Matthew 2:9 - Meaning and Application

Here we see the wise men’s humble visit to the newborn King of the Jews, and the honor they gave him. From Jerusalem they went to Bethlehem, determined to keep looking until they found him. It is surprising that they went alone. No one from the court, the religious leaders, or the city joined them, not even out of ordinary courtesy or simple curiosity.

The Queen of Sheba, and these wise men from the east, will rise up in judgment against the people of that time, and of this time too, and will condemn them. They came from a far country to worship Christ, while the Jews, who were his own people, would not even travel a short distance to welcome him. It could have discouraged these wise men to find the one they sought so neglected at home. They might have thought, “Have we come this far to honor the King of the Jews, and do the Jews themselves show him and us such little respect?”

Yet they kept going. We must keep following Christ, even if we are alone in it. Whatever others do, we must serve the Lord. If they will not go to heaven with us, we must not go to hell with them.

Now notice how they found Christ by the same star they had seen in their own country (Matthew 2:9, Matthew 2:10). First, see how graciously God guided them. By the star’s first appearance, they were told where to ask about this King. Then it disappeared, and they had to use the usual means of searching. We should not expect unusual help when ordinary means are available.

They had gone as far as they could. They were on the road to Bethlehem, but Bethlehem was a crowded town. How would they find him there? They were at a loss, but not at a loss of faith. They believed that the God who had brought them there by his word would not leave them there. And he did not. The star they had seen in the east went before them.

If we go as far as we can in the path of duty, God will guide us and strengthen us to do what we cannot do on our own. Rise up and keep going, and the Lord will be with you. The law helps those who are active, not those who sit idle. The star had left them for a long time, but now it returned. Those who follow God in the dark will find that light is stored up for them. Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, and the wise men were led by a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16).

God would rather do something new than leave faithful seekers lost. This star was a sign of God’s presence with them, for God is light and goes before his people as their guide. If we look to God by faith in all our ways, we may see ourselves under his care. He guides us with his eye (Psalm 32:8), and says, “This is the way, walk in it.” There is also a day-star that rises in the hearts of those who seek Christ (2 Peter 1:19).

Now see how gladly they followed God’s direction (Matthew 2:10). When they saw the star, they rejoiced with very great joy. Now they knew they had not been fooled, and that their long journey had not been wasted. When a longed-for thing finally comes, it is like a tree of life. Now they were sure that God was with them, and nothing fills the soul with deeper joy than signs of his presence and favor.

They could also smile at the Jews in Jerusalem, who may have laughed at them as if they were on a foolish errand. The watchmen cannot tell the bride where her beloved is, yet after a little while she passes on and finds him (Song of Solomon 3:3, 3:4). We should expect little from people and much from God.

What a flood of joy these wise men felt at the sight of the star. Only those who, after a long and sorrowful night of temptation, and under a spirit of bondage, at last receive the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with their spirits that they are children of God, can fully understand it. That is light coming out of darkness, and life from the dead. Now they had reason to hope for a quick sight of the Lord’s Christ, the Sun of righteousness, because they had seen the Morning Star.

We should be glad of anything that shows us the way to Christ. The star was sent to meet the wise men and lead them into the King’s presence. Through this guide, like a master of ceremonies, they were brought in to have their audience. In this way God fulfills his promise to meet those who are glad to do what is right (Isaiah 64:5), and they fulfill his command. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice (Psalm 105:3). God sometimes gives young believers special signs of his love to encourage them as they begin the hard life of following him.

Second, see how they approached him when they found him (Matthew 2:11). We can imagine that they expected to find this royal child honored at home, though the nation had ignored him. So it must have surprised them to find a cottage for a palace, and his poor mother as his whole court. “Is this the Savior of the world? Is this the King of the Jews, yes, and the Prince of the kings of the earth?” Yes, this is the one who, though he was rich, became poor for our sake.

Still, these wise men were wise enough to see through the outward poverty. In this despised child they saw the glory of the only Son of the Father. They did not feel cheated or disappointed in their search. Having found the King, they first gave themselves, and then their gifts, to him.

First, they gave themselves to him. They fell down and worshiped him. We do not read that they gave Herod this honor, though he had royal splendor. They gave it to this child, not just as a king, which would have been fitting for Herod too, but as God. Everyone who has found Christ falls down before him. They worship him and yield themselves to him. “He is your Lord, and worship him.”

It will be the wisdom of the wisest people, and the proof that they truly know Christ and understand their own best interests, if they become humble and faithful worshipers of the Lord Jesus.

Second, they gave him their gifts. In eastern countries, people often brought gifts when they did homage to their kings. The tribute of the kings of Sheba to Christ is spoken of this way, “They shall bring presents and offer gifts” (Psalm 72:10). See also (Isaiah 60:6).

We too must give ourselves completely to Jesus Christ. And if we truly surrender ourselves to him, we will not be unwilling to give up what is most precious to us for him and for his sake. Our gifts are not accepted unless we first give ourselves to him as living sacrifices. God first accepted Abel, and then his offering.

The gifts they brought were gold, frankincense, and myrrh, that is, money and goods of value. God’s providence gave Joseph and Mary timely relief in their present poverty. These gifts came from their own land, and what God gives us, we should use to honor him.

Some think these gifts also had meaning. They offered gold to honor him as a king, giving him tribute, like what belongs to Caesar. They offered frankincense to honor him as God, since incense was used in worship. They offered myrrh to point to him as a man who would die, since myrrh was used in burying the dead.

After they had presented their gifts, they left him, as Matthew 2:12 says. Herod had told them to bring back news of what they found, and they likely would have done so, if God had not stopped them. They did not realize they were being used in a wicked plan. People who mean well themselves are often too ready to think well of others, and they cannot imagine how bad the world really is. But the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from temptation.

We are not told that the wise men promised to return to Herod. Even if they had, it would have only been, “if God permits.” God did not permit it, and he kept Herod from harming the child Jesus. He also kept the wise men from becoming unwilling partners in that evil. They were warned by God through a divine message, that is, by a special revelation or answer from heaven. Some think this means they asked God for guidance, and this was his reply.

This teaches that those who act carefully, fear sin and traps, and seek direction from God may expect to be led in the right way. They were warned not to go back to Herod or to Jerusalem. Those places had no right to hear reports about Christ, since they could have come to see him for themselves but would not. So they went back to their own country by another way, ready to tell their countrymen the news.

It is striking that we never hear of them again, and that neither they nor their families later appear in the temple to honor the one they had worshiped in the cradle. Even so, the guidance they received on their return would have strengthened their faith in this Child, who is the Lord from heaven.