Matthew 2 - Jesus Starts Life as a Marked Man!

Click here to read or listen to Matthew 2 

Overview of Chapter 2

Mary and Joseph start their parenting experience by being warned in a dream to escape evil King Herod who is trying to kill the newborn Savior. Why?

Because he knew from prophecy that the Messiah everyone was talking about was going to be a king  He did not want anyone messing with his kingdom.

We see the important role of angels preventing the assassination of the King of Kings.  They warn Jesus to get out of Bethlehem and go to Egypt.  Then, after Herod dies, another equally viscous ruler comes to reign so they escape to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up fulfilling the prophesy he would called a Nazarene.  His birthplace in Bethlehem and temporary residence in Egypt were also prophesied showing again Matthew’s reliance on showing the importance of the Old Testament. I.e. This shouldn’t a surprise to anyone.

The other major event is wise men who come from the East to worship Jesus  These are likely Persian astrologers or magicians.  It’s interesting the Jewish King rejects Jesus, but the foreigner astrologers come to worship the newborn king prepared with expensive gifts befitting a King. 

Think about the courage it took Joseph to respond to the angel’s warning  After all the birth of Jesus had been quite extraordinary and they had already travelled miles and miles to register for the census.  This was all part of God’s sovereign plan to save the world from its sin.

This treatment is a foreshadowing as the scripture foretold. “His own people would accept him not”  Jesus had to be at least under the age of 2, since Herod’s edict was to kill all boys in Bethlehem under the age of 2.  I would say he was quite paranoid and definitely a maniac  

Key Verses:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

 “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Application for Life:

Like the magi has your search brought you to find Jesus? What gifts do you have to offer Jesus as you make him the king of your life? Remember we all have at least one spirit gift!

Although angels probably won’t speak to you, as believers we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides us like the angel did for Joseph.  How is the Holy Spirit guiding you and will you be obedient to his promptings?  

Sometimes the Holy Spirit warning us is the Holy Spirit warning you to avoid a possibly evil situation!

What’s up next in Matthew 3

We will meet the crazy prophet John the Baptist who comes out of the wilderness to preach the message, “repent  because the kingdom of God is at hand!”

Jesus is baptized and receives the Holy Spirit, who descends like a dove from heaven.  Empowered by the indwelling Spirit, Jesus will begin his public ministry! 











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