Matthew and Luke are the only gospels that tell us about Jesus’ birth and childhood. Matthew’s infancy story centers on Joseph, filling us in on his thoughts as he tries to care for Mary and baby Jesus in some unprecedented and dangerous circumstances. The wise men (or magi) and King Herod of Jerusalem are a part of Matthew’s infancy story as well. Matthew’s gospel takes account of power players and governing officials.
We meet the wise men right away, in Matthew 2:1. They are always numbered three in our manger scenes and on Christmas cards, simply because they brought the child three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). These wise men sought insight and wisdom from the movements of stars and planets in the heavens. They looked for ways to connect earthly events, especially among nations and rulers, with any changes in the heavens. When a special star caught their attention, they traveled many miles to try and connect that star with a great ruler just born. In their search, they made the critical mistake of checking in with King Herod of Jerusalem, who heard their question about finding a new-born King of the Jews with great displeasure. (You might wonder how practical these seers were, to get in touch with the current King about a newborn rival.) Herod did not want to have his power challenged or a new king acknowledged. He inquired of the chief priests and scribes what Scriptural prophecy had to say about where the Christ, or Messiah, was supposed to be born. The only king Herod could think of who might depose him was God’s Messiah.
His scribes and chief priests quoted from the prophet Micah (chapter 5, verse 2 in our Bible); they pinpointed Bethlehem in Judah as the probable birthplace of the Messiah. From time to time as you read the gospel of Matthew, you will notice the author is writing with a Jewish Christian audience in mind. As Matthew writes, he often references Hebrew Scripture to help readers connect the people and places in his story with Old Testament prophecy. He recalls to their minds what they know from their own Scripture, and how it supports and informs a belief in Jesus as the Messiah. Because indeed, Jesus is the Messiah, and he was born in Bethlehem, as prophecy foretold.
Herod told the wise men that when they found the newborn King, they should let him know so that he could “come and worship him.” (Matthew 2:8) We have heard our own King Herod, Chuck Roberts, say that line enough to know that this was a menacing statement. No worship was likely to take place in Herod’s heart.
The wise men, guided by the star, found the child they’d been looking for and they fell down and worshiped him (Matthew 2:11). They were warned in a dream not to go back and tell Herod anything, and they chose another route home. The guiding angel did not leave their route or the safety of the Messiah to chance.
Speaking of messages given in dreams, an angel visited Joseph in his dreams (Matthew 2:13), and told him that he needed to flee to Egypt. “Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him,” the angel said. Joseph, taking Mary and the baby, left immediately, and they went to Egypt, waiting for the angel’s all-clear, which came after Herod’s death.
King Herod, full of rage that the wise men had avoided him, decided to wipe out not just the newborn Messiah, but all boy babies 2 years old and under, in the area of Bethlehem. This horrifying cruelty is traditionally called the Slaughter of the Innocents. Matthew references a passage from Jeremiah (31:15) about the sorrow and grief of mothers for their slain children in Matthew 2:18.
Meanwhile, we flash back to Joseph, who had another guiding dream and a message from an angel. After Herod died, it was deemed safe to take Mary and Jesus back to Israel. Joseph again faithfully acted as the angel suggested, but when he heard that Herod’s son was ruling in his stead, he thought it would be wise to head north, to the place suggested to him in a dream: Galilee, to a village called Nazareth. It was an obscure, backwater place that would have been safe for the upbringing of the Messiah. And so Joseph, Mary and Jesus settled in Nazareth. (Matthew 2:23)