COPC Matt 2:1-23 The promised Messiah's incarnation is fulfilled.

Good Morning .. Pause

I welcome you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Call Us into His Presence for His Worship to Bless Us.

Our Call to Worship ( From the Psalms)

Psalm 150 1-2

Psalm 150:1-2 “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!”

Let us Pray

INVOCATION:

Father we now call upon you to be with us and be in our presence.

And illuminate our minds by your Spirit and Word.

We thank you Father in all things in Christ name Amen.

God's Greeting (From the New Testament)

Hebrews 11:1-3 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

LET US RISE FOR THE SINGING OF GODS WORD

Turn in your TPH to Psalm 29B ‘Now Unto Jehovah, Ye Sons of the Mighty

*LET US PRAY

Prayer of Confession and Repentance

O most great, most just and gracious God,

You are the Holy One of love—the God of unbroken promises.

Throughout the Old Testament you promised to send the Messiah,

and in the New Testament the records have been made that he came,

that he died, and that he arose from the dead;

but now in language more clearly you have promised to send Him back to this world for His universal triumph.

That last long look of the apostles on the Mount of Olives was met by the assurance that He would come again and in like manner.

We confess that we were conceived in sin,

and are by nature children of wrath;

and have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In our baptism you took us into the bond of the holy covenant,

but we did not remember our Creator in the days of our youth,

with the fear, and love, and obedience which we owed you.

We did not please and glorify you in all things, nor walk with you by faith in a heavenly conversation,

nor serve you fervently with all our might;

instead we fulfilled the desires of the flesh and of the carnal mind.

We have neglected and abused your holy worship,

your holy name, and your holy day.

We have dishonoured our superiors, and neglected our inferiors.

We have dealt unjustly and uncharitably with our neighbours, not loving them as ourselves,

nor doing to others as we would have them do to us;

we have not sought first your kingdom and righteousness and been content with our daily bread,

but have been careful and troubled about many things, neglecting the one thing necessary.

You have revealed your wonderful love to us in Christ,

and offered us pardon and salvation in him.

But we made light of it, and neglected so great a salvation,

and resisted your Spirit, Word and ministers,

and have not turned at your reproof.

We have run into temptations, and the sin which we should have hated,

we have committed in your sight, both secretly and openly,

ignorantly and carelessly, rashly and presumptuously,

against your precepts, your promises, and threats, your mercies and your judgments.

Our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us;

if you deal with us as we deserve, you will cast us away from your presence into hell,

where the worm never dies, and the fire is not quenched.

But in your mercy, your Son, and your promises is our hope.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. Be reconciled to us, and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins.

Take us for your children, and give us the Spirit of your Son.

Sanctify us wholly, shed abroad your love in our hearts and cause us to love you with all our hearts.

Make your face to shine upon your servants;

save us from our sins, and from the wrath to come.

Make us a peculiar people to you, zealous of good works, so that we may please you,

and show forth your praise.

Help us to redeem the time, and give all diligence to make our calling and election sure.

Give us the things necessary for your service, and keep us from sinful discontent and cares.

let us consider what manner of persons we ought to be,

in all holy conversation and godliness.

Help us to watch against temptations, and resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world.

And being delivered out of the hand of all our enemies, let us serve you without fear, in holiness and righteousness before you all the days of our life.

Guide us by your counsel, and afterward receive us into your glory, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour.

Amen.

Please be Seated........

We Hear God's Law and Confess Our Sins to Him

Exodus 20:1-17 20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Confession of Sin: (WLC 149 & 152) pg. 959-960

Question 149

Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

No man is able, either of himself, or by any grace received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God;) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.

Question 152

What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God?

Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty, goodness, and holiness of God, and against his righteous law, deserveth his wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come; and cannot be expiated but by the blood of Christ.

Assurance of Pardon

Assurance of Pardon……………...……..……………...….. Hebrews 8:10-12 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.””

