Scripture
Matthew
2:1-12 (NRSV)
1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in
Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,
2 asking, ‘Where
is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed
his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’
3 When King Herod
heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and calling
together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired
of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5 They told him,
‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the
prophet:
6 “And you,
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the
rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd
my people Israel.” ’
7 Then Herod secretly
called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when
the star had appeared.
8 Then he sent
them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the
child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may
also go and pay him homage.’
9 When they had
heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the
star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the
place where the child was.
10 When they saw
that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.
11 On entering
the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt
down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they
offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And having
been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their
own country by another road.
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