Matthew 2

The Wise Men and Escaping Herod

1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem during King Herod’s time. Some wise men came from the East, asking,

2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews, We saw His star and came to worship Him.”

3 Herod heard about it and got shook. The whole city of Jerusalem was buzzing about it too.

4 Herod called all the religious leaders and teachers together and asked where the Messiah was supposed to be born.

5 They told him, “In Bethlehem, just like the prophet said.”

6 “Bethlehem, you are not the smallest town, because out of you will come a ruler who will lead My people Israel.”

7 Then Herod secretly met with the wise men to find out when the star first appeared.

8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go find the child. When you do, let me know so I can worship Him too.”

9 The wise men left, and the star they saw earlier led them right to where Jesus was.

10 When they saw the star stop, they were hyped.

11 They went into the house, saw Jesus with Mary, bowed down, and worshipped Him. They gave Him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they dipped another way.

13 An angel told Joseph in a dream, “Get up! Take Mary and Jesus to Egypt and stay there, because Herod wants to kill the child.”

14 Joseph got up, took them, and they left for Egypt that night.

15 They stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled the prophecy: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

16 Herod realized the wise men played him, and he was big mad. He ordered all boys two years old and under in Bethlehem to be killed.

17 This fulfilled what the prophet Jeremiah said:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, crying and weeping for her children, who are no more.”

19 After Herod died, an angel told Joseph in a dream, “It is safe now. Go back to Israel.”

20 Joseph got up, took Mary and Jesus, and headed back.

21 But when he heard Herod’s son was ruling Judea, he got scared.

22 God warned him in a dream to go to Galilee instead.

23 They settled in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy: “He will be called a Nazarene.”