Let Us rise for the Sining of Gods Word

Psalm of Thanksgiving

Turn in your In your Trinity Psalter Hymnal to

Psalm of Thanksgiving #19A The Heavens Above Declare

Congregational Prayer

We make our prayers to you, O Lord God, most merciful Father,

for all people in general, that you will be known to be the Savior of all the world

by the redemption purchased by your only Son Jesus Christ;

for they have been held captive in darkness and ignorance for lack of the knowledge of the gospel.

We pray that through the preaching, and the clear light of your Holy Spirit,

That those who do not know you be brought into the right way of salvation, which is to know that you are only God,

and that he, whom you have sent, is Jesus Christ.

Likewise, we pray that they whom you have already endued with your grace,

and illuminated their hearts with the knowledge of your Word,

may continually increase in godliness, and be plenteously enriched with spiritual benefits;

so that we may altogether worship you, both with heart and mouth,

and render due honor and service unto Christ our Master, King, and Lawmaker

Father we Pray for _____________ and we ask for all these things in the powerful, glorious, majestic, and wonderful name of Jesus Christ Amen.

……..Offering………..

Psalm of Preparation

Turn in your TPH to #330 Who Is This, So Weak and Helpless

Please be seated

Old Testament Reading

Let us turn in our Bibles this morning for our Old Testament Reading to Micah 5:1-5

Micah 5:1–5 “Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;”

THE LORD FEEDS US FROM HIS WORD

New Testament Reading and Sermon Text Matthew 2:1-23

Open up your Bibles to Matthew 2:1-23

Sermon Text………................................................Matthew 2:1-23

Matthew 2:1–23 ESV

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Hp: The promised Messiah's incarnation fulfilled.

The wise men search for Christ vs 1-12

2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6  “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Devils Servant Herod seeks to Kill the Messiah 13-18

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation,Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Messiah's Returns to Jerusalem vs 19-23

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to 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, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

SECTION 1_______________________________________________________

vs 1-12 The Messiah is Born.

In Chapter 2 of Matthew, we have the history of our Saviour’s infancy.

Of how Christ came into the World

We will find out in this chapter that Christ was not only a man of Sorrows

But a child who was being perused by Satan and his follower King Herod even in his infancy.

So he was a child who experienced sorrows.

Because Herod wants to search out this prophesied King to protect his throne.

So we find out how early Christ began to suffer in his life

and that in him the word of righteousness was fulfilled even in his birth.

The Word of God spoke of his birth thousands of years before it would happen.

And here it is now coming true.

So Christian you have a savior that that is trustworthy even in his birth.

before Christ began to fulfil all righteousness in his earthly ministry.

Matthew directs us that Christ had to be born.

And it is Maji from the east who are star gazers that come looking for him.

The text tells us that they are wise and learned men.

They see this star in the east and

We know these Maji are Gentiles because they don’t know the Scriptures

Their astrological deductions come from the “rising” of a star that had convinced the magi of a royal birth in the “westland” which would have been in Palestine.

The idea that a special star heralded the birth of famous people (and other significant events) was widespread in the ancient world.

The magi were presumably aware of Herod’s royal position,

and perhaps assuming that a birth had taken place within his family they had come to find out more.

But what is Herod’s response?

We read in verses 3-4

English Standard Version Chapter 2

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

Herod says what King?

He has to get to the bottom of this?

It also says these wise men have disturbed Jerusalem with their star gazing.

Becasue they asked the jews ‘who has been born to be king of the Jews?

So the Jews are disturbed

And Herod doesn't want his throne to be in danger.

So the wise men are going to hear from the Chief Priests where the King of the Jews is?

They report to Herod and the Wise men.

that the location is Bethleham in Judah.

They would have know this becasue of Mic 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

This is significant because its the fulfilment of prophecy.

Also Matthew mentions the location not one

not twice

But 4 times that the Messiah was to be Born in Bethleham

We see this in Verses 1, 5, 6, 8).

