Exposition of Matthew 2:12 and Its Application
Matthew 2:12 states, "And being warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way" (KJV) [1]. This verse is part of the narrative about the Magi who visited Jesus after his birth.
The literary context of Matthew 2:12 is the visit of the Magi to Jesus, which is part of Matthew's account of Jesus' early life. The surrounding narrative describes how the Magi, after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, left for their own country by a different route. This episode is significant because it shows how God protected Jesus from Herod's plot to kill him.
Historically, this event is set in the period shortly after Jesus' birth, during the reign of King Herod the Great. The Magi, who were likely from Persia or another eastern region, had come to Jerusalem seeking the newborn king, guided by a star. Herod, upon learning of their quest, had asked them to report back to him, intending to eliminate the potential rival. However, the Magi were divinely warned not to comply with Herod's request [1].
The key term in Matthew 2:12 is "warned in a dream," which highlights God's intervention to protect Jesus. The phrase indicates that the Magi received divine guidance, likely through a prophetic dream, to avoid returning to Herod. This event is part of a pattern in Matthew's Gospel where dreams serve as a means of divine communication [1].
The major exegetical decision related to this verse involves understanding the nature of the Magi's obedience to God's warning. According to Matthew Henry, the Magi's decision to depart into their own country another way demonstrates their obedience to God's command, showing that they prioritized divine guidance over human instructions [3].
The range of interpretations for Matthew 2:12 includes understanding it as an example of God's providential care for Jesus. Patristic and Nonconformist/Puritan traditions view this event as illustrating God's protective power. For instance, Augustine discusses the importance of dreams as a means of divine communication in his homilies on the Gospels [2]. Matthew Henry interprets the Magi's actions as a demonstration of their faith and obedience to God's will [3].
This passage has functioned in Christian tradition as an example of God's providence and the importance of obeying divine guidance. It has been used to illustrate the theme of God's protection of Jesus and, by extension, the faithful. The narrative has been seen as encouraging believers to trust in God's guidance and providence, even in the face of adversity or danger.
The event described in Matthew 2:12 has been understood as a fulfillment of the biblical theme of God's care for his people, echoing Old Testament narratives where God intervenes to protect his faithful servants. This understanding is reflected in the cross-references provided by the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which links Matthew 2:12 to other biblical passages that discuss divine warning and protection, such as Genesis 20:6 and Genesis 31:24 [1].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Matthew 2:12 cross-references: Genesis 20:6, Genesis 31:24, Exodus 1:17, Job 33:15, Daniel 2:19, Matthew 1:20, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:19, Matthew 2:22, Matthew 27:19, Acts 4:19, Acts 5:29, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Hebrews 11:7”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. LXVI.--OF THE COLT OF THE ASS WHICH IS MENTIONED BY MATTHEW, AND OF THE CONSISTENCY OF HIS ACCOUNT WITH THAT OF THE OTHER EVANGELISTS, WHO SPEAK ONLY OF THE ASS. (part 1): 127. Matthew goes on with his narrative in the following terms: "And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her;" and so on, down to the words, "Blessed is He that cometh in ”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 2:12: Here we have, I. The short visit Christ made to Capernaum, Joh 2:12. It was a large and populous city, about a day's journey from Cana; it is called his own city (Mat 9:1), because he made it his head-quarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse, and therefore Christ chose it, that the fame of his doctrine and miracles might thence spread the further. Observe, 1. The company that attended him thither: his mother, his brethren, and his disciples. Wherever Christ went, (1.) He would not go alone, but would take those with him”