Matthew 2:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Concerning the wise men, God sent them away for multiple reasons: partly to serve as teachers to the people of Persia, but also to thwart the tyrant’s fury, demonstrating to him the futility of his intentions and quelling his rage. The power of God not only conquers His adversaries overtly, but also allows them to err without resistance. For example, He permitted the Israelites to misdirect the Egyptians, commanding the Egyptians to render their wealth to the Israelites not openly, but through cunning and manipulation—actions that also struck fear into His enemies. Similarly, the inhabitants of Ascalon, upon capturing the ark of the covenant, advised each other against enmity and resistance, pointing to the miracles and declaring: "Why do you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? Was it not when He afflicted them, that they let His people go?" (1 Sam. 6:6). They conveyed this understanding because they believed this divine act, like others, signified God's might and authority.

In this instance, the events were enough to terrify the tyrant. Consider how deeply Herod must have suffered and felt humiliated, deceived by the wise men. Yet, so what if he remained unrepentant? This was not the fault of the orchestrator of these events, but rather the result of Herod’s own stubbornness, which only deepened his punishment for such folly. You may wonder, what was the purpose of taking the boy to Egypt? The primary reason is highlighted by the Evangelist: "That it may be fulfilled which was spoken, ‘Out of Egypt I have called My Son’" (Hos. 11:1). This journey also heralded the dawn of hope for all creation. Given that Babylon and Egypt were both embodiments of widespread wickedness, the Lord demonstrated from the outset that He intended to redeem and improve the inhabitants of these nations, thus signaling that blessings awaited the world at large, as He sent the wise men to Babylon while He Himself ventured to Egypt.

Moreover, we glean another important lesson here: we should anticipate trials and accusations from the very start. Observe how the narrative unfolds. As soon as Christ is born, a tyrant rises in fury, leading to a flight into foreign lands, where the innocent mother escapes to a hostile territory. Therefore, if you are honored to be called to any spiritual ministry and endure severe trials and numerous afflictions, do not falter or question: "What does this mean? Shouldn't I be crowned and celebrated for following God’s will?" Instead, with Christ as your example, face these challenges with courage, understanding that spiritual individuals often face temptations at every turn. Consider the plight of the mother and the child as well as the wise men: they too are sent away quietly and treated like exiles, while the mother is compelled to embark on a difficult journey due to the miraculous birth of her son.

An irony unfolds here: Palestine plots against Him while Egypt provides refuge, saving Him from harm. Thus, several prophetic occurrences not only fulfilled the destinies of the children of the patriarchs but also foreshadowed events in the life of the Lord Himself—like the story of the donkey and the colt. The angel's message came not to Mary but to Joseph, instructing him: “Rise up to seek the young child and His mother.” Notably, he no longer refers to her as his wife but as the child's mother. The birth had dispelled any doubt, and the husband was reassured, so the angel addressed him directly: "Rise up, and seek the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, for Herod seeks to destroy the child."

“Stay there” replaces the directive “you shall stay there,” emphasizing the importance of awaiting a divine command. We must refrain from any actions outside of God's will. Consider the absurdity of one who attempts to thwart God's plan. If the one born is not of God, then there is nothing to fear; yet, if he is of God, how can one hope to destroy that child?

God, foreseeing the necessity for Jesus to confront Herod had He remained in Nazareth, commanded His departure. Thus, His journey into Egypt served two purposes: to fulfill the prophecy, ‘Out of Egypt I will call My son’ (Hos. 11:1), and to engage with the regions most consumed by wickedness, namely Babylon and Egypt. God guided the wise men away from Babylon while leading Jesus into Egypt, aiming to enlighten both towards the truth.

This also illustrates that believers should anticipate challenges. Observe how, even as a child, Jesus faced plots and went into exile, with both His mother and Joseph sharing in this ordeal. The wise men also departed discreetly, resembling fugitives, while the righteous were beset by countless trials. Therefore, when you dedicate yourself to a spiritual endeavor and face adversity, remember this example; do not grow resentful, but understand that trials come with good works. The adversary may instigate them to obstruct, yet God permits them to affirm those who love Him. Moreover, consider this striking situation: while Palestine is hostile, Egypt provides refuge for the fugitive, indicating that God harmonizes joy with sorrow. The journeys of the saints often encompass both extremes, as illustrated here: initial suspicion of the Virgin, followed by joyous birth, then the flight to Egypt, and later the summons from there; fear of Archelaus was followed by comfort in Nazareth. The time for miracles was not yet ripe; had He performed astounding feats from infancy, many would not have accepted His true humanity.

