Matthew 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,
Bethlehem Hebrew word = "House of Bread" and Christ Jesus is our "Bread of Life".
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 these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Ego just got in his way. The Magi speaking of "King of the Jews" causes anger to stir in him and the people.
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.
Herod demands to know the whereabouts of where Christ will be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
This would be, Micah 5:2 "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." Where Christ would be born, Amen †
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.
The promise of God.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
Herod's trying to narrow things down as to kill any child born from the first appearance of the star.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young Child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.
He is being deceitful here because we all know evil doesn't care a thing about what is good.
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.
The Magi are excited about what has happened and for me, I'm excited about what is happening today and what is about to happen tomorrow. Everyday is a blessing to see and do the things of God in this last generation.
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.
God told them not to return with the whereabouts of Christ.
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.
God told Joseph to grab Jesus and Mary and got out. Do you listen to Him? Then you're blessed also.
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.
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 inquired of the wise men.
Herod wasn't going to take a chance on his throne being taken so he killed every child 2 and under.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus saith the Lord; "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not." Ramah, Hebrew word = "the high place", a place close to Jerusalem. Jeremiah 31:16 Thus saith the Lord; 'Refrain thy voice form weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. What He is saying to Rachel is, your work isn't vanity. Rachel the mother of both Joseph and Benjamin are the tribes of both Houses, Judah and Israel.
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.
God is saying, "Don't weep Rachel, it is going to be alright," and we that know God, know that to be true no matter the circumstances. Yet we understand her sadness for all those children being murdered.
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.
All that anger from The Magi speaking of "King of the Jews" is gone, they're all dead.
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 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:
Joseph let fear creep in because he took his eyes off of God. The son of Herod being on the throne, his flesh mind reacted instead of staying focused on God, and having power over it. God had told him where to go, he should have known by then, his family would be safe. Don't ever second guess God.
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.
God knew Joseph wouldn't listen in the beginning.
Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.