Advent 2017 The Christmas Story in Matthew 1 & 2
1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king – and now for the rest of the story!
there came wise men from the east- funny how we want to automatically add three. There could have been three, but to be honest, Matthew doesn’t say how many wise men came.
Wise men – the word is μαγοι (plural of μαγος) which we transliterate magi. The name given by the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, soothsayers, sorcerers. It occurs twice in the Old Testament - LXX Daniel 2:2 & 10; translated magicians; six times in the New Testament - four times in Matthew 2; twice in Acts 13. It is wise men in Matthew and sorcerer in Acts 13, where he is also described as a false prophet.
“ "The Jews believed that there were prophets...who were of the posterity of Abraham by Keturah; and that they taught...what they had received in tradition from the mouth of Abraham." - Whitby. These, knowing the promise of the Messiah, were now, probably, like other believing Jews, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” (Clarke)
we have seen his star in the east – I’m persuaded these magi knew the ancient prophecy in Numbers 24:17 (LXX)
I will point to him, but not now; I bless him, but he draws not near:
a star shall rise out of Jacob, a man shall spring out of Israel; and shall
crush the princes of Moab, and shall spoil all the sons of Seth.
Where is he that is born King of the Jews? – they arrived in Jerusalem and got straight to the point!
When Herod heard of the arrival and question of the wise men he was troubled. He was disturbed, distressed, and probably afraid. I mean, the King of the Jews has been born and he is on his way out. Isn’t it interesting how people react to Jesus? Salvation has come and all he can think about is how he will lose his position and power.
I get why Herod is troubled, but why all Jerusalem with him? It is the same result but for different reasons. Herod was disturbed, disquieted, filled with dread, but I believe all Jerusalem was full of inward commotion so that they lost all calmness of mind – “What is this? Messiah has been born? Has this really happened? What will this mean? What’s going to happen?” It is one thing to say you want the Messiah to come, it is another thing to be ready for his advent. This explains why John’s message was Repent.
"An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the east, that the fates had decreed some to proceed from Judea, who should attain universal empire." Suetonius
"Many were persuaded, that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the east should prevail: and that some should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion." Tacitus (both quoted by Clarke)
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. - Oh, now all of a sudden Herod wants to know where the Christ is to 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. - They know their Bible and without hesitation they quote Micah 5:2
And thou, Bethleem, house of Ephratha, art few in number to be reckoned among the thousands of Juda; yet out of thee shall one come forth to me, to be a ruler of Israel; and his goings forth were from the beginning, even from eternity. (LXX)
It’s not clear what version they were quoting or if they slightly paraphrased it, but this much is clear, they believed this referred to the Messiah – “Where is he to be born?? Bethlehem.” It is interesting where they stopped, for the last part is enlightening, and his goings forth were from the beginning, from eternity. The LXX used two different words for from and Adam Clarke highlights this:
from the beginning - In every age, from the foundation of the world, there has been some manifestation of the Messiah. He was the hope, as he was the salvation, of the world, from the promise to Adam in paradise, to his manifestation in the flesh four thousand years after.
from eternity - That is, there was no time in which he has not been going forth in various ways to save men. And he was before that time in which he began to come forth to save the souls that he had created. He was before all things. As he is the Creator of all things, so he is the Eternal, and no part of what was created. All being but God has been created. Whatever has not been created is God. But Jesus is the Creator of all things; therefore he is God; for he cannot be a part of his own work.
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. - Herod is up to no good. He’s putting on a show of genuine spiritual interest, but all of this is flowing from a ‘troubled’ spirit. He said, “that I may come and worship him also”, but he lied.
“And he sent them to Bethlehem,.... It may seem strange that neither any of the Jews, nor Herod, or any of his ministers and courtiers, should go along with these men to Bethlehem; since it was but a little way off, not above five or six miles from Jerusalem; and since the birth of such a person was no trivial thing, but an affair of great concern and importance. The Jews might not care to go, lest Herod should suspect that they were going to revolt from him, and set up this new born king against him; and it might be a piece of policy in Herod and his courtiers not to accompany them, for they might imagine that the parents of the child would be jealous and afraid of them, and would therefore conceal it, when they would be in no fear of strangers: and no doubt but the wise providence of God, who often takes the wise in their own craftiness, and carries the counsel of the froward headlong, overruled and directed this matter, that so the young child Jesus might be preserved from the bloody designs of this tyrant.” (Gill)
Chrysostom points out, “And he said not, go and learn concerning the King, but concerning the young Child; for he could not even endure to call Him by the name of His dominion.” Chrysostom piles up words to describe Herod’s actions: “an act of extreme idiocy; utmost folly; extreme folly”
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. - The star appeared and shone long enough to lead them to Jerusalem, then seems to have disappeared. Then it reappeared and stood over the house where he was and then appears to have actually stood over the Child Himself! Thus they were led directly to Jesus. It is really neat how the Almighty satisfies the longings of hungry hearts!
What was this star? See tomorrow’s post, We have seen his star in the east
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy – It seems the star appeared long enough to start them on their journey and then disappeared. They nevertheless continued on their journey. Then the star reappeared to give them more guidance. These men set out in faith and in faith persevered until they found him. What a lesson in guidance – Do what God tells you and keep doing it until you get new information.
“Stood over where the young child was - Over the head of the child, the luminous appearance which had hitherto directed them now encompassed the head of the child; and probably this gave the first idea to the ancient painters, of representing Christ in the manger, with a glory surrounding his head.” (Clarke)
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. - This is the background for the season of Epiphany, where Jesus is revealed to the Gentiles: “straightway He opens the door to the Gentiles.”
“For indeed what happened then was a type of the things to come, and from the very beginning it was shown that the Gentiles would anticipate their nation.
But how was it, one may ask, that not at the beginning, but afterwards, He said, 'Go, and make disciples of all nations'? Because the occurrence was a type, as I said, of the future, and a sort of declaration of it beforehand. For the natural order was that Jews should come unto Him first; but forasmuch as they of their own choice gave up their proper benefit, the order of things was inverted. Since not even in this instance should the wise men have come before the Jews, nor should persons from so great a distance have anticipated those who were settled about the very city. But because they were exceedingly ignorant of their own blessings, those from Persia anticipate those at Jerusalem.
Let us then also follow the magi, let us separate ourselves from our barbarian customs, that we may see Christ, since they too, had they not been far from their own country, would have missed seeing Him. Let us depart from the things of earth. For so the wise men, while they were in Persia, saw but the star, but after they had departed from Persia, they beheld the Sun of Righteousness. Let us then also rise up; though all men be troubled, let us run to the house of the young Child.” Chrysostom
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Adam Clarke – English Methodist theologian and biblical scholar; 1760-1832
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)
Suetonius & Tacitus, Roman historians
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
No comments:
Post a Comment