Go and Search for the Young Child Matthew 2:8

Matthew shared what happened when, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea 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 Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet. And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are you not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of you 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 in chapter two and verse eight of his book, Matthew shares how Herod told the wise men, “Go and search diligently for the young child” where we read:

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child;

and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

The verse reads, “And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child;” Matthew began with the words, “and he sent them” which means “and Herod sent the wise men” “to Bethlehem” or “toward the village about six miles south of Jerusalem which means house of bread” “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “go” which means “depart and pursue the journey” “and search” or “examine strictly and inquire” “diligently” which means “exactly, accurately, circumspectly and perfectly” “for the young child” or “concerning the little boy and more advanced child”. Matthew recorded how Herod told the “wise men” to “depart” and look circumspectly for the “little child”.

The verse continued, “and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.” Matthew added the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “you have found him” or “the wise men come upon, meet with and discover the young child”, “bring me” which means “proclaim, make known and declare unto Herod” “word again” which means “tidings and report”, “that I may come” which means “so Herod may appear and show forth himself” “and worship” or “and kneel to, prostrate himself, do homage to and make obeisance toward” “him also” which means “the young child as well”. Matthew recorded how “Herod” wanted to know where the “young child” was located because he supposedly wanted to “worship” Him as well.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Herod was using the “wise men” to discover where the “little child” and “King of the Jews” was located. He wanted them to find this new “king” first, and then give him word about it. His deception shall be further shown in the next few verses, but for now let it be known that none of this has gone without God's knowledge. God meant to send His Son Jesus to be the “Savior” of the world, and even though people in authority like Herod meant to do evil against Him, God's plan would not be altered. Those who are wise shall seek for Jesus the Messiah today and find Him to be the “Savior and Lord” that God preserved Him to be, and those who are unwise shall seek to eliminate Jesus' purpose and reason for coming.

Next time Matthew shares how the wise men, “when they had heard the king, they departed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.