w Ac.5.31; 13.23,38. z Is.7.14.

Father's gift, John 6. 37, and by His own redemption. 1 Pet. 1. 18, 21. These He shall securely save.¶ From their sins. We are lost by sin. He saves His people from the curse of sin, and from its controlling power (Rom. ch. 6). This he does, by making a complete atonement, such as brings a free pardon and saves from the condemnation of sin (1 Pet. 3. 18); and by providing such an operation of the Holy Ghost in the heart, as subdues sin and removes it. John 15. 16; 16. 13.

22. That it might be fulfilled. It is here expressly declared, that this event was brought about in fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy (7. 14), and in order to fulfil it. Of course the prophecy must have contemplated this event, and could not have had a complete fulfilment short of it. Ahaz refused to ask a sign as to the deliverance then at hand. But a sign was given. And, observe, it was given to the "house of David" (that is, the Jewish nation), and for a remoter purpose (see Isaiah 7. 13). A miraculous birth is evidently referred to, in the language of the prophet, "A virgin, &c." And here there was thrown in, for the Jewish people, a remarkable prediction of Christ, that should stand on record to confirm His claims. As to Ahaz, it was quite sufficient to indicate the interval of the deliverance; viz., the time of a child's minority. This could be shown in the case of any child, and was sufficiently indicated in the general terms, without any further sign to him, saving the fare of "butter (or curds) and honey," as signifying the state of the land, waste and uncultivated, until that deliverance. Besides, a promise of Christ to the Jews, was always a constructive pledge or sign that the nation

1 Or, his name shall be called. y Jno.1.14. should be delivered and not destroyed, since the Jews held that they existed as a nation for the Messiah's sake. From the prophet Micah (5. 2, 3) it is plain that some virgin birth was expected, as a miraculous fulfilment of Isaiah's prediction. A virgin. This explains to Joseph her supposed adultery. The prophet had distinctly declared the virginity of our Lord's mother. Hence, it was to be understood as a purely miraculous event. Yet why impossible, any more than the creation of Adam or Eve? "A body hast thou_prepared me," saith Christ, when He cometh into the world (Heb. 10. 5). There is no good ground for the Romish tenet of Mary's perpetual virginity. The last verse of this chapter goes to contradict it. Besides, Christ is called her first-born, and this is a term commonly used to indicate the primogeniture, and in such connexion implies the order of birth, with reference to other children (Gen. 27. 32). Besides, the brethren and sisters of our Lord are spoken of. Mark 6. 3. Matt. 12. 46. "James, the Lord's brother." Gal. 1. 19.-¶ Emmanuel. This is the Hebrew name from the prophecy. It means, literally, God with us. In this sense, this must have been the fulfilment to which the prophecy ultimately looked. This referred Joseph more distinctly to the miracle as the explanation. So it directly proves the union of the divine and human natures in Christ.T They shall call his name; i. e., this shall be His nature and character. He shall be God with us. The force of the phrase includes this; as in Isa. 9. 6. "His name shall be called Wonderful."

Christ is the God-man prophesied as to come. "The Word was made flesh." John 1. 14. This incarnation is the grand sign of deliver

hold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is

king by the Romans, who now held the Jews in subjection. And in him was fulfilled Jacob's prophecy. Gen. 49. 10. But the sceptre had not departed from Judah, until the Shiloh had come. Herod was the son of Antipater. He was now established in the kingdom of Judea, which had been over sixty years under the Roman power. Augustus was emperor of Rome, and this Herod had now reigned, though in dependence on the Roman government, about thirty-four years. Now the decree from Rome for an enrollment of the people, as tributary to the foreign power, was a mark of their actual subjection. Cæsar's penny showed their subserviency. Matt. 22. 20. (See Luke 2. 1.) Herod had gained à character for bravery and cruelty, while he had restored Jerusalem to much of its ancient magnificence by his splendid projects. He was called "the Great," and it was he who had repaired the temple, so as to give it much of its former glory. -Wise men. Wicklif's version, 1380, reads "astromyens" (or astronomers), also called magi from the Greek term magoi, whence also our word magicians. These men were of an ancient and sacred order, the most influential in the civil, religious, and literary world. Among the Medes, they were, like the Levites under the Mosaic institutions, intrusted with the care of religion. They had also the arts and sciences, and all philosophy under their charge. They paid much attention to astronomy. Their name denotes their priestly character. (Mag, or Mog, in the Pehlvi, denotes priest.) This Magian learning was known in history as the law of the Medes and Persians. It was a necessary part of a princely education to be taught in their learning; and this was the privilege of none but kings. They were spread over other eastern countries. Such

b Ze.9.9. c Nu.24.17. Is.60.3. d Jno.5.23.

are spoken of in Daniel 1. 20, &c., as magicians and astrologers,"-different classes of this order. See Daniel 2. 18. Their visit here may be regarded as an homage paid by the highest order in the world, to the day-star risen upon earth. In this was immediately fulfilled the prediction of Malachi, " From the rising of the sun (or the East), even unto the going down of the same, my name shall be great among the Gentiles," &c. (Mal. 1. 11). So, Isa. 60. 3, "The Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

¶ The east. Oriental countries, are generally understood by this term. East of Judea is here meant. From the land of the Chaldees whence Abraham was called, they may have come. Jer. 1. 35. Dan. 2. 12.- -T To Jerusalem. Because here was the temple; and this was the holy city; and here were the sacred oracles and officers from whom they could ascertain the prophecies. It might appear that they had derived their knowledge of "the King of the Jews" from the Jewish Scriptures, or from scattered Jews, who had so far informed them of the expected Messiah. But how then did they know the star, and not know where He should be born? Though a general expectation was spread abroad, that some great King should arise in Judea, yet this would not account for their amount of information. Virgil, who lived a little before this, owns that a child from Heaven was looked for, who should restore the golden age, and take away sin. But these Magi were moved, doubtless, by a divine impulse. They received special illumination and direction from Heaven, leading them to follow the star, and to inquire at Jerusalem. A revelation from God is not enough of itself. The Spirit must lead us to seek Christ, and direct us to the spot.

