Advent 2017 The Christmas Story in Matthew 1 & 2
God spoke five times in dreams in these first two chapters - four times to Joseph and once to the magi. What is interesting about this is when speaking to Joseph we read, “behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream” and when speaking to the magi we read simply, “being warned of God in a dream.” We are not told how God warned the magi in this dream, but warn them He did: and they obeyed.
See Dreams & Visions
2:13 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.
This is a highly charged supernatural time: Messiah is a defenseless baby and Herod wants to kill him - the whole plan appears to be in danger of being derailed right at the start. But God! The angel of the Lord tells Joseph to flee to Egypt. How long should he remain there? until I bring thee word.
“And there is another lesson also... Of what kind then is it? To look from the beginning for temptations and plots. See, for instance, how this was the case even at once from His swaddling clothes. Thus you see at His birth, first a tyrant raging, then flight ensuing, and departure beyond the border; and for no crime His mother is exiled into the land of the barbarians: that you, when you see yourself suffering incurable ills, and enduring countless dangers, should not be greatly troubled: but that having this example, you might bear all things nobly, knowing that this especially is the order of all things spiritual, to have everywhere temptations in the same lot with them.” (Chrysostom)
“Joseph, when he had heard these things, was not offended, nether did he say, 'The thing is hard to understand: Did you not say just now, that He should save His people? and now He saves not even Himself: but we must fly, and go far from home, and be a long time away: the facts are contrary to the promise.' Nay, none of these things does he say: neither is he curious about the time of his return; and this though the angel had put it indefinitely thus: Be there until I tell you. But nevertheless, not even at this did he shudder, but submits and obeys, undergoing all the trials with joy.” (Chrysostom)
2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt - Joseph was indeed a just man, he obeyed. Did he wake up from the dream and leave right then? Sort of looks like it.
2:15 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.
“And was there until the death of Herod - Which was in a very short time; for Eusebius says, that in a very little time after the slaughter of the children at Bethlehem, the divine vengeance inflicted diseases on him, which quickly brought him to his end; so that, according to the learned Dr. Lightfoot, Jesus was not above three or four months in Egypt.” ~ John Gill
The prophet is Hosea, and in Hosea 11:1 we read, When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
A comparison reveals Matthew is quoting the Hebrew Old Testament, so why isn’t it exactly the same? It is actually. The KJV has changed the word order in Hosea - both the NKJV and ESV have it, out of Egypt I called My son.
2:16 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.
This is horrible! Indescribably sad!
“Here attend to me carefully. Because many things are uttered by many touching these children, and the course of events is charged with injustice, and some of these express their perplexity about it in a more moderate way, others with more of audaciousness and frenzy... What then is the solution of these things? Or what fair account of them can we give? What we may suffer unjustly from any one, it tells either to the doing away of our sins or unto the recompense of rewards... But what kind of sin had these children? Did you not hear me say, that though there were no sins, there is a recompense of rewards hereafter for them that suffer ill here?” (Chrysostom)
2:17 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.
He quotes Jeremiah 31:15. Jeremiah 31 is a wonderful chapter, full of promises of restoration and renewal, and ends with the promise of a new covenant. In the midst of this chapter is the verse quoted by Matthew, and here it is with the rest of the thought:
15 A voice was heard in Rama, of lamentation, and of weeping, and wailing; Rachel would not cease weeping for her children, because they are not.
16 Thus saith the Lord; Let thy voice cease from weeping, and thine eyes from thy tears: for there is a reward for thy works; and they shall return from the land of thine enemies.
17 There shall be an abiding home for thy children. (LXX)
A comforting word in such sorrowful times.
2:19 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.
When Herod was dead – and he died a miserable death.
Now the angel bids Joseph return to Israel . . .
2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
. . . and he does, for as we have seen, Joseph is a righteous man. “He exactly conformed in every circumstance to the orders given him, with respect to the persons he took, the place he went to, and the expeditiousness of doing it; and is an example of ready and cheerful obedience to the commands of God, worthy of imitation.” (John Gill)
2:22 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:
Another dream!
2:23 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.
Here then is how Jesus, born in Bethlehem came to live in Nazareth. This poses a small problem in that no one can identify the prophet. See He shall be called a Nazarene for some solutions.
Have you noticed that Matthew relates the story of the birth of Jesus from Joseph’s perspective? (Luke tells us the story from Mary’s perspective, after all, she is the mother!) What do we learn from Matthew by looking at this from Joseph’s side? Even though God is doing a marvelous, miraculous work through the virgin Mary, Joseph is still an important part of this story. It looks like God spoke to him more often than he did to Mary and he was in fact the one the Lord spoke to concerning guidance, after all, Joseph was the husband, the head of the house.
Joseph is described as a just man. What can we learn about being righteous from Joseph? Being a righteous man for him meant being merciful, walking in faith, and being obedient.
He was merciful and compassionate toward Mary, caring and considerate of her. He was concerned about doing the right thing, but mercy and compassion are always the right thing.
He was a man of faith. We saw that faith, like a coin, has two sides. One side is faith to receive the work of God. This is exemplified by Mary: there was a mighty work that needed to be done and she could not do it, so she believed and received. The other side is faith to obey. This is Joseph. By faith Mary received grace to conceive; by faith Joseph married that girl.
Joseph was obedient: “Marry the girl. Call him Jesus. Go down to Egypt. Return to Israel. Live in Galilee.” And it appears it was always instant obedience. Joseph lived that A.B. Simpson hymn,
I will say “Yes” to Jesus
To all that he commands
I will hasten to do his bidding
With willing heart and hands
I will listen to hear his whispers
And learn his will each day
And always gladly answer “Yes”
Whatever he may say
I will say “Yes” to Jesus,
Yes Lord, forever, “Yes”
I’ll welcome all thy blessed will
And sweetly answer, “Yes”
But most importantly, what does this tell us about Jesus? He is indeed the son of David, the Christ promised by God. This is the gospel, the good news: Christ has come! He is Jesus of Nazareth. He is the Savior and he saves his people from their sins!
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John Gill - English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian; 1697-1771
John Chrysostom - Archbishop of Constantinople; 349–407
LXX – Septuagint; Greek translation of the Old Testament
A.B. Simpson 1843-1919; successful Presbyterian pastor who left the Presbyterians to start a deeper life and missionary organization called the Christian & Missionary Alliance
Advent 2017
Introduction The Christmas Story from Matthew 1 & 2
First Week of Advent The book of the generation of Jesus Christ
Second Week of Advent Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise
Third Week of Advent There came wise men from the east
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