Tag: Bible

Matthew Chapter 2 Simplified: Herod’s hunt for Jesus

Published on by DaveLeave a comment

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, while King Herod ruled. Eastern astrologers came to Jerusalem and asked “Where is the newborn called ‘King of the Jews’? We saw his star in the east and want to worship him.”
King Herod, and the rest of Jerusalem, was upset to hear this. The King summoned all the chief priests and religious teachers and asked them, “Where is this Christ going to be born?”
“Bethlehem, Judea,” they replied. “The prophets wrote, ‘Bethlehem, land of Judah, will not be the worst among the rulers in Judah. The leader who will shepherd the people of Israel will come out of Judah.'”
Herod secretly asked the eastern astrologers exactly when the star had appeared. He told them, “Go to Bethlehem and find the child. Let me know when you find him so I can also come and worship him.”

The astrologers left the King and began travelling. Amazingly, the star in the east lead them until it stopped over the child’s house. When they saw the star, they were ecstatic. They went into the house and found the boy with his Mum, Mary. They fell down and worshiped Jesus. They opened their belongings and gave him presents: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
When they were about to return to the King, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so took a different route and escaped back to their home country.
After they left, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up and take your wife and child to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is about to start hunting for the child to kill him.”
Joseph immediately got up and started travelling, that night, with his wife and child to Egypt. They remained there until Herod died, fulfilling what the Lord said through the prophet, “I have called my Son out of Egypt”.

Herod, realising he had been tricked by the astrologers, became incredibly angry. He hunted and killed all the boys under 2 years old in Bethlehem and the surrounding regions, as that’s the age the astrologers had told him. This fulfilled what Jeremiah the prophet said: “A voice was heard in Ramah crying and mourning: it was Rachel crying for her children and she could not be comforted because they were dead.”

After Herod died, an angel came to Joseph, who was still in Egypt, in a dream and said, “Get up and take your wife and child back to Israel. The people who were hunting the child have died.”Joseph got up and took his wife and child back to Israel. He was informed that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, and so was afraid to go there. He had another dream where he was given a warning, so Joseph went to Nazareth, Galilee. It fulfilled what the prophets said, that Jesus will be called a ‘Nazarene’.

Matthew Chapter 2 Summary

Matthew 2 tells the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, during King Herod’s reign. Eastern astrologers (aka ‘wise men’) saw a star that was a sign of the birth of the ‘King of the Jews’ and travelled to worship him. Upon hearing this, King Herod, not happy with this, ordered the astrologers to find the child for him to also worship. However, his intent was to kill him.

Guided by the star, the astrologers found Jesus, presented him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Warned in a dream, the astrologers didn’t return to Herod on their return home.

Meanwhile, an angel warned Joseph in a dream to escape to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, as Herod planned to kill the child. They stayed in Egypt until Herod’s death. Herod, angered by the astrologer’s deception, massacred all Bethlehem boys under two, fulfilling a prophecy made by Jeremiah.

After Herod’s death, an angel told Joseph to return to Israel. Afraid of Archelaus, Herod’s successor, Joseph made home in Nazareth, Galilee, fulfilling a prophecy that Jesus will be known as a ‘Nazarene’.

Matthew Chapter 2 Bible Study Questions and Answers

  1. Q: How does the astrologer’s journey to worship Jesus encourage us to seek Christ?
    A: Their journey illustrates determination and devotion. It encourages us to seek Christ persistently and honour Him wholeheartedly, despite challenges.
  2. Q: What can we learn from the gifts the astrologers brought for Jesus?
    A: Their gifts may signify recognition of Jesus’ kingship (gold), deity (frankincense), and sacrifice (myrrh). It reminds us to acknowledge Jesus’ nature in our own lives.
  3. Q: How does Joseph’s immediate obedience to the angel’s warnings apply to our lives?
    A: His obedience shows the importance of listening quickly to God’s guidance, even when it is different from our plans, because God’s warnings are for our protection.
  4. Q: How does Herod’s reaction to Jesus’ birth serve as a caution to Christians today?
    A: It can symbolise the world’s resistance to Christ’s truth. It warns us to stay on alert against oppositions to our faith.
  5. Q: What lessons can we draw from Joseph’s fear of Archelaus and his subsequent actions?
    A: Joseph’s fear led him to God’s guidance and protection. It reminds us that fear should lead us to seek God’s direction, not cause us to freeze.

Matthew Chapter 2 Explained

Matthew Chapter 2 recounts the early life of Jesus, focusing on His divine birth, escape from King Herod’s killing of all the baby boys, and the fulfilment of biblical prophecies.