2. We have seen his star. Though

a comet, or eclipse, or meteor, was regarded as the portent of some great event, yet we do not read of any such general impression made by this singular appearance. Hence, we conclude that it was a sign granted to these. They were otherwise "warned of God" afterward. (See v. 12.) Around the shepherds shone "the glory of the Lord." To the wise men rose this "star," which they were assured of as "His." To Saul of Tarsus" a light beyond the brightness of the sun" appeared at mid-day. We do not read of others going to Jerusalem, attracted by this sight in the sky. Yet it was a powerful revelation to these, bringing them from the East, the representatives of the highest earthly order. Balaam had prophesied of Christ (Numbers 24. 17), "There shall come a star out of Jacob," &c.; and this sign they saw. An expectation was abroad that a mighty king should arise in Judea; and doubtless such a prophecy was current, as the ground of it, among the Jews. Kepler has calculated that a remarkable conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurred about that time. But such a sight seems not to suit the narrative. They made themselves known as visitants and inquirers from the oriental world. We, in the East, have seen his star." Herein was a testimony to the Jews at Jerusalem, that the Messiah had indeed come. The star was a token to the Magi. The visit of the Magi was a token to the Jews. Christ must be revealed to the soul by His appropriate marks, or we shall never set out after Him..

To worship Him.. The word refers rather to a civil homage (Luke 14. 10), than to a religious act, though it may include both. It means to acknowledge and honour Him as King, by prostration before Him, and by presents. This was the custom of that

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

day, in paying homage to kings. They saw His star, and sought for Him. We should not be content with anything short of Christ himself. It has been calculated by Benson, that they came from the thirty-ninth to the forty-second day after the birth of Jesus.

3. When Herod the king had heard, fc. Their visit and inquiry were soon made known to Herod. He was startled and troubled, because all this confirmed to him the general expectation. And such a royal advent was the peril of his throne. He was himself" king of the Jews." Besides, he was now about seventy years old. He had reached the throne through violence and blood. He had murdered his wife, Mariamne, and two of his sons, and he had reason to expect retribution. The alarm was general. All Jerusalem, it might be said, was troubled with him. Some feared new upturnings, with the slaughter and confusion of revolutionary times. Some dreaded the rapacity and malice of Herod, which might break out by this means.

4. The chief priests and scribes. The Sanhedrim was composed of these. It was the court of highest civil and ecclesiastical authority among the Jews; and this body of seventy was doubtless appealed to in this important case. The scribes, who were lawyers of the Mosaic code, kept the public records, and were writers or scribes of the Scriptures, besides being teachers or schoolmasters, called "doctors of the law." Being most familiar with all the Jewish Scriptures, they would be able at once to tell where the prophecies had appointed the birth of Christ. The class of chief priests included, besides the acting High Priest, all that had already acted as such, besides the heads or chiefs of the twenty-four courses into

which the priesthood had been divided by David (2 Chron. 8. 14). The Jews looked for Christ at this time-but as a temporal king.- -¶ Demanded. Inquired, or required to know. All the circumstances forced conviction on his mind of Christ's having come. He wished to act promptly in his cruel designs against such a rival. Hence he would know where Christ could be found.

5. They replied immediately and distinctly, and cited their authority from the Scripture.

6. They refer to Micah, 5. 2, sufficiently to inform him of the place, as "Bethlehem in the land of Judah." This was the point; and as to the rest of the passage, only the substance of the prophet's words is given, or need be, viz., That this town, though small in civil distinction-" though thou be little among the thousands (princes) of Judah"-should be highly honoured as the birth-place of the Messiah-the Ruler of Israel-the King of the Jews. The term " thousands," refers to the civil divisions of the tribes into thousands," 1 Sam. 10. 19; and "princes" were the chiefs or rulers of these.

7,8. Herod now summoned the wise men privily, (that is, privately,) not willing to show his anxiety, or to produce political agitation. He took secret counsel of them-inquiring diligently (sparing no pains to discover

hem; 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.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed: and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

h Pro. 26.24. i ver. 2. j Ps.67.4.

of them), as to the time of the star's appearance. His object was to infer the age of the child; for his dreadful plot was to make sure its destruction, by destroying all the children within or about that age.- -T Search diligently. He would feign now to fall in with their devout purpose of finding the child; and he even pretends to wish an opportunity of worshipping also. But he wished to lay violent hands upon him. God saw and heard these plans of Herod, and He knows all the secret devices of iniquity, and all the motives and purposes of every heart.

9. They departed. It is not likely that they were led by the star to Jerusalem. They went to the holy city because they were warned of God so to do, or because they knew that this was the place to inquire, as the seat of the Jewish religion. And behold, the token, whatever it was, that first appeared to them, now unexpectedly re-appeared, and moved perceptibly on, till it took a marked station over the very house. It was all a peculiar arrangement to suit the case. It must have been near the earth to indicate the dwelling, and yet it could not have appeared to others as it did to them. It was most important that they should be notified of the house, because they could not have ascertained that from any inquiries. God's directions are