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MATTHEW
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MATTHEW STUDY #2 [Mt 2:1 - 2:23]
NOTE: As we have pointed out in the beginning of this study of the book of Matthew, the four Gospels often cover the same events from a little different angle. It is from these four different "looks" at an event that we can see that event in it's completeness.
To place the time and chronological order of Matthew chapter two into relation with the Gospel of Luke for instance, it is necessary to understand that the entire 2nd chapter of Matthew occurs chronologically between the verse [Luke 2:39 and Luke 2:40].
We will supply the verse of Luke 2:39 & 40 below for you to visualize where this 2nd chapter of Matthew fits in, it would be beneficial to the reader to read several verses in Luke prior to [Luke 2:39] to pick up the flow of events.
Luke 2:39-40
39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.INSERT MATTHEW CHAPTER TWO HERE.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. (KJV)
Let's ask for a word of wisdom from our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, as we begin our study of the book of Matthew chapter two.
CHAPTER 2
Matt 2:1-23
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem*1 of Judaea*2 in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men*3 from the east to Jerusalem,
Explanations from above verse: *1 Bethlehem = Bethlehem translated to English means: "House of bread." Jesus Christ would go on to be called: "The Bread of life." *2 Judaea = The "state" in which Bethlehem is located. *3 wise men = Although it is commonly taught that the Wise men were three in number, there is no Biblical documentation for that assumption. The Bible never states how many Wise men there were that were seeking to see Jesus, it is assumed that there were three because in verse 11 we see that the Wise men gave three gifts to the child Jesus. For more on the Wise men, let's look at an excerpt from Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (click to review) which you can reveiw or order from our Study Aids section.
WISE MEN: The men from the East who were led by a star to come to Palestine to worship the infant Christ [Matt. 2:1,7, 16]. The Greek word for wise men in this account (magoi) is rendered as astrologers where it occurs in the Septuagint (click to review) the Greek translation of the Old Testament [Dan. 1:20; 2:2] and as sorcerer in its other occurrences in the New Testament [Acts 13:6,8].
The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B. C., identified the Magi as a caste of Medes who had a priestly function in the Persian Empire. In the Book of Daniel the "astrologers" (magoi) are grouped with magicians, sorcerers, and Chaldeans as advisers to the court of Babylon with responsibility for interpreting dreams.
The role of the star in Matthew Chpt. two suggests a connection with astrology. These astrologers, pursuing their observations of the stars in the heavens, encountered a sign of God [Matt. 24:29-30]. God broke through their misguided system to make the great event known.
The joy, rejoicing, worship, and gifts which mark the response of these wise men to the birth of Jesus is quite a contrast to the troubled state and murderous intent of Herod and his Jewish advisers in Jerusalem [Matt. 2:1-12].
2 Saying, Where is he*1 that is born King of the Jews*2? for we have seen his star*3in the east, and are come to worship him.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Where is he = This is the first question in the New Testament. When compared with the first question in the Old Testament [Gen 3:9]: "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?", you have in the Old Testament, a question from God to the sinner: "Where art thou?", and in the New Testament you have the question of the seeking sinner: "Where is he. . .?" *2 Jews = Judah, the tribe of Judah being one of the twelve tribes of Israel. *3 his star = Jesus' star. This was prophesied way back in the Old Testament book of Numbers. Below is the scripture from approximately 1400 BC speaking of the promised Star which was to be Jesus Christ.
Num 24:16-23
16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.
19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.
21 And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.
22 Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.
23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! (KJV)
3 When Herod the king*1 had heard these things, he was troubled*2, and all Jerusalem with him.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Herod the king = So written as to distinguish him from the other 'Herods' in the Bible, for there were many. King Herod was the King of Judah during the captivity to the Romans. Herod was appointed king by a Roman Governor, and not by God, as was Saul and David. *2 heard these things, he was troubled = King Herod was jealous because they said that Jesus was born 'King of the Jews' (Judah) and Herod was the King at that time. The King didn't like people calling anyone else 'The King,' and as we read on we will see Herod planning the murder of the infant Jesus. This was an attempt by satan to destroy Jesus and thus make of none effect the promise of the first prophecy in the Bible [Gen 3:15], which foretold that Christ would destroy the serpent (satan).