Thus, He spent nine months in the womb, was born, nourished with milk, and experienced all other aspects of human life in a customary manner, enabling a more profound understanding of His incarnation. The angel refers to Mary not as Joseph's wife but as the mother of the child, indicating that the uncertainty had been resolved, and Joseph recognized the divine nature of the birth. By instructing, ‘Flee to Egypt,’ he did not promise to accompany them, suggesting instead that they had the Lord Himself as their companion. This flight into Egypt also fostered a connection between the Egyptians and the Messiah. All who embraced the Gospel later took pride in having welcomed the fleeing Lord. ‘And be there…’ is interpreted as dwell or be present. Upon hearing this, Joseph was not swayed; he understood that everything unfolds according to divine Providence when angels provide direction regarding the child. Therefore, he refrained from questioning or opposing, fully resolved to obey God's command willingly.

From the moment of His earthly birth, Christ, the Son of God, endured hostility. Thus, we find that from the very beginning, He began to carry the cross for our redemption. This is the One who fashioned the entire universe, yet He was born in a humble cradle and laid in a feeding trough. He who holds dominion over life and death fled before a murderer. Let human arrogance be humbled, as it yearns for opulence and splendor, unwilling to tolerate even a hint of dissent. They should reconsider, reflecting on the heavenly Monarch who entered this world through the simplicity of a manger, submitting to the fury of a tyrannical ruler.

Could not Christ, the King of Glory, have chosen a more magnificent and splendid setting for His birth and rest? Of course, He could have; all creation belongs to Him, encompassing both heaven and earth. Yet, He embraced the manger as His chosen dwelling and the feeding trough as a beloved refuge to instruct us not to pursue worldly wealth and honor, but to regard ourselves as pilgrims in a foreign land (Heb. 11:13) and to aspire to our heavenly homeland (Heb. 11:14-16), for which we were created. A Christian who clings to earthly possessions is indeed impoverished. This serves as clear evidence that such a person seeks only what is visible and has no desire for that which is unseen.

While Christ could have protected Himself from wicked assailants or, through divine might and justice, vanquished them, He refrained from doing so. He entered this world not to enact destruction but to redeem souls (Luke 9:56). In this manner, He eluded His foes and provided us an example to allow for anger to subside and to extend grace to those who despise and offend us. The King of Glory and the Almighty willingly yielded. What should humble, frail beings like us do? Should we pursue vengeance, deserving as it is of punishment? Vengeance is not ours, for it belongs to the Lord, who asserts: Vengeance is mine; I will repay (Rom. 12:19).

The world, deceived and blinded by illusion, holds no love for Christ, who embodies Truth, and despises true believers. From the moment Christ appeared on earth, He faced opposition from a wicked world. Likewise, anyone who approaches Christ in faith and love will find themselves the target of the world's animosity, rejected as an outsider. The righteous may be regarded as foes by the wicked, despite causing no harm and holding no ill thoughts against them. The disdain arises from the displeasure that a virtuous individual eludes their whims, and their righteousness, like a light, exposes the darkness of their deeds. As the Lord proclaims: You will be hated by all for My name's sake (Matthew 10:22). The Apostle Paul also states: All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12).

Yet, dear believer, do not let this distress you; do not falter or fear. Without God’s guidance, nothing befalls us. God permits trials for the faithful, yet He does so in a measure that they can endure and for their ultimate benefit, never abandoning them as His children without the comfort that refreshes amid difficulty. Indeed, many are the afflictions of the righteous (Psalms 33:20), but the wicked endure far greater turmoil, especially in light of their eternal torment in hell. Though they may seem prosperous in this life, they will reap the consequences of their pride and wickedness in the end. Even now, they live amidst turmoil and strife, engaging in theft, deprivation, grievances, insults, and filling courts with deceitful complaints. In such circumstances, who can expect anything other than embarrassment and anxiety?

When we examine their conscience, we find only relentless judgement, condemnation, rebellion, and inner conflict. An evil conscience suffers more intensely than any outward suffering can inflict, tormenting an individual far more than any external adversary. The wicked may flourish outwardly, yet inside, they are like rotting blossoms. In contrast, the righteous, while facing external concerns, experience peace and tranquility within. They find comfort now, and in the age to come, they will receive abundant and eternal solace.

