Islington Baptist Church December 10, 2000
Matthew 2:13-18 Scriptures: Revelations 12, Psalm 2
During the next 3 weeks we are going to consider a number of messianic prophecies that have found their fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.
A major reason to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior is to note all of the prophecies that have been fulfilled in and by him.
Aside: Not only does fulfilled prophecy provide a reason to believe in Jesus but it also provides a solid base to believe that the Bible is what it claims to be: the word of God.
In case you are wondering “what are prophecies all about” let me briefly explain.
Prophecies/ Prophetic words have to do with future events and happenings.
God, through the mouths of various people, mostly the prophets, has spoken to us regarding a variety of future events.
In the OT scriptures, time and time again God spoke to his people regarding a coming Savior, ruler, and King. All sorts of detailed descriptions are given as to who this one would be, what he do, what he would be like, etc, etc. Sometimes people call these words from God regarding the future Savior—Messianic prophecies.
One of the goals of the NT scriptures is to show/ demonstrate that Jesus is the one of whom the OT prophets spoke and prophesied. Such a realization is grounds for ones putting their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
TODAY we are going to consider Matthew 2:13-18 which portrays Jesus as fulfilling 2 messianic prophesies READ TEXT
One of the particular goals of Matthew chapter 1-2 is to show conclusively that Jesus is the promised Messiah. In these 2 chapters Matthew portrays Jesus as fulfilling no less than 4 messianic prophecies.
In v.13-18 one of Matthew’s points is this:
a. Jesus’ escape to and coming out of Egypt confirm his identity as Messiah and Savior. Here he refers to Hosea 11:1 as predicting this
b. The grief and sorrow that came to the many Israelite mothers in Bethlehem further confirmed Jesus’ identity as Messiah and Savior. Here he refers to Jeremiah 31:15 as speaking of this.
These 2 messianic texts that Matthew refers to are typological in nature. Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 are –what can be called “pointing to” passages. They both are viewed as pointing to something greater than what their immediate context was dealing with. There is the type and the fulfillment of the type to come.
For example: The garden of Eden points to and has its perfect fulfillment in Heaven (type and fulfillment of the type). The sacrificing of Bulls and goats daily pointed to and had its perfect fulfillment in the once for all sacrifice of Jesus for our sins upon the cross.
In Hosea 11:1 it says in part “Out of Egypt I called my son”
In the immediate context of Hosea 11:1 the people were being reminded of how God sent Joseph to Egypt and then how ultimately Israel/Jacob and his whole family settled there that they might escape starvation from the great famine. Initially Israel found shelter in Egypt and then came all those years of slavery. By the hand of God, Israel- his son, was called brought out of Egypt as a great nation and was brought to the promised land.
Hosea 11:1 does not say in these exact words as one may like “When the Son of God comes he will have to escape to Egypt and then at the proper time God will call him back to Israel”. Yet, in Jesus’ flight to Egypt, his time there, and eventual return, Matthew sees and would have us see Jesus as being spoken of by Hosea 11:1—because Jesus is ultimately the true Son of God.
In Jeremiah 32:15 it says “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
In Jeremiah 32:15 Jeremiah was speaking to his Israelite brethren who as a people had just been overrun by the Babylonians. The place is Ramah, a huge internment camp from which those mass deportations of the Israelites occurred. Ramah was a place of weeping and wailing. Rachel’s weeping was symbolic of all the mothers of Israel weeping. Many sons and daughters had been killed. Babylon awaited as a place of slavery and deportation for the survivors.
Jeremiah was sent by God to console the people with great news, but instead all that was heard was weeping and those who heard his message refused to be comforted.
Do you know what the great news that God wanted his people to hear? I will bring you back to this place. In spite of your sin and rebellion against me and your kindling of my wrath against you, I will restore you. God in fact commanded them to refrain from weeping: and yet they refused to be comforted.
Matthew would have us understand that Jeremiah 32:15 ultimately pointed to an event that would happen in the life of Christ: the murder of what is guessed to be about 20-30 Bethlehem children.
The parallels are striking. The refusing to be consoled weeping. The fact that there was grounds for not weeping.
While Jeremiah 32:15 does not say in these exact words “When the Messiah comes many children in the town of Bethlehem will be murdered.” It is clear that Jeremiah’s words were prophetic in respect to Jesus and the murder of the Bethlehem children. The parallels prove the point.