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ*1should be born.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Christ = The Messiah. King Herod was trying to locate Jesus so that he could kill him.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem*1 of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet*2,
Explanations from above verse: *1 In Bethlehem = This was prophesied long ago that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. We see a second witness to this fact in [John 7:42]: "Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" *2 it is written by the prophet = What Prophet and scripture are Matthew and St. John both talking about? It is located in the next verse, which is all quoted from the Old Testament book of Mica [Mica 5:2], from 632 BC - 603 BC.
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*1 my people Israel.*2
Explanations from above verse: *1 rule = To shepherd. *2 (all of verse 6) = Below is the verse in the book of Mica that is being quoted above in verse 6.
Micah 5:2
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel*1; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (KJV)
Explanations from above verse: *1 that is to be ruler in Israel = Jesus Christ.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily*1 called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 privily = Secretly, deceitfully. *2 what time the star appeared = Herod has now asked his second question as to the birth of Jesus; in verse 2 he asked "Where," and now in verse 7 he asks "When." Herod is preparing to murder the infant Jesus, but he must find him first. Herod knows that he must be careful not to let the Wise know of his plan to murder the infant Jesus, for he knew that the Wise men were good and just, and that they sought to worship the infant as the prophesied Messiah from God.
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*1 also.
Explanations from above verse: *1 that I may come and worship him = Herod is lying to them, he doesn't want to worship Jesus, he wants to murder him. Herod knows that the Wise men would never knowingly expose Jesus to an assassin, so he is attempting to trick them into divulging the location of the infant.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed*1; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was*2.
Explanations from above verse: *1 they departed = To Nazareth, not Bethlehem. This will be explained as we progress through this chapter, but briefly stated, this accounts for the future yet order of Herod [verse 16] to kill all children under the age of two years old. *2 went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was = This movement of this particular star in the Heavens was by Devine intervention and not by astronomical phenomenon. God was leading the Wise men to the infant Messiah.
10 When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into
the house*1, they saw the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him*2: and
when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him
gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh*3.
Explanations from above verse: *1 into the house = This is further documentation that some time has transpired since the birth of Jesus, for the Wise men find Jesus in a house and not in a Manger. Jesus was no longer in Bethlehem in the Manger that He was born in, but is back home in Nazareth in His house. I know that the visit of the three Wise men is always rendered in Hollywood movies as having taken place in the Manger of His birth, but scripture simply does not support this. And when we get to [verse 16] we will see Herod ordering the murder of all children two years and under in his attempt to kill Jesus. In that verse [16] it shows that Herod did know the time of Jesus' birth, therefore Herod would not have had to kill children two years old if he was trying to kill a new born babe of a few days of age. *2 worshipped him = They worshiped Jesus, they did not worship Mother Mary! Perhaps there is a lesson in that for those who seek to make a goddess out of Mother Mary, those that have almost elevated Mother Mary to co-regent status with Jesus Christ. *3 gold, and frankincense, and myrrh = These were the three gifts that the Wise men gave to Jesus, as these would be things that the family would need; Frankincense and myrrh are associated with worshiping God and offerings, and the gold naturally would supply them financially. The fact that three gifts are given indicates to some scholars that there were three Wise men, each giving one gift. It is unknown if this is an accurate assumption due to the fact that the scriptures never number the Wise men.
Perhaps it really wouldn't matter how many Wise men there were except for the fact that in Biblical numeric's, the number three represents: "Divine completeness and perfection," and would certainly be a number that would be associated with the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, Savior from Almighty God. ie: There are three in the Holy Trinity, Christ rose on the third day, it was the third hour He was crucified, and it was three hours (the sixth through the ninth) that darkness shrouded the Divine Sufferer and Redeemer, Jesus raised three persons from the dead,....
