Prophecy and Its Fulfillment The Flight to Egypt The Slaughter of Children Return to Nazareth Be Wise and Be Warned
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment A clear example: Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:6 (NASB) 6 AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL. Micah 5:2 (NASB) 2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment A clear example: Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2 An unclear example: Matt. 1:23 Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23 (NASB) 23 BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL, which translated means, GOD WITH US. Isaiah 7:14 (NASB) 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment A clear example: Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2 An unclear example: Matt. 1:23 Isaiah 7:14 Another type is the O. T. system of sacrifice as argued in Hebrews that points to Jesus and His atoning death. These general types of prophecy are very important links from the Old to the New Testament.
The Flight to Egypt Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 do not necessarily need a futuristic fulfillment.
Hosea 11:1 (NASB) 11 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. Jeremiah 31:15 (NASB) 15 Thus says the LORD, A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.
The Flight to Egypt Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 do not necessarily need a futuristic fulfillment. There is no mention of the slaughter in secular texts. But it would not have been necessary. Bethlehem was a town of only 300 to 1,000 people. The children killed would have probably been no more than 15 to 20. This would have just been another atrocity!
The Flight to Egypt This action perfectly suited Herod s reputation He murdered his favorite wife, Miriamne Strangled her two sons and another son, Antipater Herod would not record this because it would cast him in a bad light But, it would not have even ranked among Herod s greatest sins
The Flight to Egypt Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, knowing this is about Israel! Matthew is looking at the big picture! Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of Israel, the true character and destiny of the people. Egypt is about the promise to save God s people. It is also about God s faithfulness to them in spite of their disobedience.
The Slaughter of Children The age was determined by the timing of the arrival of the Magi and the sighting of the star. Matthew is not concerned with the details of this account but the account in Jer. 31:15-18.
Jeremiah 31:1-18 (NASB) 1 At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. 2 Thus says the LORD, The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness Israel, when it went to find its rest. 3 The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. 4 Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.
5 Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria; The planters will plant And will enjoy them. 6 For there will be a day when watchmen On the hills of Ephraim call out, Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God. 7 For thus says the LORD, Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise and say, O LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here.
9 With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, He who scattered Israel will gather him And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock. 11 For the LORD has ransomed Jacob And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
12 They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life will be like a watered garden, And they will never languish again 13 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. 14 I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness, declares the LORD
15 Thus says the LORD, A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more. 16 Thus says the LORD, Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded, declares the LORD, And they will return from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, And your children will return to their own territory. 18 I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God.
The Slaughter of Children The age was determined by the timing of the arrival of the Magi and the sighting of the star. Matthew is not concerned with the details of this account but the account in Jer. 31:15-18. Matthew s message is of hope, just like Jeremiah s message is of hope a return of God s people from exile. The Messiah was spared and would return to fulfill the promise.
Return to Nazareth Joseph again has a dream and is told not to go back to Bethlehem but to Nazareth. Archelaus, the ruler of Judah, was just as ruthless as his father. Joseph goes to Nazareth where the tetrarch, Herod Antipas, ruled, a much milder ruler.
Return to Nazareth Matthew now uses a difficult reference that is general and not specific He uses the word prophets and not prophet as before He also uses that instead of said Nazareth was a despised place John 1:46
John 1:46 (NASB) 46 Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip *said to him, Come and see.
Return to Nazareth Matthew now uses a difficult reference that is general and not specific He uses the word prophets and not prophet as before He also uses that instead of said Nazareth was a despised place John 1:46 Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 22:6-8, 13, 17; Dan. 9:6
Isaiah 53:3 (NASB) 3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Daniel 9:6 (NASB) 6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.
Be Wise and Be Warned So what have we learned? First we see the sovereignty of God, especially in the details of the birth and life of Jesus. Second we see the need to confess Jesus as our King and Savior rather than oppose Him as Herod did.
Psalm 2 (NASB) 1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us! 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.
7 I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware. 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
1 The Old Concealed, The New Revealed Application Have you taken refuge in Jesus? The only refuge from the wrath of God is found in His mercy, at the foot of the cross. Is Jesus reigning over you or is He ruling over you? Make Him ruler of your life!