Study in the Gospel of Mathew,2

Today we study the second chapter of the Gospel according to Mathew. There are two biblical principles and their lessons which I believe, they are useful in biblical counselling.

The events of ch.2 took place some months after Jesus’ birth. Thus, the wise men must have arrived after the ritual sacrifice described in Luke 2:22-24. Herod the king is the Herod the Great who reigned over Israel from 37 B.C. until his death in 4 A.D. Herod had a reign marked by cruelty and bloodshed. The wise men who had visited Jesus were honourable class of astrologers. They asked Herod where was the king of Jews born. This question must have struck Herod with both terror and furry. The star of Jesus who guided them was a supernaturally star indicated that the wise men identified the star with the arrival of the king of the Jews.

The Jewish leaders were alerted from Mi.5:2 of the birth of the Messiah. So, they advised Herod of the exact place of Jesus ‘birth. These leaders later became Christ’s enemies. God sometimes uses the words of His opponents to speak the truth. The wise men undoubtedly would have discouraged by the failure to find the King of the Jews in Jerusalem. However, the reappearance of the star must have brought great joy and encouragement to them.

When the wise men found Jesus in the house they bowed and worshipped Him (not his mother Mary) and they gave Him gifts of Gold the symbolized royalty, frankincense was a fragrance that symbolise Priesthood and myrrh was the ointment of death as this King and the High priest would die for the salvation of the world. These gifts provided the financial resources for Mary and Joseph’s flight to Egypt. The Holy family journey to Egypt was the fulfilment of Hos. 11:1.

The prophecy of Jer. 31:15: Rachel, who had been entombed near Bethlehem some thirteen centuries before the Babylonian captivity, was seen weeping for her children as they were murdered or taken away to Babylon in 586 B.C. In the slaughter of the male infants at the time of Christ ‘birth, Rachel once again is pictured as a mourning woman because of the violent loss of her sons.

When Herod died, his kingdom was parcelled out to his three sons. Among those was Archelaus who ruled over Judea where Bethlehem was. Archelaus was violent and cruel. So, Jesus’ family was guided by God in a dream, to turn north to Galiles. Nazareth was the location of the Roman garrison in northern Galilee. Those who lived there were suspected to compromise with the enemy, to fulfil the  prophecy that Jesus shall be called a Nazarene (the Branch of David).

Structure:

Verses 1-12: wise men from the east.

Verses 13-15: the flight into Egypt.

Verses 16-18: massacre of the innocents.

Verses 19-23: the home in Nazareth.

Principle 3:2:8: ----"And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him’.”

Lesson 3: Herod was apparently a good deceiver and used his evil skill to convince the wise men of his sincerity. Anyone can pretend to love God-but the proof is in a person’s character.

Principle 4: 2:22: -----” And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee-.”

Lesson 4: four times in this short narrative, Joseph received divine instructions through dreams. On one occasion the wise men are warned through a dream. God uses many methods to communicate His will to us.27/09/2026.