However, we affirm that in Him dwelled both divine and human natures: He was God, who, as He Himself proclaims, is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6); He was also Man, as He attests elsewhere, saying, “you seek to kill Me, the man who told you the truth which He heard from God” (John 8:40). When the Son of God assumed human form, is it surprising that He acted as a human would, such as retreating from danger? He could have selected different methods. Who contends otherwise? Yet, was it necessary to resort to miraculous signs when ordinary and natural means sufficed? Extraordinary actions were not always aligned with His purpose to demonstrate to the world that the man visible to humanity is the Word of God, the Power and Wisdom of God, the Christ, the Son of God. John Chrysostom notes, “They are astonished that God did not save this Child from Herod’s wrath in any other way than instructing Him to flee with His Mother to Egypt. Yet, through this apparent inability, the Son of God initiates His role according to the divine plan of the mystery of His incarnation. If He had always acted solely as God, manifesting His full power, those who dared to dismiss His incarnation as mere myth would have been even more brazen in denying that He truly took on our flesh. Thus, He flees not out of human fear, but through Divine Wisdom; not out of necessity, but by deliberate choice. The reason for His flight into Egypt stemmed from the same love that ultimately compelled Him to embrace the cross, offering Himself as a sacrificial atonement for our redemption.”

His flight is intended to create future opportunities for miracles that would both deny the wicked a pretext for justification and provide evidence of faith for those who will come to believe. The primary reason for His departure is to legitimate our own acts of fleeing; in times of persecution, it is preferable to run than to renounce one’s faith. Peter's denial came from his unwillingness to flee, while John fled to avoid denial.

Herod sought Christ, but in reality, the adversary sought through Herod, who realized that the Magi, upon whom he most relied for deception, had evaded him. Although Christ was wrapped in swaddling clothes, nourished by His mother's milk, and incapable of speech, recognized by no deeds, and unable to walk, He turned the Magi, the standard-bearers of the devil, into His most devoted followers. The enemy, having foreseen that Christ would perform works at the appointed time, incited the Jews and manipulated Herod to eliminate the Child, instilling in him fear to suppress any future manifestations of His power, as well as to erase the cross, which was a profound defeat for him but a significant victory for us. The devil anticipated that soon Christ would restore life through His teachings and miracles, and that He, still an infant, would eventually reign over the world, as is fitting for the Lord of all. This is affirmed by the prophets: "And before the child learns to call upon father or mother, he shall take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Syria" (Isaiah 8:4), and even the Jews acknowledge, "See, the whole world is coming after him" (John 12:19).

Could not the Almighty, in His omnipotence, have protected the child in Bethlehem from Herod's malice? God acts in accordance with His divine purpose, and His will is sovereign over the natural order. This illustrates that God desires His people to be vigilant in the face of peril and to act wisely rather than recklessly. The same lesson, which was revealed through the example of His only begotten Son, was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, who proclaimed: ‘Come, My people, enter into your temple, shut your doors, take refuge in a little while, until the indignation passes by’ (Isaiah 26:20). What actions did Joseph take upon receiving this command from the angel?

The Evangelist Matthew recounts this event: WHEN THEY HAD DEPARTED (referring to the Magi, likely right after their journey commenced due to the urgency, as Herod's malign intent was active) - BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD appeared to JOSEPH in a dream, as the protector of the Holy Virgin and the caretaker of the Divine Infant, and he commanded: Arise this very night, without hesitation, take the Child, the Child first, and His Mother (Mother, not merely your spouse, as I had referred to her earlier, for now it is clear that this Child has no earthly father, and this Wife has no husband. So, take her, awaken her if necessary, grasp the Mother’s hand, guide her, despite any hesitation about traveling such a distance at this hour, take her and flee, as one escapes from a fire, as one runs from a wild beast or an enemy, hurry as fast as you can, exerting all effort, to Egypt, and remain there until I inform you (you will not dwell there permanently, but only for a time, after which I shall reappear to you and indicate when it is safe), for Herod seeks the child to do him harm. Do not be afraid: no harm will come to you, for the Power of the Most High is with you in every place, and the Son of God Himself is with you, humbly clothed in infant swaddling. Perhaps the righteous elder was unprepared for such a troubling dream after all he had witnessed and heard the previous day.

Such an ordeal seemed contrary to the assurances given. Nevertheless, Joseph spoke not a word of doubt, for he was a man of deep faith, showing no curiosity about when they might return.

When pondering why Christ did not protect Himself from Herod’s assassins, Chrysostom provides clarity: "Because if the Lord had begun to work miracles from His first age, He would not have been recognised as a Man." The prophetic declaration by Hosea, "Out of Egypt have I called My Son" (Hosea 11:1), originally alludes to Israel's exodus from Egypt under Moses, identifying the nation collectively as God's Son. Thus, its direct application to Christ is nuanced.