A moment ago I said that the mother’s of Bethlehem had a reason for being comforted in their grief. A reason they ignored.
I would propose to you this: There was reason for them to be comforted. As God commanded (v.16) Jeremiah to tell the people to stop their weeping and be comforted so too their was ultimate reason for the Bethlehem women to cease in their weeping:
Q What reason for ceasing to weep and be comforted do I speak of?
Satan, through his agent Herod, tried to destroy the infant Jesus. The women of Bethlehem did not understand as we do, according to Revelations 12:5 that Satan tried to kill the infant Jesus. He failed and Jesus, the Son of God, lived, grew, and then completed his earthly mission: he died on a cross that we might be reconciled to God.
The folks in Bethlehem had no doubt heard of the angels who appeared in the skies. They had seen and heard from the shepherds who rushed to where Jesus was born. They had seen and heard of the wise men entering the town, looking for King Jesus. There comfort should have been that King Jesus lived. You and I are familiar with stories of castles and knights.—the goal is to protect the king from all attacks. Casualties come, yet the comfort is that their King survives.
Out of the murder of those children there was this good- which ought to have comforted the women of Bethlehem: Jesus lived. He survived Satan’s attack and he made for our salvation according to the eternal and immutable plans of God.
Might I suggest this morning that in the midst of our grief’s there is available to us the comfort of God which we ought to look for and turn to. We are to take comfort in the riches and inheritance we have in Christ. We to take comfort in the fact that this is not our home. We to take comfort in the fact that at times Jesus calls us to identify with him and his sufferings. We to take comfort in the fact that he will one day wipe away every tear of those he loves. We to take comfort in the fact that all things work together for the good of those who love Him.
ANWAYS: In the person, life, work of Jesus, 100’s of OT prophecies have been fulfilled. There is no doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah and Savior. Hosea 11:1 points to Jesus flight and return from Egypt. Jeremiah 32:15 points to the murder of the Bethlehem children.
THERE IS MORE FOR US TODAY IN OUR TEXT
1. The subject of hearing the voice of God and obeying Him.
For a second time now an angel appears to Joseph in a dream with specific instructions from God for Joseph to follow through on.
The day for Mary and Joseph had been great. Esteemed visitors from the East had brought incredibly valuable gifts to Jesus and in addition to this, these guests had prostrated themselves before Jesus, worshipping him as King and Messiah.
After packing up the presents and going to bed God sends an angel and speaks to Joseph in his dream. Get up right away and go to Egypt because Herod is soon going to be on his way to kill Jesus.
Note: Joseph didn’t hesitate. He didn’t say “I’ll sleep on it” His obedience to the command of God was instantaneous.
Not always does God speak to us in the way He spoke to Joseph but here’s the principle. When God speaks we are to listen and obey without hesitation.
Our obedience to Him is to be in the same manner of Joseph’s: immediate. There is not to be any hemming and hawing or foot dragging on our parts or an I’ll deal with this matter piece by piece and slowly mentality.
A characteristic of a follower of Christ is this: hasty obedience to God.
ASIDE:
I have no doubts regarding God’s communicating to his children through dreams or by His servants and our helpers: the angels. I believe today, that at times God still communicates in the same way. However, there must be great discernment in these matters.
Typically though, when it comes to hearing and determining God’s will in our lives the Bible is our primary source, followed by Godly counsel, prayer and fasting, circumstances, the voice of the indwelling Holy Spirit. A result of being in the will of God is inner peace and blessing. It also ought to be noted that when it comes to being in the will of God that the scriptures and what they teach will not be violated.
2. The special protection and provision of God for his Son
When the Bible says “God became a man” it really means it. Jesus was no superbaby who could leap over tall buildings and lift cars over his head. Baby Jesus was baby Jesus. As that baby boy he needed food, he needed a warm blanket, he needed God the Father’s protection.
When you and I ponder Jesus, frailty is not something we typically think of. Yet here is Jesus, a mere infant and under the threat of death. Here is Jesus, the God-man, in danger and in need of being protected. Just as we sang this morning in the song “The servant King” “From Heaven you came, helpless babe, entered our world, your glory veiled”
Herod’s threat is no pretend threat. He really did command an army. He really did send out his men in search of Jesus to kill him. Jesus really did need to be moved and protected.
