Bad Intel Causes Collateral Damage Series

Matthew 2: 13 – 23

Bad Intel Causes Collateral Damage

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you 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 for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” 19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region 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.”

It is interesting that the disciple Luke after his investigation into the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ only gives one verse in reference to all that we read from Matthew. I think though that the one verse Luke gives is dynamite. Why? Because it explodes everything that we have been taught about our Lord Jesus’ birth. I think you will be amazed at what you are about to see and hear.

The way you were taught the Christmas very interestingly probably wasn’t biblical accurate.

If you are like me you were taught that Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem when the wise men came. They were led by an amazing astronomical traveling star that led them to the manger where the baby Jesus was. If you went to Sunday School class you might have even been taught how all the babies in Bethlehem were killed. Well you in store for some different teaching from God’s Word.

Chronologically, let us read about this. First let us see what Luke reports in chapter 2 of his Gospel, “2 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now where did Joseph and Mary live before the birth of Jesus? The answer is Nazareth. They had to go to Bethlehem because of the order of the Roman Emperor. This is the town where Jesus was born. But he and his family did not stay in Bethlehem for very long. Because we read this also as we continue Luke’s investigation, “22 Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

After Mary was strong enough ato travel they took the baby Jesus to Jerusalem to the Temple to have him circumcised. This ceremony had to be done before the 8th day after the birth. At the Temple we read about this situation happening.