Matthew 2:4

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 {G2532} when he had gathered {G4863} all {G3956} the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} scribes {G1122} of the people {G2992} together {G4863}, he demanded {G4441} of {G3844} them {G846} where {G4226} Christ {G5547} should be born {G1080}.

of the people and asked them, "Where will the Messiah be born?"

And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

Matthew 2:4 recounts a pivotal moment in the early life of Jesus, highlighting the convergence of human authority, religious knowledge, and divine prophecy. King Herod, deeply troubled by the Wise Men's inquiry about the newborn "King of the Jews," summons his most trusted religious advisors to uncover the Messiah's prophesied birthplace.

Context

This verse immediately follows the arrival of the Magi (Wise Men) from the East in Jerusalem, seeking the one born King of the Jews. Their question struck fear into King Herod, a ruthless and insecure ruler who had consolidated his power through violence and intrigue. Unwilling to leave any potential rival unchecked, Herod convenes the highest religious authorities of the Jewish people: the chief priests and scribes. These individuals were the guardians and interpreters of the Mosaic Law and the prophetic writings, making them the ultimate experts on such matters. Herod's "demand" reveals his urgent and authoritative desire to pinpoint the location of this potential threat to his throne.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Certainty: The verse underscores that the birthplace of the Messiah was not a mystery to those who studied the Scriptures. The religious leaders knew precisely where Christ was to be born, fulfilling ancient prophecies.
  • Herod's Fear and Deception: Herod's inquiry, though seemingly innocent, was driven by a sinister motive to eliminate the infant king, illustrating human opposition to God's plan. This fear would later lead to the tragic massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem.
  • Religious Knowledge Without Spiritual Discernment: The chief priests and scribes possessed profound intellectual knowledge of the Scriptures, yet there is no indication they acted on this knowledge to seek or worship the Messiah themselves. Their understanding remained academic, devoid of personal faith or spiritual engagement.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Christ" in this verse comes from the Greek word Christos (Χριστός), which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah." This title signifies the divinely appointed King and Deliverer. Herod's question was not merely about a "king," but specifically about the long-awaited prophetic figure who would redeem Israel.

Related Scriptures

The answer provided by the chief priests and scribes in the subsequent verse (Matthew 2:5-6) directly quotes the prophecy from Micah 5:2, which explicitly names Bethlehem as the birthplace of the ruler who would shepherd Israel. This highlights the precise fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in Jesus' birth.

Practical Application

Matthew 2:4 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of knowing God's Word, but also of the danger of possessing mere intellectual knowledge without spiritual conviction or action. The religious leaders knew where the Messiah would be born, yet they missed the opportunity to worship Him, unlike the Gentile Magi. For us today, it challenges us to move beyond simply knowing biblical facts to actively seeking, understanding, and applying God's truths in our lives, recognizing that true knowledge leads to worship and obedience.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 21:23

    ¶ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

  • Matthew 7:29

    For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

  • Acts 6:12

    And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon [him], and caught him, and brought [him] to the council,

  • Acts 23:9

    And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

  • John 3:10

    Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

  • John 18:3

    Judas then, having received a band [of men] and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

  • Jeremiah 8:8

    How do ye say, We [are] wise, and the law of the LORD [is] with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he [it]; the pen of the scribes [is] in vain.

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