <i>a Child,</i> he
<i>spake as a child,</i> and did <i>as a child,</i> and drew a veil
over his infinite knowledge and power; as a child he <i>increased
in wisdom.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p53">Now the direction given this holy, royal
family, is, 1. That it might not settle in Judea, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p53.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.22" parsed="|Matt|2|22|0|0" passage="Mt 2:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. Joseph might think that
Jesus, being <i>born in Bethlehem,</i> must be brought up there;
yet he is prudently <i>afraid</i> for <i>the young Child,</i>
because <i>he hears that Archelaus reigns in</i> Herod's stead, not
over all the kingdom as his father did, but only over Judea, the
other provinces being put into other hands. See what a succession
of enemies there is to fight against Christ and his church! If one
drop off, another presently appears, to keep up the old enmity. But
for this reason Joseph must not take the young Child into Judea.
Note, God will not thrust his children into the mouth of danger,
but when it is for his own glory and their trial; for <i>precious
in the sight of the Lord are the</i> life and the death <i>of his
saints; precious is their blood</i> to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p54">2. That it must settle in Galilee,
<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p54.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.22" parsed="|Matt|2|22|0|0" passage="Mt 2:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. There Philip
now ruled, who was a mild, quiet, man. Note, The providence of God
commonly so orders it, that his people shall not want a quiet
retreat from the storm and from the tempest; when one climate
becomes hot and scorching, another shall be kept more cool and
temperate. Galilee lay far north; Samaria lay between it and Judea;
thither they were sent, to Nazareth, a city upon a hill, in the
centre of the lot of Zebulun; there the mother of our Lord lived,
when she conceived that <i>holy thing;</i> and, probably, Joseph
lived there too, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p54.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.1.26-Luke.1.27" parsed="|Luke|1|26|1|27" passage="Lu 1:26,27">Luke i. 26,
27</scripRef>. Thither they were sent, and there they were well
known, and were among their relations; the most proper place for
them to be in. There they continued, and from thence our Saviour
was called <i>Jesus of Nazareth,</i> which was to <i>the Jews a
stumbling-block,</i> for, <i>Can any good thing come</i> out of
<i>Nazareth?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Matt.iii-p55">In this is said to be fulfilled what was
<i>spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.</i> Which
may be looked upon, (1.) As a man of honour and dignity, though
primarily it signifies no more than <i>a man of Nazareth;</i> there
is an allusion or mystery in speaking it, speaking Christ to be,
[1.] The <i>Man, the Branch,</i> spoken of, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.1" parsed="|Isa|11|1|0|0" passage="Isa 11:1">Isa. xi. 1</scripRef>. The word there is <i>Netzar,</i>
which signifies either a <i>branch,</i> or <i>the city of
Nazareth;</i> in being denominated from that <i>city,</i> he is
declared to be that Branch. [2.] It speaks him to be the <i>great
Nazarite;</i> of whom the legal Nazarites were a type and figure
(especially Samson, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.13.5" parsed="|Judg|13|5|0|0" passage="Jdg 13:5">Judg. xiii.
5</scripRef>), and Joseph, who is called a <i>Nazarite among his
brethren</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.26" parsed="|Gen|49|26|0|0" passage="Ge 49:26">Gen. xlix.
26</scripRef>), and to whom that which was prescribed concerning
the Nazarites, has reference, <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.4" osisRef="Bible:Num.6.2" parsed="|Num|6|2|0|0" passage="Nu 6:2">Num. vi.
2</scripRef>, &amp;c. Not that Christ was, <i>strictly, a
Nazarite,</i> for he drank wine, and touched dead bodies; but he
was <i>eminently</i> so, both as he was singularly holy, and as he
was by a solemn designation and dedication set apart to the honour
of God in the work of our redemption, as Samson was to save Israel.
And it is a name we have all reason to rejoice in, and to know him
by. Or, (2.) As a name of reproach and contempt. To be called a
<i>Nazarene,</i> was to be called a <i>despicable man,</i> a man
from whom no good was to be expected, and to whom no respect was to
be paid. The devil first fastened this name upon Christ, to render
him mean, and prejudice people against him, and it stuck as a
nickname to him and his followers. Now this was not particularly
foretold by any one prophet, but, in general, it was <i>spoken by
the prophets,</i> that he should be <i>despised and rejected of
men</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.53.2-Isa.53.3" parsed="|Isa|53|2|53|3" passage="Isa 53:2,3">Isa. liii. 2,
3</scripRef>), a <i>Worm, and no man</i> (<scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.6-Ps.22.7" parsed="|Ps|22|6|22|7" passage="Ps 22:6,7">Ps. xxii. 6, 7</scripRef>), that he should be an
<i>Alien to his brethren</i> <scripRef id="Matt.iii-p55.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.69.7-Ps.69.8" parsed="|Ps|69|7|69|8" passage="Ps 69:7,8">Ps.
lxix. 7, 8</scripRef>. Let no name of reproach for religion's sake
seem hard to us, when our Master was himself called a
<i>Nazarene.</i></p>
</div></div2>