12 And being warned of God in a dream*1 that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Explanations from above verse: *1 being warned of God in a dream = This is the first of three times that God will directly intervene through a dream and instruct how to provide safety and protection for the child Jesus. Verse 12 above, to the three Wise men, Verse 13 & 22 to Joseph. (I'm sure that you noticed our number three again associating itself with Jesus. Interesting, isn't it?). Here we see Divine intervention by God Himself on Jesus' behalf. God did not want the three Wise men to report to Herod the location of Jesus. The three Wise men were good men and they obeyed God straightway. Thus Herod, not knowing that Jesus was now in Nazareth, would go on in [verse 16] to order the murder of all children two years and below in the city of Bethlehem where Herod thinks that Jesus is.
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.
Explanations from above verse: Once again we see Divine intervention in the protecting of the Promised Seed (Jesus).
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*1,
saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Explanations from above verse: *1 that it might be fulfilled... = Below is scripture that was spoken of by the Prophet (Hosea) and thus now fulfilled by God arraigning to have Jesus taken out of Egypt:
Hosea 11:1
1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. (KJV)
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men*1, was exceeding wroth*2, and sent forth, and slew all the children*3 that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts*4 thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men*5.
Explanations from above verse: *1 mocked of the wise men = Deceived, tricked, disobeyed by. *2 wroth = Angry, infuriated. *3 all the children = Actually, in the Greek this is plural for boys, male children. It is the Greek word that is plural of: 'pais'. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, there were about twelve children murdered. *4 coasts = Borders. *5 according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men = Herod knew of the accurate birth date of Jesus, thus by Herod ordering the death of all children two years old and under it shows that this is now two years after the birth of Jesus in the Manger at Bethlehem. We also know that while Herod accomplished killing all the children under the age of two in Bethlehem, he did not kill Jesus, because Jesus was not in Bethlehem at this time.
17 Then was fulfilled*1that which was spoken by Jeremy*2 the prophet, saying,
Explanations from above verse: *1 Then was fulfilled = Here we have yet another Old Testament prophecy fulfilled, the next verse below [verse 18] is a quote from [Jer 31:15] and is this day fulfilled as it was written. *2 Jeremy = Jeremy is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew name 'Jeremiah', this is Jeremiah the Prophet and he wrote the Old Testament book of Jeremiah.
18 In Rama*1 was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children*2, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Explanations from above verse: *1 Rama = Is the same place name as 'Ramah' in the Hebrew Old Testament language. It is our present day 'er-Ram' and is situated about five miles north of Jerusalem. *2 Rachel weeping for her children = Rachel was the mother of the twelfth son of Jacob (God later changed Jacob's name to Israel). Rachel died during the birth of this twelfth son who would go on to become the father of the twelfth and last tribe of Israel (Tribe of Benjamin). This child was named 'Ben-o'-ni' by Rachel, which means: "Son of my sorrow," but Jacob changed the boy's name to: 'Benjamin,' which means: "Son of my right hand." You can read of that event in [Gen 35:18-19]. The verse that is fulfilled in verse 18 above is written in [Jer 31:15] and is supplied below (Rahel is Rachel). We also include the following two verses of comfort from God [16 & 17] :
Jer 31:15-17
15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border. (KJV)
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*1, he turned aside into the parts of
Galilee:
Explanations from above verse: *1 being warned of God in a dream = This is the third time God intervenes for the safety of the child Jesus.
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*1. (KJV)
Explanations from above verse: *1 that it might be fulfilled... = Still once again we have another Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament. I point these out because through seeing all these prophecies of old having been fulfilled exactly as they were written, we can know of a surety that the prophecies given to us about our future will come to pass exactly as written. That is a promise directly from God to us, and it builds our faith in God and His written Word, the Bible! Below is the scripture that became fulfilled with Jesus residing in Nazareth.
Judg 13:5
5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. (KJV)
And here is a second witness from the Gospel of St. John that prophecy was indeed fulfilled that day:
John 1:45
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. (KJV)(End)
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