Matthew 2

Which worship songs are based on Matthew 2?

Humble Heart — ApologetiX (2021) Matthew 2:1-12
The opening recounts the Magi presenting costly gifts to Jesus and then returning home by a different route, closely following Matthew's account of their visit and divine warning.
The Night Before Christmas — Brandon Heath (2024) Matthew 2:1-11
The visiting Magi, the guiding star, and their act of bowing before the child closely reproduce the distinctive imagery of Matthew’s infancy narrative.
Christmas Day — Chris Tomlin (2021) Matthew 2:1-11
The sight of a star joined with an invitation to approach and adore Christ unmistakably recalls the Magi's journey to the child Jesus and their worship before him.
Cradle in Bethlehem — Gregory Porter (2024) Matthew 2:1-11
The wise men traveling through darkness under the guidance of a star directly recalls the Magi's journey to find the child Jesus.
Christmas Eve In Bethlehem — Hannah Kerr (2020) Matthew 2:1-11
The star signaling the birth of a king and prompting a journey to find him unmistakably recalls the Magi’s response to the star in Matthew’s infancy narrative.
this is what christmas feels like — JVKE, Forrest Frank (2025) Matthew 2:1-12
The song references the wise men who followed the star, directly alluding to the biblical account of their journey to find Jesus, which signifies hope and guidance during the Christmas season.
The First Noel — Highlands Worship (2021) Matthew 2:1-2
The eastern star signaling the birth of Israel’s king derives from Matthew’s account of the Magi. The carol combines that Matthean sign with Luke’s shepherd narrative, although Matthew does not say the shepherds saw the star.
We Three Kings — John Van Deusen (2022) Matthew 2:1-11
The song retells Matthew’s account of eastern Magi traveling to Bethlehem by a star and presenting gifts to Jesus. Calling them three kings reflects later tradition rather than details specified in the passage, but the underlying narrative is unmistakable.
A Cradle In Bethlehem — Phil Wickham & Evan Wickham (2024) Matthew 2:1-11
The wise men traveling through darkness under the guidance of a star directly evokes Matthew’s account of the Magi journeying to Bethlehem.
The First Noel — CCV Music (2024) Matthew 2:1-2
The prominent eastern star that signals the royal birth and guides observers reflects Matthew’s account of the star seen by the Magi. The carol blends this Matthean image with Luke’s shepherd narrative.
The First Noel — Victory (2025) Matthew 2:1-2
The star appearing in the east and signaling the birth of Israel's king draws directly from Matthew's account of the star observed by the Magi. The carol traditionally blends this Matthean sign with Luke's shepherd narrative.
Three Wise Guys — The Cast Of Journey To Bethlehem & Omid Djalili & Rizwan Manji & Geno Segers (2023) Matthew 2:1-11
The Magi follow a star in search of the newborn king, intending to worship him and present gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These combined narrative details unmistakably identify Matthew’s account, although the number and traditional names of the Magi come from later tradition.
The First Noel — Maverick City Music & Majesty Rose (2020) Matthew 2:1-2
The eastern star and the declaration of a newborn king draw directly from Matthew’s account of the sign seen and followed by the Magi, although the carol blends that episode with Luke’s shepherd scene.
Do You Hear What I Hear? — Pentatonix & Andrea Bocelli & Matteo Bocelli & Virginia Bocelli (2022) Matthew 2:2
The prominent star and the proposal to bring precious metal to the Child recall the Magi following the star and presenting royal gifts to Jesus. The song adapts the details by including silver, which is not among Matthew’s named gifts.
What Child Is This? — John Van Deusen (2022) Matthew 2:11
The three gifts brought in homage to the child correspond precisely to the offerings presented by the Magi.

Matthew 2 (King James Version)

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

³ When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

⁶ And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

⁷ Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

⁹ When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

¹² And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

¹³ And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

¹⁵ And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

¹⁷ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

¹⁹ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

²⁰ Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.

²¹ And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

²² But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

²³ And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.