Matthew 2

Matthew 2:9

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. That very star, which they had formerly seen in the East and had guided them to Jerusalem, now appeared unto them again; and, as moving lower in the air, went visibly before them, till it came to Bethlehem, and there stood still over the house, where the new-born child was.

Matthew 2:11

And fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

And, notwithstanding the homeliness of the place, and the mean appearance of the parents, and the poorness of the furniture and provision for that birth, they, acknowledging some more than human Majesty in that child, fell down and worshipped him; and presented unto him the most precious gifts which their country yielded, even gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Matthew 2:15

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

So as, herein was fulfilled and verified, in a higher nature and degree, that, which was spoken by the prophet Hoseas, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son; for that, which he spake of the people of Israel, which were the sons of God by choice and adoption, was now fulfilled in Him, who was the Natural and Eternal Son of his Father.

Matthew 2:16

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.

And slew all the children, that were in Bethlehem, &c. and that were two years old and under; that he might make sure work, and might certainly light upon the child, whose birth the Wise Men had signified unto him: he did therefore resolve, to cast beyond the time declared by them so far back, as there should be no likelihood of possibility for that designed child to escape. II. 17, 18. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. Then was again fulfilled that, which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, concerning Rachel’s weeping for her sons of the tribe of Benjamin: she, being buried at Bethlehem, was brought in, as it were in her grave, so deeply lamenting the loss of her posterity, carried away captive into Babylon, as that the voice of her weeping was heard afar off, even at Ramah in the tribe of Benjamin; and now, well may she renew that her lamenta-

Matthew 2:23

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.

And he came, and abode in a city of Galilee, called Nazareth; that, in the very place of his dwelling, there might be an allusion to that stile or title, which is frequently given to him of the prophets, by whom he is called Netzar; so as, out of this ground, the appellation which is given him of a Nazarene, however it be objected to him, by way of reproach, is rather a notable proof of his answerableness to that prediction of the prophets: especially that of Isaiah, who, by the root of Jesse, whence he should come, describes Bethlehem, the dwelling of Jesse, for the place of his birth; and by that Netzar, which should arise from that root, meant to allude to the place of his abode and education.