MATTHEW LESSON 6

     In the last lesson, we finished chapter 1 of Matthew.

     We will begin today with Matthew 2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in
Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem," Matthew 2:2 "Saying, Where is he
that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship him."

     "Bethlehem" (Ephratah) means house of bread, and it is
appropriate for the Bread of Life (Jesus) to be born there.

     This Herod the king, was an evil king, who was, also, known as Herod
the Great.  This time was established by the death of Herod about 4
B.C.  These "wise men" (probably Gentiles) came to the capital
(Jerusalem) expecting the King (born King of the Jews) to be at the
capital.

     Contrary to the belief of many, there was not a specific number
of wise men.  These wise men (called Magi by some) were, probably, men
who were able to interpret dreams and understand prophecy, as well as
being able to discern the heavens.  They knew Messiah was prophesied.
They knew that His star would appear in the east.  They knew this star
proclaimed the promised Messiah, and being wise, they came to worship
Him.

     Matthew 2:3 "When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him."

     Herod was troubled, because he believed this person (born King of
the Jews) would dethrone him.  When it speaks of "..all Jerusalem..",
it means people who might lose their standing, if a new king were
enthroned.

     Matthew 2:4 "And when he had gathered all the chief priests and
scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ
should be born."

      These men that he gathered were the rabbis, the religious
 leaders of that day; the men who knew the law and knew of the promise
 of Messiah.  In the Old Testament, it was prophesied that Christ
 would be born in Bethlehem Ephratah, Micah 5:2.

     Matthew 2:5 "And they said unto him, In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for
thus it is written by the prophet,"  Matthew 2:6 "And thou Beth-lehem,
[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."

    You see, these religious people knew where He was to be born.
They just did not want to give up their literal way of looking at the
law.  They were expecting a mighty king, who would rule them and
overthrow the Romans.

     Matthew 2:7 "Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men,
enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared." Matthew 2:8
"And he sent them to Beth-lehem, 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."

     You see, Herod was a liar.  He had no intention of worshipping
Him.  He wanted to kill Him.  He was afraid of Him.

     The wise men did go and find Him.  Bethlehem is only 5 miles from
Jerusalem.  It is a short journey.  Herod thought he had tricked the
wise men.

     Matthew 2:9 "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."

     These wise men of old followed the star in the east (Jesus
Christ).  They were led to Him.  We must be led by this same star in
the east.  (Jesus will appear again in the eastern sky.)

     Matthew 2:10  "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with
exceeding great joy." Matthew 2:11 "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."

     I guess, because there were three types of gifts mentioned,
people erroneously believe in three wise men.

     As I have said many times before, the three gifts brought were
spiritual meanings of who Jesus is, was, and always will be.  The
"gold" recognized Jesus as God.  The "frankincense" recognized Jesus
as the perfect Lamb sacrifice.  The "myrrh" recognized Jesus as the
groom of the bride of Christ.  "Gold" spiritually means purity of God.
"Frankincense" accompanied the lamb offering in the temple sacrifice,
and "myrrh" was the sweet aloe for the wedding bed .  Can't you see
the spiritual meaning?

     The "gold" was not just a piece of gold, but enough for Jesus,
Mary, and Joseph to live on while they were in exile.

     We might learn a lesson from the wise men.  When they were in the
presence of Jesus, they "fell down, and worshipped him".  We come into
God's house with such irreverence.

     Matthew 2:12 "And being warned of God in a dream that they should
not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way."

     These wise men heeded the warning of God.  God does speak in
dreams sometimes.  We must be able to follow God's instructions, and
not man's.  They did not even go back to Jerusalem.

      Matthew 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."

     "Angels" are ministering spirits, and God sent a message to
Joseph by this "angel of the Lord".  You see, God knows everything
even before it happens.  This is called foreknowledge, not
predestination.

     As we said before, "Egypt" has always been a refuge.  Here,
Joseph would hide Jesus, until the danger was over.

     Matthew 2:14 "When he arose, he took the young child and his
mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"

     Joseph heeded God's warning.  They left in the darkness, so that
no one would be aware of which direction they went.  Most people did
not travel by night, and Herod would not expect them to travel at
night either.

     Matthew 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."

     Every detail of prophecy was fulfilled, as we said in the earlier
lessons.  It is interesting to note, again, that Joseph, (the coat of
many colors Joseph) who was a type and shadow of Jesus, was a refugee
in Egypt, as well.

     Matthew 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 Beth-lehem, 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."

     Herod had been tricked, and he was mad.  He killed all the babies
that would have been near the age of Jesus.  I had always thought that
it was just the boy babies, but this Scripture says all the children,
indicating both boys and girls under two years of age.

     Matthew 2:17 "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy
the prophet, saying," Matthew 2:18  "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."

    In an earlier lesson, we discussed this fulfillment of prophecy.
This reminds us of the babies being killed in the days of Moses, as
well.

     Matthew 2:19 "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt," Matthew 2:20 "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."

     We discussed before, that Joseph listened to messages from God
that came in dreams.

     Matthew 2:21 "And he arose, and took the young child and his
mother, and came into the land of Israel." Matthew 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:"

     It seems, this son of Herod was a murderer and, probably, as bad
or worse than his father.  Joseph had obeyed God and came back into
the land of Israel, but was afraid to go to Jerusalem.  God gave
Joseph a dream and told him to go to an area away from Jerusalem,
"into the parts of Galilee".

     Matthew 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."

     God takes care of all the prophecies.  One thing to note is, that
Jesus was a Nazarene, not a Nazarite.

     It was said that nothing good could come out of Nazareth (St.
John 1:46), but with Jesus all things are possible.

     Next lesson read chapter three, five times.


























                          Matthew 6 Questions


1.  Where was Jesus born?
2.  What does "Bethlehem" mean?
3.  What had these wise men seen?
4.  What did Jesus call Himself?
5.  What was the name of the wicked king?
6.  What other name was the king known by?
7.  Why did the wise men come to Jerusalem?
8.  How many wise men were there?
9.  What other name were the wise men known by?
10. What three attributes did they have?
11. Why was Herod worried about the King of the Jews?
12. When Herod called the chief priests and scribes together, what did
    he ask them?
13. Who were these people he called, really?
l4. What were these religious people expecting Him to be?
15. What lie did Herod tell the wise men?
16. How far is Bethlehem from Jerusalem?
17. Who is the Star in the East?
18. Where will Jesus appear on His return to earth?
19. Name the three gifts the wise men brought?
20. Which gift meant that Jesus was God in the flesh?
21. Which gift recognized Jesus as the perfect Lamb sacrifice?
22. Which gift recognized Jesus as the Groom of the bride of Christ?
23. How much gold was given?
24. What lesson can we learn from the wise men?
25. Why did the wise men not return to Herod?
26. Does God ever speak in dreams?
27. How did Joseph know to flee into Egypt?
28. What are angels?
29. What country has always been a refuge?
30. Why did they leave at night?
31. What earlier Bible personality,also, was a refugee in Egypt?
32. When Herod found he had been tricked, what did he do?
33. When God told Joseph to come back to Israel, how did Joseph get
    the message?
34. Why did Joseph turn into Galilee?
35. Was the new ruler better, or worse, than Herod?
36. What was the name of the city they settled in?
37. What was Jesus to be called?