?>
Bible Groups - Gospel of Matthew - navigation>
Gospel of Matthew - Chapter 2
-
Matt's Christmas story very different from Luke's: no triumph or singing, no tender images, but ominous plots against the child, violence and exile - indeed a true prologue - a 'telling in advance' of his Passion. The child Jesus was a homeless refugee with a price on his head. He does not even return to his home town before going to Jerusalem to his death. But God Immanuel has to be where the pain is - this really is what the Scriptures had been indicating. Note there is no dialogue in Matt, and Mary is almost invisible, simply being told what to do. But God is still with us - perhaps a comfort to people now who suffer violence and exile. The visit by the wise men foreshadows the rejection of Jesus by Israel and his acceptance by Gentiles. Outsiders are often part of Jesus' history, a major theme in Matt. Jewish leaders reject Jesus while from time to time Gentiles grope towards faith, eg Centurion (8:5-13), Canaanite woman (15:21-28). In Matt Jesus' ministry remains firmly within Israel, but after the Resurrection extends to all nations (28:19). Only Matt's gospel stresses the name of Jesus - "Yahweh saves" - saviour from sin, oppression, and sickness.
-
Over chaps 1 and 2 Matt has introduced Jesus as Son of Abraham, Son of God and Emmanuel (1:18-25), son of David (2:1-12), a new Moses ((2:13-15), a new Jeremiah (2:16-18), and a new Samson (2:19-23). An all-round saviour figure. These 2 chaps have given us the who, how, where, and whence (place) of Jesus' birth. A whole OT background from OT history, Law and the Prophets.
-
Although it looks as though the infancy stories in Matt and Luke were developed to fit OT prophecies, it is more likely that the stories of Jesus' birth were circulating before the gospels were written. Christians recognised Jesus as Son of God first at the Resurrection (Paul), then at the Baptism (Mark), then at his conception (Matt, Luke).
-
1 Jesus' birth immediately related by Matt to wider political situation. This Herod reigned from 37 to 4 BC. Wise men or Magi, a Persian priestly caste, ie astrologers - but the eastern peoples in Persia and India had long studied the stars and knew their movements well.
-
2 New stars were commonly expected to appear to mark a king's birth. "The king of the Jews" will repeat as a title on the Cross (27:54) - again through recognition by Gentiles, not by Jews. Several attempts at explaining the "star" they saw, including a supernova, comet, or conjunction of the planets Saturn and Jupiter. Not really important! Contrast between Herod's desire to destroy Jesus, and the Gentiles' thrice spoken desire to do him homage is what's important. The next time Jesus is called 'king of the Jews' is by other Gentiles (27:29) and then by the Gentile centurion (29:54).
-
3 Herod's fear has similarities to a Jewish legend that the Pharaoh was warned by wise men of one - Moses - who would deliver Israel from Egypt, and the Pharaoh sought to destroy all male Hebrew children (Ex 1:16, 22).
-
4 Notice that nature was not adequate to fully reveal the new king - the Jewish scriptures were needed too. Revelation is many-sided.
-
5 Bethlehem city of David's ancestor Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4) and of his father, Jesse (1 Sam 16:3, 17:12). But no widespread tradition of the Messiah coming from Bethlehem in OT, despite Mic 5:2.
-
6 Mic 5:2, amended slightly. (Also 2 Sam:5:2?)
-
8 'Classical political duplicity'!
-
11 Cf Ps 72:10,15; Is 60:6, which led to the magi being called kings by Christians. 3 wise men developed in 5th C only because 3 gifts. In 8th C they got names, and one was black to indicate diversity in the Gentile world. The gifts also later came to signify: gold - kingship; incense - divinity; myrrh - suffering. Gifts appropriate at that time for a king or god.
-
13 Although Egypt was normal place to seek refuge, here the flight to Egypt is to enable Jesus to relive the Exodus experience of Israel.
-
14 Although Jesus later teaches that we should respond to violence by offering the other cheek (5:38-48), sometimes, as here, flight is wiser.
-
15 Israel, which God calls 'his son', was called out of Egypt (Hos 11:1) at the Exodus; Jesus, Son of God, personification of Israel, will similarly be called out of Egypt as a new Moses in a new Exodus to create a new people (Mt 21:41, 43). Matt's use of Hosea thus both identifies Jesus with Israel and as God's own Son - the highest title Jesus has.
-
16 Cf male children killed by Pharaoh (Ex 1:15-22). If historical, probably up to 20 children killed. "Learned" in v 7 implies precision, so it is likely that Herod could define the relevant birth dates closely. Later this Herod killed the eldest sons of his chief citizens to ensure mourners at his funeral.
-
18 A mother's loss of her own children is a unique grief. Rachel, Jacob's wife, said to have wept (Jer 31:15) for Ephraim, her descendant and chief of the northern tribes taken into exile by the Assyrians in 722 BC. Rachel died in Ramah at the birth of her 12th son Benjamin. Rachel was buried near Ephrath (Gen 35:16-20; 48:7; 1 Sam 10:2), identified with Bethlehem, about 6 miles south-west of Jerusalem. The monument is still there. Ramah is about 6 miles north of Jerusalem - so a long way for the weeping to be heard, so loud was it. The Jews gathered at Ramah to go into exile in Babylon (6th C BC). But Jeremiah's prophecy promises the renewal of the covenant, an end to the suffering and the return of the exiled Israelites (Jer 31:16). Amidst mourning rescue is coming.
-
20 Cf Ex 4:19.
-
22 After Herod died, Archelaus got half his kingdom, including Judea, Samaria and Idumenea, and ruled from 4 BC to 6 AD. Herod Antipas controlled Galilee - more peaceful than Judea.
-
23 Nazoreth in Galilee, rules by Herod Antipas, one of Herod's sons, and so still dangerous - but unknown. Nazoreth not mentioned in OT. Joseph may have settled here because he could find work in nearby Sepphoris, which Herod Antipas was then rebuilding as his capital. Tradition that Jesus came from Nazareth was firmly established in Christian times. Samson was consecrated ( nazir) to God - Matt may have linked to two words. No known link to OT prophecy. Matt may have in mind nazir = branch the branch that Isaiah said will grow out of Jesse (Is 11;1).