Mat 2:1 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea

Mat 2:5 “They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:”

Mat 2:6 ““ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Mat 2:8 “And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child,

This identifies the Messiah’s birthplace specifically as Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah

This is the passages the scribes speak of in Verse 6

Bethlehem signifies the house of bread; the fittest place for him to be born and who is the true manna,

the bread which came down from heaven, which was given for the life of the world

So the Jews might be wondering why do these gentile star gazers have insight into our future messiah being born.

And this is the first we are hearing of it.

So even in Christs birth he is born off the grid so to say.

Out of the lime light.

No kingdom or city surrounded at the city walls awaiting his birth,

They didn’t know his mother,

And they certainly didn’t know that the Holy Spirit would divinely impregnante Mary with the Messiah.

Which we read about in Matthew chapter 1:18-25

So Jesus is born with out all the pomp and circumstance as say when a New King of England ascends to the throne.

Or a New President is elected in our Country.

And what is his peoples response to the maji?

let us go with you to see the Messaiah?

No, just suprise, and no pursuit.

You would think if the long awaited messiah that had been promised to Adam and Eve in the Garden and spoke of to Abraham Issac and Jacob and the Jews new he would be born in Bethlehem.

They new the promises.

But they would not pursue him, when news of his appearance came to light.

Rather these gentiles are traveling across country with expensive gifts for a Messiah they are led to by a star.

Christ even at his Birth is bringing the gentiles to Faith in Him by his Birth.

The one who can take the sin darkened eyes of three men from the east

And give them light.

This star had led them to Jerusalem to herald Christs coming to the Jews in Jerusalem and went away for a short time, yet now the star returns.

These Wise men are another example of men who followed God in the dark

But soon will find that light that is sown for them to the precious Messiah.

Israel was led by a pillar of fire to the promised land, the wise men by a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the bright and morning Star

And the Star will now direct these wise men to the exact house where Christ lives with his parents.

Next in verses 7-8

Rather Jesus is already being plotted against to be killed we see in verses 7-8

Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–15 The Magi Visit Jesus (Matthew 2:1–12)

7 Then Herod called the wise men to him in secret. He found out from them precisely when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem.

‘Off you go,’ he said, ‘and make a thorough search for the child. When you find him, report back to me, so that I can come and worship him too.’

From this we realize that Christ has already been born.

Herod want’s the Wise men to be his hunting Dogs so to say.

He wants them to use their star gazing skills to find this King of the Jews so that he might lay hands on him and kill him.

But Just as Satan Lied to eve in the Garden

Herod lies to these wise men that he wants to come worship Jesus when they find him.

And these wise men are diligent in there task.

They are excited in their task.

And God is leading these wise men.

Becasue who is in Control of the stars?

We sing about how God controls the earth and the stars in the psalms.

God is in control of all creation.

God is leading these Wise men for his purpose.

To fulfill Prophesy and to point to Christ the sinless lamb of God who has come to save his people from their sin.

This is what was told to Mary and Joseph by God at the end of Matthew Chapter 1.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

Next we see in verses 9-12

The Wise men see the star.

They follow this star and the star is over a house where the child is.

So these wise men these Maji

Really were wise.

Because the Holy Spirit has enlightened their minds about who Christ is and where they could find him

And they get to meet the child and worship the child so they come into the house according to verse 11

they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him.

They worshiped him because that is the honor that is do to messiah.

And we see they did not come empty handed they brought valuable things as gifts to the King.

They opened their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

The gifts the wise men presented of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were very valuable.

And through God’s Providence he sent these as a seasonable and generous relief to Joseph and Mary in their present poor condition.

They were not wealthy and were having to travel to protect their son and Gods Son from the the Murderous Herod.

So our heavenly Father,

who knows what his children need,

uses some as stewards

God used these wise men to supply the needs of Joseph and Mary and Jesus

And God the Father can provide for us, even from the ends of the earth.

From men far from the east.

Their gifts are those of the affluent:

gold then as now is the symbol of ultimate value and wealth,

and exotic spices frankincense and myrrh which were more expensive than the gold would have been.

These are not spices that normally come within the budget of an ordinary Jewish family.

