Sunday Passage

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, 2“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” 3When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.4So he called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and [anxiously] asked them where the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to be born. 5They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:6‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, 
ARE NOT IN ANY WAY LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; 
FOR FROM YOU SHALL COME A RULER 
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”

7Then Herod secretly sent for the magi and learned from them the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared. 8Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” 9After hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way] until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11And after entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.-Matt. 2:1-12

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