At Jesus’ birth, the eastern astrologers were guided by a star, showing the cosmic significance of His arrival. Their purpose was to worship Him, underlining Jesus’ divine nature from birth. Their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh embodied Jesus’ roles as a king, a God, and a sacrificial saviour, respectively.

Herod’s plot shows the opposition Jesus faced right from birth. Herod’s rule symbolises the worldly power threatened by Jesus’ spiritual kingship. Herod’s massacre of the innocent babies shows the lengths worldly powers will go to keep control, revealing a contrast to Jesus’ peaceful kingdom.

Joseph’s obedience to the angel’s warnings protected Jesus. His immediate actions highlight the role of obedience in God’s plan. Their time in Egypt fulfilled a prophecy, demonstrating God’s careful plan that goes across generations.

Upon Herod’s death, Joseph was guided to return but decided against settling in Judea due to fear of Archelaus. Instead, they resided in Nazareth, which aligned with the prophecy of Jesus being called a ‘Nazarene’.

Overall, Matthew 2 reveals the divine plans of events surrounding Jesus’ early life, confirming His identity as the Messiah and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies. It underlines the struggle between worldly and spiritual powers and highlights a new age in human history.

To read the next chapters, you might like to follow and subscribe to this blog!

Continue exploring Matthew 2

If you’d like to read Matthew 2 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 2 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 2 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 2 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

Matthew Chapter 1 Simplified: Jesus’s Family Tree and Birth Story

Published on by DaveLeave a comment

This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ who is a descendant of David, who in turn is a descendant of Abraham:
Abraham was Isaac’s Dad,
Isaac was Jacob’s Dad,
Jacob was Judah and his brothers’ Dad,
Judah and Tamar had Perez and Zerah,
Perez was Hezron’s Dad,
Hezron was Ram’s Dad,
Ram was Amminadab’s Dad,
Amminadab was Nahshon’s Dad,
Nahshon was Salmon’s Dad,
Salmon and Rahab had Boaz,
Boaz and Ruth had Obed,
Obed was Jesse’s Dad,
Jesse was King David’s Dad.
David and Bathsheba had Solomon,
Solomon was Rehoboam’s Dad,
Rehoboam was Abijah’s Dad,
Abijah was Asa’s Dad.
Asa was Jehoshaphat’s Dad,
Jehoshaphat was Joram’s Dad,
Joram was Uzziah’s Dad,
Uzziah was Jotham’s Dad,
Jotham was Ahaz’s Dad,
Ahaz was Hezekiah’s Dad,
Hezekiah was Manasseh’s Dad,
Manasseh was Amos’s Dad,
Amos was Josiah’s Dad,
Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers during the Babylonian exile.
After the Babylonian exile, Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel,
Shealtiel was Zerubbabel’s Dad,
Zerubbabel was Abiud’s Dad,
Abiud was Eliakim’s Dad,
Eliakim was Azor’s Dad,
Azor was Zadok’s Dad,
Zadok was Achim’s Dad,
Achim was Eliud’s Dad,
Eliud was Eleazer’s Dad,
Eleazer was Matthan’s Dad,
Matthan was Jacob’s Dad,
Jacob fathered Joseph, Mary’s husband; the Mary who gave birth to Jesus Christ.

In summary, there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the Babylonian exile, and 14 generations from the Babylonian exile until Christ.

This is how Jesus Christ was born: His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph. Before they got married, she was already pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, being a good person and not wanting her to be publicly humiliated, decided to secretly break off the engagement.
While he was deciding this, an angel appeared to him in a dream and said “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to marry Mary. She was made pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus. He will save his people from their sins.”
This all happened and was already explained by the Lord through the prophet who said, “The virgin will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God is with us.”
Waking up, Joseph did what the angel told him to do and married Mary, but didn’t have sex with her until she had given birth to a son. He named the son Jesus.

Matthew Chapter 1 Summary

Matthew Chapter 1 provides an overview of Jesus Christ’s family line from Abraham, through King David, to Joseph, Mary’s husband. There are 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the Babylonian exile, and 14 generations from the exile to Christ. In addition, the chapter narrates the context surrounding Jesus’s birth. Mary, Jesus’s mother, was set to be married to Joseph when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph planned to secretly end the engagement, but an angel appeared to him in a dream, assuring him that Mary’s pregnancy was God’s plan. He was told to name the child Jesus, who would save his people from their sins. When he woke up, Joseph followed the angel’s advice, marrying Mary and naming her son Jesus after his birth.