This was to point to not only God’s provision for his Son Jesus.

But the importance of His son, that he was the long awaited Messiah.

And God not only provides for Jesus but he protects him from Herod by giving the Maji a dream in Verse 12

Verse 12 says

12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Maji are not going to tell Herod where the King of the Jews is located because Herod is seeking Jesus’s life.

We see the true intentions of Herods heart in verses 13-18 where

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vs.13-18 The Serpents Servant Herod tries to Kill the Messiah

Lets read vs.13-18 again.

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18  “A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Joseph and Mary had to take Jesus into Egypt to escape this genocide that Herod was going to commit.

Jesus goes into the land of Egypt in which God delivered the people of Israel out of Slavery in the time of Moses.

So Prophecy is fulfilled.

Becasue Christ was foretold of to come out of Egypt.

Christ would one day return to Jerusalem to call the lost sheep of Israel to himself as the Scriptures had foretold of.

Christ work has begun on earth.

But it was a prophecy that came with a cost

The cost came to many who were two years old and younger.

Yes with great joy sometimes comes great sorrow.

Yes the long awaited Christ child was here.

But this came with consequences for many.

Satan through his servant Herod kills many children to try and kill a child who was promised the throne of David.

A throne that Herod was not even a legitimate King of.

A throne here on earth that Christ had know need of .

Becasue Christ’s throne is in the heavens and his kingdom rules over all kings and kingdoms.

This consequence shows the fulfilment of prophecy and the wages of sin in our lives and that of our first parents.

In verses 16-18

Herod sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under,

17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah in

Jeremiah 31:15 “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.””

This was the Unbridled wrath of Herod,

Herod was armed with an unlawful power, that killed many.

When such a tragedy happens and children are killed many will blame the very God they curse with the next breath.

But there was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it begins.

The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin.

And the cure for their sin and our sin that we inherited through Adam.

And if any of those children killed that were two years old and younger.

that were killed were Gods Elect were saved from the hell fire to come after their lives were forfeit by Herods sinful order to kill these little boys..

And all that were not Gods elect were given over to the fires of Hell For the punishment of Adams first sin.

Just as any here today that are not trusting in the Birth of Christ, The sinless life of Christ, and the finished work of Christ on the cross are in danger of hell fire.

So you see all these things must come to pass that Christ could redeem his people from their sins.

So that you today who call on Christ would not perish at the end of your lives on this earth.

He had to be Born that not of a Human Father.

The Virgin Birth is necessary for him to be untainted by the sin of Adam.

And the fleeing to Egypt for a time and then returning to the Land of Israel one day for Jesus had to come to pass.

Because God is truthful.

And Gods word can be trusted and will always come to pass.

Because he is a faithful Father to all his people.

Next we see Christ returning to the land of Israel in Verses 19-23

Lets read 19-23 again

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vs 19-23 The Messiah’s Return from Egypt and Prophecy of being King is Fulfilled.

Mat 2:19-23 “But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

God tells Joseph that the threat to Jesus is gone for now.

Herod is dead.

And how did he die?

Like most men who are consumed with promoting themselves.

And taking what is rightfully others.

Herod is even worse because he sought to take what was Christs by Birth.

This isn’t true in every case but listen to what Josephus has to say about Herods end.

Josephus says that Herod was siezed with disease which burned him inwardly, he had colic and gout and dropsy, and it was said that he had an intolerable stench that attended his disease, that none could come near him: and so passionate and impatient was he, that he was a torment to himself, and a terror to all that attended him: his innate cruelty, being thus exasperated, made him more barbarous than ever; having ordered his own son to be put to death, he imprisoned many of the nobility and gentry, and ordered that as soon as he was dead they should be killed; but that execution was prevented. See what kind of men have been the enemies and persecutors of Christ and his followers!

Herod was truly the Seed of the Serpent who would try to bite the heals of our savior and all that follow him.

The Infant Jesus who would one day grow.

And have his public ministry on earth.

And who would lead a sinless life and take upon himself the sins of all the elect on the cross.

