Bible Study Week 2: Insights on The Epiphany

Week 2: Matthew 2:1-12 (New International Version)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Note to group leader: Use the following questions for reflection/discussion after the reading. You may select just a few based on your group.

1. From where you stood, what did you see? what was happening inside you? What were you thinking? Feeling?
2. What gift do you bring to the Christ Child?
3. What hurdles have you had to endure on your journey to the Christ Child?
4. How would this visit change how you would live your life?
5. What do you think the angel told the Magi in “warning” them not to return to Herod?
6. What would you do after this blessed visit? Would you go back to Herod or would you return by another route? Why?
7. If the Magi had returned to Herod, what would have happened? How would our lives be different today?