Friday, June 12, 2009

Matthew: The Baby from Bethlehem

Me and some of the guys have recently started a study through the book of Matthew and so I figured each day that we hold a study and I write notes, I will share them with you guys as well. This is the first post of many more to come from the book of Matthew.

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel." - Matthew 2:5-6


Why is this significant?

- The prophet Micah wrote that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem 700 years before Jesus was born (Micah 5:2).

- This is even more significant since Mary and Joseph were only in Bethlehem because of a new universal census decreed from Caesar (Luke 2:1-5). Jews had previously been excluded from each Roman census because they were exempt from serving in the Roman army. However, this new census was for numbering each nation and tribe so Joseph had to return to his ancestral home to register. This was the first Roman census in which the Jews had to participate. So Mary and Joseph leave their home in Nazareth and travel more than 70 miles to Bethlehem to register. Upon arriving in Bethlehem, Mary goes into labor and gives birth to Jesus. I am assuming that they had just gotten to Bethlehem because Luke tells us that there was no room for them in the inn which means if they were looking for somewhere to stay then they must have just gotten into town. This amazing prophecy being fulfilled is a prime example of how God is in complete control at all times and can even use unbelieving worldly rulers to accomplish His will and purpose. If not for that new census perhaps Mary and Joseph would have been perfectly content having baby Jesus in their hometown of Nazareth. Perhaps they were supposed to know to go to Bethlehem to have the Baby since they had already been told that Mary was giving birth to the the Savior of the world and they, being Jews, should have been familiar with Old Testament prophecies of the coming Messiah. Even still their inaction could not alter the Author's story. Either way, the Almighty God's sovereignty is clearly displayed in the fulfillment of this prophecy. The happy family would eventually return to Nazareth and Jesus grew up there (Luke 2:39-40).


*** It is interesting to note that in Matthew 2:4-5, King Herod inquires of the chief priests and scribes on the location of where this Christ was supposed to be born. These Sadducees and Pharisees were quick to answer with this prophecy from Micah. They were thoroughly familiar with the prophecy but lacked the faith to go and see the baby Jesus. They were professional scholars who despite their great wisdom lacked understanding and could not even recognize what was truly going on around them.


-TEvans

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