Herod lived for himself.

Christ lived and died for others.

The serpent and all that serve him seek to murder and persecute the elect of God and the Christ.

Christ came to save all those whom the Father has given him before the foundation of the world.

And Christ returned to the land of Israel Just as prophesied.

But he doesn’t go to the prominent cities of Israel but rather the lowly cities

As Gods directed Joseph through a dream.

When Joseph heard the descendent of Herod, Archelaus was reigning it gave Joseph pause.

Archelaus must have been a man just like his Father Herod wicked.

And a dream confirms to Joseph that his hesitation is warranted.

God directs Joseph in this dream to take Jesus to the District of Galiliee.

and specifically the city of Nazareth.

The last phrase is interesting and seems to have most commentators grasping at where it has come from.

Becasue the OT no where says what is quoteds in verse 23 “so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.”

I think R.T. France gives a great explanation of this when he says

The Gospel of Matthew (5. A Galilean Messiah (2:19–23))

the words “He shall be called a Nazorean” represent the prophetic expectation that the Messiah would appear from nowhere and would as a result meet with incomprehension and rejection. Of course the prophets could not speak specifically of Nazareth, which did not even exist when they wrote. But the connotations of the derogatory term Nazorean as applied in the first century to the messianic Jesus captured just what some of the prophets had predicted—a Messiah who came from the wrong place, who did not conform to the expectations of Jewish tradition, and who as a result would not be accepted by his people.

Isn't that what Isaiah 53 says about Christ that he would be despised and lowly.

If this term Nazarine denotes somewhere where no one wants to be from.

Isaiah 53 says

English Standard Version Chapter 53

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4  Surely he has borne our griefs

and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,

smitten by God, and afflicted.

5  But he was pierced for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his wounds we are healed.

Christ was and is everything the Scriptures said he would be.

Despised of men.

attacked by the evil one Satan.

But a redeemer to all his Elect.

And just as Matthew began with the lineage of Jesus in chapter one of who Christ was.

And how he truly was the Christ

The God Man

A God man was needed,

the Son of David,

the Son of Mary,

the Son of God Jesus Christ,

Emanuel,

the Savior of the World.

No Salvation apart from him

Now Matthew has shown us that

vs 1-12 The Messiah was Born.

that He was the God/Man

vs.13-18 that the Serpents Servant Herod tried to Kill the Messiah

But instead many of Rachels children who were killed as foretold.

vs 19-23 and that the Messiah’s did in fact Return from Egypt and fulfill the Prophecy of where the Messiah was from.

So Christ was everything the Scriptures promised

To God be the Glory forever and ever

And it is in his name

The name of Christ Jesus that we are redeemed.

By

Christ who was born in Nazareth

Christ the lowly,

Christ the crucified.

And Yes Christ our Risen Savior.

Amen.

Let us pray.

Father we thank you for this time to study and meditate on your Word

We ask that you would make this sermon meaningful in the minds of us your children.

Father we ask that we would be so on fire for you Lord that your Word and our time in it would be on our lips today

with our children and with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We ask for all this in Christs name Amen

LET US RISE for the Singing of Gods Word

*Hymn of Response #342 Stricken Smitten, and Afflicted

LET us now turn in our TPH to page 851 thats page 851 to recite the apostles Creed together.

Apostles Creed (together ) page 851

Turn now to #463 in your TPH to sing our Song of Thanksgiving

Song of Thanksgiving 463 O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

WE ARE DISMISSED WITH GOD’S BLESSING

Let us Pray

Father in heaven be with and keep this your people throughout the week.

Father in heaven encourage these your people to discuss with their families the sermon and how they can apply this to the people who they run into through the week.

And father help them through your spirit to have a stronger walk with you and to make this word preached effectual in their lives.

In Christ name

Amen

Closing Hymn TPH 567 Doxology

Praise God from whom all Blessing Flow; praise him all creatures here below; Praise him above ye heavenly host praise Father Son ands Holy Ghost Amen.

Announcments: