Matthew 2:12 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

Matthew 2:12

Comments

God watches over his holy child Jesus, according to the prophecies of the word: ‘All things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished’ (Luke 18:31). None can thwart or overturn the purposes of God, neither Herod, the scribes and Pharisees, nor the devil. The life of this child must be preserved in order for the work of redemption to be completed. Therefore God will work to frustrate the evil intentions of Herod and every enemy.The wise men had agreed to return to Herod to report what they had found, and he was no doubt waiting impatiently for them, and rehearsing his murderous schemes in his mind. They for their part were innocent of any harmful intentions, indeed they had come to worship the child, and the thought of causing harm could not be further from their minds. But they had been taken in by the cunning playact of Herod, and knew nothing of his real intention. However God who reads the heart and sees past all hypocrisy, knew the truth of the matter, and intervened to warn them. They now saw that in contacting Herod and revealing to him what they knew, they were being mixed up in something more evil than they could ever have imagined. They were told that they must not return the way they had come, and so they were released by God from keeping their word to Herod that they would report back to him where the child was. Their journey had reached its goal and they had worshipped the child and offered their gifts. They had come safely into the danger zone, guided by the Lord, and now they would leave it again having completed the assignment given them by the Lord, to their great joy and thankfulness.

Application

Even the wickedness and murderous intent of a Herod cannot prevent the plan of God being fulfilled. He is a king, and his word is powerful on earth to bring about his will, but above him is the Lord God who is all powerful in heaven and earth. ‘Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!’ (Matthew 18:7). God does not prevent all evil, but no evil is permitted to disturb his eternal purpose. The Christ child is protected, but Rachel will weep for her children because they are not. God preserves the life or allows the life to be taken according to his sovereign will.

How differently various people see the coming of the Son of God into the world! For some he is the Saviour of the world, and they pray that he will also become their Saviour. They see their need and they see that the incarnate Son of God is heaven’s perfect provision for their need. But for others, he is a threat to their worldly ambitions, which count with them more than all else. Do they not have the same needs as the others? Yes, but their darkened hearts are in the grip of the prince of darkness and they will follow his lead to their eternal destruction.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Matthew 2:12 Commentary and Bible Study