Matthew 2:1-12 Birth Of Jesus And The Star

Matthew 2:1-12 BIRTH OF JESUS AND THE STAR 12-15-12

Today and probably next time as well, we'll be talking and thinking on the birth of Jesus.

Let me say first of all that we don't believe that Dec.25th was the month or date that Jesus was born.

December 25th became popular as the date for Christmas, not because Christ was born on that day, but because it was already popular in pagan religious celebrations as the birthday of the sun.

* December 25 couldn't be the date for Christ's birth because of two reasons.

First, we know that shepherds were in the fields watching their flocks at the time of Jesus' birth:

Luke 2: 7-8 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

>> abiding in the field>> means that the shepherds had tents or some sort of shelter that they ABODE (lodged) in the entire time that they kept their flocks grazing in the field.

>> Shepherds were not in the fields during December.

It was most likely that in late summer or early fall that Jesus was born.

Since December is cold and rainy in Judea, it is likely the shepherds would have kept their flocks in some kind of shelter at night during that time of year.

>>Also we're told in Luke 2:1-4 that Jesus parents came to Bethlehem to register in a Roman census.

Such censuses were not taken in winter, when temperatures often dropped below freezing and roads were in poor condition. Taking a census under such conditions would have been self-defeating.

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So as for as I can tell no one can say for certain what the month and date was of His birth, but we do know that He was born and why He was born and that is what really matters.

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* Listen as I read part of Matthews account to do with His birth.

Matthew 2:1-12

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, 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.

3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And 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.

7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8And 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.

9When 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. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

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Listen; vs.1- Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, ----- "Herod the king" this is Herod the Great, who was born in 74 b.c. and died shortly after the birth of Jesus.

"HEROD" was a family name, --DYNASTY-- there were six Herod's we're told about in the N.T.--there could have been any number of Herod children as some had multiple wives.

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-- behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, 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.

Notice these wise men had seen the STAR from the place they started from, (wise men from the east) the Star was not in the EAST, -- we have seen his star in the east --meaning back where they first saw the star.