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The Pilgrimage of the Magi
…2asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”3WhenKingHerodheard this,he was disturbed,andallJerusalemwithhim.4And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.…

Treasury of Scripture

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

he.

Matthew 8:29
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens underher wings, and ye would not!

1 Kings 18:17,18
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him,Art thou he that troubleth Israel? …

AgitatedDisturbedEarsGreatlyHeardHerodJerusalemReachedReportsSoonStirredTroubledAgitatedDisturbedEarsGreatlyHeardHerodJerusalemReachedReportsSoonStirredTroubled1.The wise men from the east enquire after Jesus;
3.at which Herod is alarmed.
9.They are directed by a star to Bethlehem, worship him, and offer their presents.
13.Joseph flees into Egypt with Jesus and his mother.
16.Herod slays the children;
20.himself dies.
23.Jesus is brought back again into Galilee to Nazareth.

When King Herod heard this
King Herod, known as Herod the Great, was a Roman-appointed ruler of Judea. His reign was marked by significant building projects, including the expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Herod was known for his paranoia and ruthless measures to secure his throne, including the execution of family members. The news that disturbed him was the birth of Jesus, whom the Magi referred to as the "King of the Jews." This title threatened Herod's rule, as he was not of Jewish descent but an Idumean, and his authority was granted by Rome. The prophecy of a new king from the line of David would have been particularly unsettling for Herod, who was aware of Jewish expectations for a Messiah.

he was disturbed
Herod's disturbance reflects his fear of losing power. Historically, Herod's reaction is consistent with his character; he was known for his violent responses to perceived threats. The Greek word used here can also mean "agitated" or "troubled," indicating a deep emotional turmoil. This reaction foreshadows Herod's later actions, including the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem, as he sought to eliminate any potential rival to his throne.

and all Jerusalem with him
The phrase suggests that Herod's fear and agitation spread to the city of Jerusalem. This could be due to several factors: the political instability that often accompanied Herod's violent actions, the potential for Roman intervention, or the religious implications of the Magi's announcement. Jerusalem, as the center of Jewish religious life, would have been acutely aware of messianic prophecies. The city's disturbance may also reflect the tension between the Jewish populace and their Roman-appointed ruler. The arrival of the Magi and their quest for the newborn king would have been a significant event, stirring both hope and fear among the people.

1.King Herod
Known as Herod the Great, he was the Roman-appointed king of Judea. Herod was known for his ambitious building projects and his ruthless measures to maintain power, including the execution of family members he perceived as threats.

2.Jerusalem
The capital city of Judea, a central place of Jewish worship and governance. It was a city of great religious significance, housing the Temple, and was often a focal point for political and social unrest.

3.The Magi's Visit
The context of this verse is the visit of the Magi, or wise men from the East, who came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn "King of the Jews." Their inquiry about the birth of Jesus disturbed Herod and the city.The Threat of True Kingship
Herod's disturbance highlights the threat that Jesus' kingship posed to earthly powers. Reflect on how Jesus' lordship challenges personal and societal power structures today.

The Ripple Effect of Christ's Coming
The disturbance in "all Jerusalem" signifies the far-reaching impact of Jesus' birth. Consider how the presence of Christ in one's life can influence communities and relationships.

Fear vs. Faith
Herod's fear contrasts with the faith of the Magi. Evaluate how fear can lead to destructive actions, while faith leads to worship and obedience.

Prophecy Fulfilled
The events surrounding Jesus' birth fulfill Old Testament prophecies, affirming the reliability of God's Word. Trust in the fulfillment of God's promises in your life.

The Response to Jesus' Kingship
Different responses to Jesus' birth (Herod's fear, the Magi's worship) invite reflection on personal responses to Jesus' authority and presence.1.What is the meaning of Matthew 2:3?

2.How does Matthew 2:3 illustrate Herod's fear of losing power?

3.Why was "all Jerusalem" disturbed along with Herod in Matthew 2:3?

4.What Old Testament prophecies connect to Herod's reaction in Matthew 2:3?

5.How can we respond to fear of change in leadership like Herod?

6.How does Herod's reaction in Matthew 2:3 challenge our trust in God's plan?

7.Why was King Herod disturbed by the news of Jesus' birth in Matthew 2:3?

8.How does Matthew 2:3 reflect the political climate of Judea at the time?

9.What does Herod's reaction in Matthew 2:3 reveal about his character and leadership?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 2?

11.Who is the author of the Book of James?

12.What does the Bible say about rebuilding the Temple?

13.What are the key events in Jesus' life timeline?

14.Was baby Jesus' life threatened in Jerusalem, prompting Joseph to flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23), or did the family calmly present him at the temple and return to Galilee (Luke 2:21-40)?When King Herod heard this

• “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem… Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?’” (Matthew 2:1-2). The news reaches Herod, a ruler installed by Rome, not by divine covenant.

• Herod’s line clings to power by politics and force, yet prophecy is unfolding in his own territory (Micah 5:2;Numbers 24:17).

• Revelation of the true King confronts human authority. Similar moments: Pharaoh learning of Israel’s growth (Exodus 1:8-10); Saul hearing of David’s victories (1 Samuel 18:8-11).

