The One Who Has Been Born King of the Jews

Matthew 2:1-23

Key verse 2:1-2

1. Read verses 1-2. Why did these Magi come to Jerusalem? What do you think their journey was like? What can we learn from these wise men?

2. Read verses 3-8. Why was Herod and "all Jerusalem" so disturbed by what the Magi said?  How did they find out where the Christ was to be born? What had God prophesied about the Christ through Micah? Yet, what did Herod intend to do? How do people today respond in a similar way to the news that God sent Jesus to be our shepherd and king?

3. Read verses 9-11.  What made the Magi "overjoyed"? Visualize baby Jesus together with his mother, Mary, in a house. How might this scene have looked to an average person in those days? Yet, what did the Magi do when they saw this scene? What can we learn from them about the way to receive Jesus as our king?

4. Read verses 12-18. How did God help Jesus to escape from Herod? What wicked thing did Herod do to try to kill Jesus? What does the Apostle Matthew teach us about these events? (15, 18) How does this help us to better understand the things that go on in this world?

5. Read verses 19-23. How did Jesus end up living in Nazareth? Look at John 1:46 and see what people thought about Nazareth. Why do you think Jesus grew up here of all places?