The Book of Matthew
Matthew was taught by Dr. James Modlish

CHAPTER TWO

2:2 Worship on the part of wise men involves falling down and giving! (vs. 11)

2:3 Jesus has been in the troubling business for a long time. See Sermon "Jesus - He who Troubles."

2:4 Chief priest are described in (2 Chr. 36:14 and Mal. 2:7,8).

2:5 Its one thing to know the Scripture, another to believe it. These guys were like some "Bible Believers" - they had advanced revelation, but didn't do anything with it!

2:6 Notice how the Scribes change the Word to try and create a more favorable impression upon Herod. But the truth of the matter is, Bethlehem isn't even mentioned in (Neh. 11) by those who repatriated the country. Jesus was born in a place of "no reputation," taken to a place of a even reputation (Egypt) and raised in a place with a dirty reputation (Nazareth), a Sheltering Town (Jn. 1:46).

2:7 Herod inquired diligently - there was a great deal if general Bible information floating around then (Acts 26:27); Its just that most didn't want to personally apply it. Herod called the wise men in privily so the Scribes wouldn't laugh him out of town, for it would be obvious to anyone but total strangers that he had no intentions of worshipping the child.

2:8 The word Bethlehem means "House of Bread" which fits He who is the Bread of Life.

2:9,10 If the star is an ordinary heavenly body, light years away, it would be hard to detect enough movement to go five miles; however the other possibility is angels are stars.

See (Rev. 12:4; 12:9; 9:1; 1:20).

Jesus Christ is called a star in (Rev. 22:16).

Interestingly the "great imitator" Satan is called an angel of light (2 Cor. 22:12-14). Lucifer (Latin) = Lux - Fero: light bearer.

There is precedent for an angel standing over a place of sacrifice - (1 Chron. 21:15,16,18).

2:11 Notice the young child is always mentioned before Mary, (vs. 13,14,20,21); the worship is to Him, not her!

Mary needed to obey the Old Testament laws of purification (Lk. 2:21-24; Lev. 12:1-8), but when she came they were so poor they couldn't afford a lamb - they didn't fully realize He was in their arms, so they offered doves or pigeons. Now how to people that poor make a trip to Egypt, unless God provides them with some gold!

Gold is for a king - (1 Ki. 10:18), represents the highest value on earth.

Frankincense concerns a priesthood - (Ex. 30:34-48), especially the duty of the priest to pray for the people, (Rev. 8:3-5, Lk. 1:10), typed in Melchisedec - a king priest (Heb. 7:2).

Myrrh - (Jn. 19:39, Song. 5:5).

2:12,13 On both of these occasions and angel reveals God's will in a dream. This is a consistent with Old Testament revelation (Gen. 20:3; 28:12). The last time the word dream is used in (Acts 2:17) where Peter is quoting (Joel 2:28) which is a Tribulation passage. The closest thing to it after that is (Acts 10:10), but that passage says Peter fell into a trance. So again we see lots of New Testament Christians trying to find God's will by an Old Testament approach.

The Angel of the Lord is said to be Christ (Gal. 4:14; Acts 27:23; Gen. 32:30) which Christ is present himself as a child. An angel is an appearance, which is not necessarily the Lord Himself. (Gal. 3:19.20; Acts 7:30; Ex. 3:2)

2:14,15 The quotation is from (Hos. 11:1)

Three applications:

[1]. Historical - God called Israel out of Egypt.
[2]. Inspirational - teaching on the love of God.
[3]. Doctrinal - Moses is called out of Egypt along with Aaron, Israel, Christ and the Church is a called out assembly.

Israel went across the bottom of the sea and came up and out on the other side with an enemy behind them. (Ex. 14:14,15; 15:3,10,14). You will have an escort waiting. (Ps. 68:1,17, 21-24; Heb. 3:13,15; Ps. 148:4).

2:16 Indicates by the age limit of two that Christ was at least six months old.

2:17,18 The quotation is from (Jer. 31:15) and bears great interest because this (Bethlehem) is the exact location of Rachel's death (Gen. 35:16-19). The place has a history of sorrow connected with child birth.

2:19,20 Herod (vs. 19) is called "they" in (vs. 20). So it seems Herod was just a tool representing the sentiments of others. Truth always has more enemies than you can count.

2:21,22 Like father, like son. Archelaus was no doubt warned and watching because of the dream (vs. 22) *indicates that Christ's rule would exceed Israel.

[1]. Sent to Galilee (Isa. 9:1) - Galilee is in close proximity to Tyre, Zidon and Caesaria - Gentile cities.
[2]. Five Gentile women in genealogy.

2:23 Nazarene is no doubt a geographical description of Christ residence, not a Nazarite as many suppose, although it would appear He kept all of the qualifications listed in (Num. 6).

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