Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 2

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Jesus was born in Bethlehem

Luk 2:4-7.

Herod the king

Called Herod the Great, son of Antipater, an Idumean (see Scofield Genesis 36:1, note), and Cypros, an Arabian woman. Antipater was appointed Procurator of Judea by Julius Caesar, B.C. 47. At the age of fifteen Herod was appointed to the government of Galilee. B.C. 40 the Roman senate made him king of Judea. An able, strong, and cruel man, he increased greatly the splendour of Jerusalem, erecting the temple which was the centre of Jewish worship in the time of our Lord.

Mat 2:2 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.

King

"The King" is one of the divine titles (Psa 10:16), and so used in the worship of the Church (1Ti 1:17), but Christ is never called "King of the Church." He is "King of the Jews" (Mat 2:2) and Lord and "Head of the Church" (Eph 1:22, 23). See "Church" (Scofield Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 12:23).

Kingdom (N.T.). Mat 2:6. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

scribes

Greek grammateis, "writer." Hebrew sopherim, "to write," "set in order," "count." The scribes were so called because it was their office to make copies of the Scriptures; to classify and teach the precepts of oral law (see "Pharisees," Scofield Matthew 3:7, note), and to keep careful count of every letter in the O.T. writings. Such an office was necessary in a religion of law and precept, and was an O.T. function (2Sa 8:17; 20:25; 1Ki 4:3; Jer 8:8; 36:10, 12, 26). To this legitimate work the scribes added a record of rabbinical decisions on questions of ritual (Halachoth); the new code resulting from those decisions (Mishna); the Hebrew sacred legends (Gemara, forming with the Mishna the Talmud); commentaries on the O.T. (Midrashim); reasonings upon these (Hagada); and finally, mystical interpretations which found in Scripture meanings other than the grammatical, lexical, and obvious ones (the Kabbala); not unlike the allegorical method of Origen, or the modern Protestant "spiritualizing" interpretation. In our Lord's time, to receive this mass of writing superposed upon the Scriptures was to be orthodox; to return to the Scriptures themselves was heterodoxy—our Lord's most serious offence.

Christ

Literally the Christ.

should be born

Christ (First Advent). Mat 4:15-16. (Gen 3:15; Acts 1:9.)

Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in 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.

rule my people Israel

Kingdom (N.T.). Mat 3:2. (Luk 1:31-33; 1Co 15:28).

Mat 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

the star appeared

Num 24:17.

Mat 2:13 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.

the angel

Literally an angel.

Mat 2:15 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.

of the Lord by the prophet

Literally by the Lord through the prophet.

Out of Egypt have I called

Hos 11:1.

my son

The words quoted are in Hosea 11:1 and the passage illustrates the truth that prophetic utterances often have a latent and deeper meaning than at first appears. Israel, nationally, was a "son" (Exo 4:22), but Christ was the greater "Son." See Scofield Rom 9:4, 5; Isa 41:8; with Isa 42:1-4; 52:13, 14 where the servant-nation and the Servant-Son are both in view.

Mat 2:18 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.

In Rama

Jer 31:15.

Mat 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

angel

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note

Mat 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea 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:

Archelaus

Son of Herod the Great (Mat 2:1) and Malthace, a Samaritan woman. Deposed A.D. 6.

Mat 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.

He shall be called a Nazarene

Probably referring to Isaiah 11:1, where Christ is spoken of as "a netzer (or, 'rod') out of the stem of Jesse."