July 18 Daily Devotional

Matthew 2

When Jesus was born at Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, wise men from the east came 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 had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him, because he desired to remain king himself. Therefore he turned to the chief priests and scribes, and demanded of them where Christ should be born. They said unto him, “In Bethlehem of Judea: 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 be a ruler of my people Israel” (Mic. 5:1). Then Herod called the wise men secretly 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 the wise men had heard the king, they went their way. “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 they fell down and worshipped him, and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their country another way.

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled as it was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

Herod waited a while for the return of the wise men, but when they did not come, he became very angry and commanded that all the children up to two years old at Bethlehem and its vicinity should be slain. Thus he thought surely to kill the child Jesus. But Jesus was safe in Egypt. After that Herod, the cruel king, died. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Egypt in a dream and said, “Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead who sought the young child’s life.” So they returned and, dwelt in Nazareth.