Matthew 2: 1 12 The Visit Of The Wise Men

Target year level: Year Five

Scripture text

Introduction

The text is situated in a section of Matthew’s Gospel that deals with the birth and infancy of Jesus, called the infancy narratives. Scripture scholars think that the Gospel of Matthew was written in the last part of the first century CE, sometime after 70 CE. Matthew’s intended audience was Jewish Christians andGentileChristians who were familiar with Jewish culture, religious belief and religious practice. Matthew 2:1-12, dealing with the visit of the Gentile Magi or Wise Men underlines the universal significance of Jesus’ birth for all peoples Jews and Gentiles alike.

For further information see Magi and Magi in Christian Tradition.

World behind the text

Many scholars believe Matthew’s Gospel was written at Antioch, a Greek speaking city with a number of Jewish synagogues. Antioch became the capital of the Roman province in Syria in 64 BCE and in the first century CE was the third largest city in the Roman Empire. Christianity had become well established in Antioch by 80 CE. A number of other possible locations with a similar demographic to Antioch are also suggested as possible sites for the writing of Matthew’s Gospel.

Matthew 2:1-12 needs to be read and understood in relation to questions and disputes in Matthew’s community about the precise relationship between the Christian churches and Judaism, particularly with regard to the relevance, for followers of Jesus, of Jewish Law and its associated religious practices and observances. Matters such as these were a source of ongoing tension between Early Christian house churches and the local Jewish Synagogue.

Within Christian churches there were disputes over the extent to which the observance of Jewish Law was required of Jews who had become Christians and of Christian Gentiles who were never members of the Jewish community.

For further information, see the teacher background information, Who Wrote the Gospels and When?

World of the text

In this passage, Matthew is emphasising the developing understanding of the Christian communities for whom he writes that the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, has significance beyond its particular geographical location, ‘Bethlehem of Judaea’ (2:1) and its religious, cultural and political context ‘Jerusalem’ (2:1), ‘King of the Jews’ (2:2), ‘King Herod’ (2:3).

In his Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:1- 17), the evangelist is at pains to emphasise the Jewish ancestry and credentials of Jesus the Messiah as the son of David, the son of Abraham (1:1). However, despite Matthew’s narrative of the anxiety, commotion and intrigue of the political and religious leadership in Jerusalem (2:3-9), his recounting of the visit of the Magi (2:1-12) counterbalances his Jewish emphasis in the Genealogy adding a universal significance to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth and infancy (Mt.1:1-17).

A major emphasis in the Gospel of Matthew is that Jesus is the Messiah. From Matthew’s Christian point of view the teaching of Jesus brings the Torah to its fullness, its full meaning and significance. Matthew uses ‘formula quotations’ throughout his Gospel. ‘Formula quotations’ are quotations from the Hebrew or Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) introduced by a formula such as “for so it has been written by the prophet”. For further detail on Matthew’s use of Old Testament texts see Felix Just - Matthew Old Testament Quotations.

At Matthew 2:6, the prophet quoted is Micah.

World in front of the text

Matthew 2:1-12 comes into particular focus in the life of the Catholic and other Christian Churches on the Feast of the Epiphany, which is celebrated on 6 January in the Catholic and some other Christian Churches. The word ‘epiphany’ refers to ‘a manifestation’ or ‘revelation’ and is used in both religious and non-religious contexts. For further information on the history, celebration and significance of the Feast of the Epiphany see Epiphany history, celebration and significance. For a reflection on Epiphany in a Catholic liturgical context see Michael Fallon Epiphany Homily.