• God faithfully announces His plans, whether through star-guided Gentiles or angelic messengers (Luke 2:10-11). Those who listen are blessed; those who resist tremble.

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he was disturbed

•Matthew 2:3: “When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed…”

• Herod’s agitation springs from fear of losing control. Earthly thrones feel shaky when God’s rule breaks in (Psalm 2:2-4).

• His past brutality—killing family members, executing rivals—shows a pattern of violent self-preservation. A newborn Messiah threatens that pattern.

•Proverbs 29:2 reminds us, “When a wicked man rules, people groan.” Herod’s unrest signals impending oppression, mirrored later in the massacre of the infants (Matthew 2:16).

• Contrast: the shepherds rejoice at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:20), while Herod fears. Heart posture toward Jesus determines whether His coming brings peace or panic.

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and all Jerusalem with him

• The city’s leaders and populace sense the storm gathering. When tyrants feel threatened, everyone braces for backlash.

• Religious elites may dread upheaval of their status (John 11:48). Political instability alarms citizens who remember Rome’s swift reprisals (Luke 13:1).

•Isaiah 33:14 notes, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless.” Awareness of unmet righteousness provokes unease.

• Crowds later echo this tension: “He stirs up the people all over Judea” (Luke 23:5). Those comfortable in the present order often resist the very salvation they need.

• Yet God still invites Jerusalem to embrace her King (Zechariah 9:9;Matthew 21:5). Disturbance can become repentance if hearts yield.

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summary

Matthew 2:3 captures a collision between heaven’s decree and earth’s defenses. Herod’s shaken throne and Jerusalem’s shared anxiety reveal how fallen power structures react to the rightful King. The verse exposes fear in the face of fulfilled prophecy, contrasts worldly control with divine sovereignty, and prepares the stage for both opposition and redemption as Christ’s kingdom advances.

(3)Herod the king.--When the Magi reached Jerusalem, the air was thick with fears and rumours, The old king (the title had been given by the Roman Senate in B.C. 40) was drawing to the close of his long and blood-stained reign. Two years before he had put to death, on a charge of treason, his two sons by Mariamne, his best-loved wife, through sheer jealousy of the favour with which the people looked on them. At the time when this history opens, his eldest son, Antipater, was under condemnation. The knowledge that priests and people were alike looking for the "consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25;Luke 2:38), the whispers that told that such a consolation had come, the uneasiness excited in the people by the "taxing" in which he had been forced to acquiesce, all these were elements of disquietude prior to the arrival of the Magi, and turned the last days of the Idumaean prince (his subjects never forgot his origin) into a time of frenzied and cruel suspicion. The excitement naturally spread throughout the city.

Verse 3. -When;and when, Revised Version. There is a contrast (δέ) between the eager question of the Magi and the feelings of Herod.Herodthe king. In the true text the emphasis is not on the person (as in ver. 1, where the date was all-important), but on the office as then exercised. Tile king visibly regnant is contrasted with him who was born to be King. Heard. Through some of his many sources of information, for "there were spies set everywhere" (Josephus, 'Ant.,' 15:10. 4).These things;it, Revised Version. Nothing is expressed in the original.He was troubled; perplexed, agitated (ἐταράχθη). Fully in accordance with his jealous and suspicious character. For he had already slain, as actual or possible candidates for the throne, five of the Maccabean princes and princesses, including his favourite wife Mariamne (thus extirpating the direct line) and also his two sons by Mariamne. Josephus ('Ant.,' 17:02. 4; cf. Holtzmann) mentions a prediction of the Pharisees towards the end of Herod's life, that "God had decreed that Herod's government should cease, and his posterity should be deprived of it." This seems to have a Messianic reference, though used at the time for an intrigue in favour of Pheroras, Herod's brother.And all Jerusalem. The feminine (here only,πᾶσαἸεροσόλυμα) points to a Hebrew source. The reason for the inhabitants of Jerusalem feeling troubled is generally explained, by their fear, which was in fact only too well justified by experience, that the news would excite Herod to fresh crimes. It is also possible that many would shrink from the changes which the coming of Messiah could not but bring. Present ease, though only comparative, is with the unbelieving preferable to possibilities of the highest blessedness.Matthew 21:10 affords both a parallel and a contrast.With him. In this respect Jerusalem was one with Herod (John 1:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...


When
δὲ(de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.

King
βασιλεὺς(basileus)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 935:A king, ruler, but in some passages clearly to be translated: emperor. Probably from basis; a sovereign.

Herod
Ἡρῴδης(Hērōdēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2264:Compound of heros and eidos; heroic; Herod, the name of four Jewish kings.

heard [this],
Ἀκούσας(Akousas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 191:To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

he was disturbed,
ἐταράχθη(etarachthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5015:To disturb, agitate, stir up, trouble. Of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate.

and
καὶ(kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.

all
πᾶσα(pasa)
Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3956:All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

Jerusalem
Ἱεροσόλυμα(Hierosolyma)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2414:The Greek form of the Hebrew name: Jerusalem. Of Hebrew origin; Hierosolyma

with
μετ’(met’)
Preposition
Strong's 3326:(a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

him.
αὐτοῦ(autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king heard it he (Matt. Mat Mt)