God the Father could have protected Jesus in any number of ways. With a very word Herod could have no more, along with every last Roman, and every last one of his enemies. Yet that’s not how God chose to do it. The plan had already been set. The plan for Jesus and his life had already been determined and laid out. The plan involved Joseph and Mary taking baby Jesus and fleeing in the middle of the night to Egypt. Hence, scripture was fulfilled.
God’s plan had also taken into account the provisions Jesus and Mary and Joseph would need to survive. The gold, myrrh, and incense no doubt bank rolled the whole affair.
Application: God’s protection of us. God’s provision for us.
While God specially protected Jesus and provided for his eternal Son, what about us? Does God protect us? Does God provide for us?
Of course he does. The Lord is our protector and shield. He is our stronghold. He is our provider. We who have called upon His name are precious to him, the apple of his eye, our names being engraved in the palm of his hand.
Every hair on our heads is numbered. He sees the sparrow fall, and we are much more precious to Him. He is Jehovah Jireh: our provider. He shall supply all our needs.
3. The fact that in the lives of those on this earth a spiritual battle is being played out. On the one side there are the children of Satan, on the other: the children of God. Between the 2 exists enmity.
From the time of the Fall till now there has been a godly line and an ungodly line. From the time of the Fall till now there has been conflict between these two lines.
In our text there is righteous Joseph, representing the godly line. In Matthew 1-2 there is a spotlight upon Joseph. He is pictured as being an obedient, righteous, and devout servant of God; one who hastens to do the will of God.
On the other hand is Herod, the very of agent of Satan himself, representing the ungodly line.
Herod is the villain of our text, defiled in every way. It ought to come as no surprise to you that he sought to kill Jesus and ordered the murder of every child 2 and under in the town of Bethlehem (for Jesus would have been in that age range). During his life he maintained 10 wives, 2 of whom were nieces to him. He killed no less than 4 of his own children (three of whom were just 9, 10, 11) years old. A week before his death he had an older son killed. To ensure that the citizens of Jerusalem mourned at his death he had the leading men of the city rounded up, with the orders to execute them when he died.
Herod stands as the exact opposite to Joseph. On one hand there is a righteous man of God. On the other: an agent of Satan who shook his fist at God and incurred His wrath.
Not every non Christian is a Herod, but every non Christian is a child and agent of Satan, a sinner in the hands of an angry God. A sinner who is but a breath out of Hell. A sinner who ought to turn to Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and peace with God.
There is only 2 sides. There is no middle ground. A person is either for Christ or against Him. A person is either on the Lord’s side or the Devil’s.
Question: Whose side are you on?
Point: Cast your lot with Jesus!
NOTE: In Ephesians 6:10-18 the spiritual conflict that we face as Christians is further spelled out.
4. The accomplishment of God’s will
As you and I have considered the evil plans laid against Jesus this must be understood: the plans of evil men can never interfere with ultimate plans and purposes of God.
The result of Herod’s evil was this: he served to accomplish the plans of God. Herod, acting freely upon the evil inclinations of his heart, was the unwitting agent of God’s will being accomplished.
The flight to Egypt and Jesus’ return from Egypt; the attempt on Jesus’ life and the murder of the children of Bethlehem: this was all done according to God’s set purpose and foreknowledge. Does this make God the author of evil. A thousand NO’s. What it does make is a God who is in complete control, a God whose good and perfect will is always accomplished in spite of free actions of evil people.
You and I can stand confidently knowing that what God has purposed for us in Christ will come to pass. You and I can stand confidently knowing that every thing he has declared to us regarding the future will happen exactly as He has said to us. You and I stand can stand confidently knowing that no plan or plot can stand against Him or us.
SO FAR TODAY:
1. 2 messianic prophecies that are fulfilled in Jesus. Fulfilled prophecy a reason to believe
2. Hasty in being obedient to the revealed will and directions of God
3. Not turning a blind eye to the comfort of God that can and should be ours
4. God’s protection and provision for Jesus and for us
5. The immutability of the will of God. It’s accomplishment.
5. The intersection of Revelations 12 and Psalm 2 with our text.
Earlier in our service we read Revelations 12, to finish this sermon I would like to read to you Psalm 2.
Rev. 12 and Psalm 2 are two great texts that really give us insight into what’s going on in Matthew 2:13-18. I would encourage you to read them again.
Anyways: Psalm 2 and the challenge of Psalm 2:12**
