Matthew 2:1-11
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,
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.
When Herod the king had heard these things,
he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,
he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
And they said unto him,
In Bethlehem of Judaea:
for thus it is written by the prophet,
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.
Then Herod,
when he had privily called the wise men,
enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
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.
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.
When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
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.
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Micah Adds - But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. Micah 5:2 NLT
"It might have been said of the wise men from the East, as afterward of the Roman centurion, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matt. 8:10. The priests and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning the birth of Christ as they pretended. The report of the angels' visit to the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice. They themselves might have found Jesus, and might have been ready to lead the magi to His birthplace; but instead of this, the wise men came to call their attention to the birth of the Messiah."
Desire of Ages p.64,62 E.G.W.
