Mat 2:16-23; The Definitive You in Christ.Sunday November 26, 2023 Theme: Jesus repeats the history of Israel, except fulfilling what they could not. He completely changes any believer so that he may also live out life as God intended it.
In Mat 1-2, Matthew references 5 prophecies.
5 fulfillments in Mat 1-2:
Mat 1:22-23 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 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."
Mat 2:5-6 "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
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.'"
Mat 2:15 This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
Mat 2:16-23 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN; AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."
In the context of the prophetic books: Isa 7:14 – Israel is adulterous and about to be destroyed, but a virgin will be with child and He will be called, “God with us.”
Mic 5:2 - Israel is adulterous and about to be destroyed, but a prince will be born in Bethlehem who will be our shepherd.
Hos 11:1 - Israel is adulterous and about to be destroyed, but out of Egypt I called My son (I will free you from slavery).
Jer 31:15 – Israel is adulterous and about to be destroyed, and Rachel (the mothers of Israel) weeps for her children.
The final prophecy’s source is unknown, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” It would seem that this is a reference to the fact that He would be despised and rejected (Psa 22:6-8; 69:8, 20-21; Isa 49:7; 53:2-3, 7-8; Dan 9:26).
The fourth one is given to Matthew from the Holy Spirit in light of Herod’s inhuman order to kill all the male children under 2 in Bethlehem.
Jer 31:15-16 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.”
Israel, the elect son, becomes to the world a metaphor for every human life (Jew and Gentile).
The history, or life of Israel, is lived out, or repeated by Christ – sinlessly, obediently, fulfilling the desire and pleasure of the Father.
The prophecies revealed to Matthew, applied to the origin of the King, reference human life.
The life of Christ is the life of every person.
Anthropology – what is mankind? Birth (Bethlehem). Slavery (Egypt). Sin (Babylon). Present life (Nazareth)
Chiastic structure: Insignificant city (born into it). Dark past: slavery (not your fault). Dark past: sin (your fault). Insignificant city (live in it).
All five prophecies in Mat 1-2 have Jesus fulfilling what Israel failed to do. This is Christology. Jesus is the Son of God from heaven. He is the eternal Son of Man of Daniel 7. He was sinless. He fulfills all that Israel failed to do.
Through His cross, He provides salvation for all who would by faith believe in Him as Savior. Soteriology.
Saved humanity has their eyes opened. If the saved learn, they will see. The chiasm is altered.
Doctrine of soteriology.
Insignificant city – born again. Dark past slavery – freedom / liberty. Dark past sin – righteousness. Insignificant city present – new home (Joh 14:23).
Unsaved humanity remains deceived and conceited. Doctrine of total depravity.
Herod becomes the example of fallen mankind.
Herod (all mankind): doctrine of total depravity Insignificant city – born in privilege. [son of a governor] Dark past slavery – many opportunities for advance. Dark past sin – no divine moral law. Insignificant city present – lived in a palace.
In quoting Jer 31:15, God inspired Matthew to bring up a terrible memory. He does not include vs. 16.
Php 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Can you forget the past?
“forgetting” – epilanthanomai = forget, neglect. Paul neglects his past pursuits. He hasn’t forgotten them.
Application:
Just as Pharoah and Herod sought the life of God’s son, so the old life will try to invade your new life. This opposition comes on many fronts.
One of the fronts that the enemy has drawn forces to is your memory. The attack of the memory of the past. The past attempts invasion of the present; the earth attempts invasion of heaven.
God has Matthew bring a horrible memory to his reader’s minds. Rachel weeping as she witnesses her children murdered or taken away in slavery. (think of Nazi’s loading cattle cars with your kids and carting them off to Auschwitz.)
The fallen you will try to define the new you. Look to Christ and you will defeat this feeble attack from the past.
Conclusion:
The life of Jesus is the life of heaven in humanity. Jesus is the only one born of a virgin. He is the only one whose origin is heaven. He is not from earth.
The life of Jesus defines your birth, your past, and your present, despite the badness that has stained it all.
When God gave Israel the promised land, He left the giants in it. They had to fight for it. God left the idol worshipers who would heavily resist them, in the land to test them. God decreed it this way.
Your origin, your past slavery and sin, and your present reality are all Christ.
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