This week’s Wednesday Word is a summary of Dr. Wellum’s exposition of Matthew 2 given on Sunday, February 8, 2009.
After being provided an overview of the messianic expectation found throughout the book of Isaiah, Handel shifts his focus to now show how this messiah has come. In light of this, our attention now shifts to the birth narrative provided in the opening section of the gospel of Matthew. In his opening chapter Matthew highlights the lineage of Christ by showing Jesus to be the son of David and the son of Abraham.
Arriving this week in Matthew 2 we are immediately introduced to a group of pagan astrologers who have traveled a great distance to Jerusalem, where presumably a future Jewish king would preside, by the leading of a star (possibly connected to Balaam’s Oracle in Numbers 24). Upon their arrival the magi King Herod realizes the limits of his reign and seeks the life of this future king. The religious leaders direct both the magi and Herod to Bethlehem as the birthplace of this babe from the scriptures (Micah 5.2) yet are not compelled themselves to seek their messiah who lays a mere five miles away. With the gentiles coming to see this future Jewish king it should have been overwhelmingly clear to the Jews and religious leaders that this was truly the messiah that they had awaited.
As the magi set at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Herod declares a edict for all male children in Bethlehem under two years of age to be killed. Because of this threat an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, calling him to take the mother and child and depart for Egypt, where they could reside beyond the jurisdiction of Herod. They immediately departed and would not return until the death of Herod and here comes Matthew’s quotation of Hosea 1.1, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
While Jesus was in Egypt Herod carried out his slaughter of all males in Bethlehem less than two years of age. However, upon the death of King Herod, Joseph was prompted in a dream to return to Nazareth, a place of contempt (which might resemble present day Oakland, New Jersey, or Gary, Indiana) so that the prophet’s words might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Application: In our culture where we pursue prominence, prestige, and escalated positions we must take God’s word to heart. We must not be like the religious leaders of the Jews who were familiar with the scriptures and missed the entire point of them. If we claim then to serve this king who came in complete humility, how then must we live? May we then, as believers strive to cultivate humility in our lives and promote humility throughout our community of faith.
–ES