January 8, 2023: Matthew 2:1-12 The Visit of the “Wise Men”

This week we talk about Matthew’s account of the visit of the “wise men.” In it, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of David because he was born in Bethlehem, as the Scripture indicated. Matthew also portrays the “wise men” as the first of the gentiles who will come to acknowledge Jesus, pointing toward the mission to the gentiles. The Reformers had varied opinions about this text, but especially Calvin focused on Matthew’s emphases. We conclude by discussing how to preach this text despite the historical and scientific challenges.