August 1, 2010
Morning Service

Matt. 2

 

Review:

1.       In chapter one we saw the genealogy of Christ from Abraham down to Joseph the husband of Mary.  We also witnessed the birth of Jesus, and how that the Holy Ghost was His real Father.  This fulfilling the prophecy of Isa. 7:14;  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

2.      We will find as we go through Matthew that he quotes a lot of scripture proving that Jesus is the Christ.

 

Now let’s begin chapter two:

 

Mat 2:1-23 KJVR  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,  (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. 

• Around Christmas time you see on the signs at the churches, “wise men still seek Him.”  So true.
• From the east, probably either Persia, or Arabia.
• We have seen His star.  Religious people have always looked for the signs of the time.  Just as you and I should always be looking for the signs of the Lord’s return. 
• In chapter 24 of Matt.  Jesus walked out of the temple and told of it’s destruction.  This prompted the disciples to say this;  Mat 24:3 KJVR  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
• Jesus goes on and explains the events that will be happening at these different times.  When reading this chapter it is difficult to separate the signs of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the end of the age.  But notice this;  Mat 24:29-39 KJVR  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  (30)  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  (31)  And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 
• Sound of a trumpet;  Paul said this;  1Th 4:16 KJVR  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Jesus goes on explaining:

(32)  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:  (33)  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.  (34)  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.  (35)  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.  (36)  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 

• Some have read into this passage something that wasn’t meant to be.  Explain.

Then Jesus says:

(37)  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

• To busy just living with all the cares of this life, not looking for the signs of the time.
• If we continue to be faithful the God, forsaking not the assembling of ourselves together, as some have done, we will not be taken unawares, and He will not come as a thief on us, but we will know that the time is near, and we will be prayed up, and ready.

Now we got started on this from verse two saying that these wise men were watching for the signs of the time.

• Paul said this:  IIThess. 2.  Read the whole chapter.  Explain, falling away, and the man of sin revealed.
• THE MAIN THING HERE IS THAT WE ARE WATCHING, AND GOD WON’T LET US DOWN.

 

 

Let’s go on:

(3)  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  (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.  (5)  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 

• And then he quotes Micah 5:2.   (6)  And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 

(7)  Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.  (8)  And he sent them to Bethlehem, 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.  (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.  (10)  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.  (11)  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  (12)  And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  (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.  (14)  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  (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. 

• This was prophesied by Hosea 11:1.

(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 Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 

• Then Matthew tells us of this prophecy;

(17)  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,  (18)  In Ramah 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. 

 

(19)  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  (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.  (21)  And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.  (22)  But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea 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:  (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.

• To come from Nazareth, therefore, or to be a Nazarene, was the same as to be despised, or to be esteemed of low birth; to be a root out of dry ground, having no form or comeliness.  It is believed that this is what Matthew meant for Jesus to be called a Nazarene, one from Nazareth.

 

Lord God Almighty, let us be of those that have ears to hear, and eyes to see, so that your coming will be no thief in the night to us.   Amen.