Matthew Chapter 1 Bible Study Questions and Answers

  1. Question: How can Joseph’s decision to stand by Mary inspire us to have faith during challenging times?
    Answer: Joseph’s decision shows us the importance of faith and obedience to God’s will, even when the circumstances are challenging or unclear. We can learn to trust in God’s plan, knowing that He works all things for good.
  2. Question: What significance does Jesus’s family line have on our understanding of His mission?
    Answer: Jesus’s family line, being a descendant of Abraham and King David, fulfils Old Testament prophecies and reveals Jesus as the rightful king, emphasising His plan to save humanity.
  3. Question: How can the angel’s reassurance to Joseph help us cope with fear and uncertainty?
    Answer: The angel’s reassurance is a reminder that God is always with us, guiding us, even in times of fear and uncertainty. We can take comfort in this guidance.
  4. Question: What does the name “Jesus” signify, and how does this relate to Christian living? Answer: The name “Jesus” means “God saves”. This points to our belief in Jesus as our Saviour, reminding us of God’s grace and forgiveness.
  5. Question: How does the word “Immanuel” (God is with us) apply to your daily life as a Christian?
    Answer: “Immanuel” assures us of God’s constant presence and guidance in our daily lives. It encourages us to trust in God’s plan and seek His guidance.

Matthew Chapter 1 Explained

Matthew Chapter 1 is an introduction to the life of Jesus Christ, tracing His family line back through notable people like King David and Abraham. This family line is important because it establishes Jesus as the rightful heir to David’s throne, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies, and positions Him as the promised saviour.

This chapter further delves into the context surrounding Jesus’s birth. It depicts Mary’s miraculous pregnancy by the Holy Spirit while she was engaged to Joseph. Joseph, a good man, planned to quietly break off the engagement with Mary to avoid public shame. However, an angel shows up in a dream, assuring him that the baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit, a part of God’s divine plan. The angel instructed Joseph to name the child Jesus, which means ‘God saves’—a clear foreshadowing of Jesus’s plan to save humanity from their sins.

Joseph’s obedience to the divine message portrays his good nature and serves as an example for Christians to trust and obey God’s recommendations, even in perplexing situations. It also underlines the divine guidance that we can expect in our own lives.

Moreover, the fulfilment of the prophecy—”The virgin will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God is with us”—underscores the central belief of Christianity that God became man in Jesus Christ. It assures Christians of God’s never ending presence in their lives and His willingness to intervene for their good.

In summary, Matthew Chapter 1 firmly establishes Jesus’s divine and royal family line, details His amazing, miraculous birth, and sets the stage for His mission of salvation. This chapter encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even in the face of uncertainty, and to be open to His divine intervention in our lives. It also underlines Jesus’s role as the Saviour, a theme that reoccurs throughout the Gospel of Matthew.

To read the next chapters, you might like to follow and subscribe to this blog!

Continue exploring Matthew 1

If you’d like to read Matthew 1 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try Matthew 1 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try Matthew 1 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try Matthew 1 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore Matthew in more depth, here are some commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: Matthew
Matthew (The Story of God Bible Commentary)
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of Matthew (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)

The Central Focus of Life

Published on by DaveLeave a comment

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

What is life but a series of relationships?

When I was born, my first relationship was with my mother and father, and then my siblings, and then my extended family. After a few years, I started discovering relationships with people that were not blood relatives such as other families at church, classmates in pre-school, teachers at pre-school. And then there were classmates and teachers at school, and teammates at the soccer club, and more people coming and going at camps, birthday parties, hospitals, the shops etc. There were relationships for which I hope would go deeper than a stock-standard ‘relationship’. And there were relationships that turned from sweet to sour, and relationships that turned from sour to sweet. did I also mention the relationship I had with that irate customer who yelled at me when I wasn’t fast enough at the checkout? Or that girl I met at church one week who I thought was attractive and then never saw again? Or the relationship with the driver of the car I rear-ended? I went 20 years without knowing that my wife existed on the face of the earth, but we have a very, very close relationship now.

My life can be sorted, organised and defined by the relationships that I’ve had.  But it’s my relationship with God that is an important relationship that I struggle to visibly sort, organise and define. My relationship with God is the reason I make certain choices and why I feel guilty when I make other choices. I know that my relationship with God is the one relationship that is the only enduring one and yet I’m not consistent in letting that reflect out into my life.

I have learned over the years first-hand that possessions and achievements don’t give my life fulfillment, and that had made me realise that fulfillment must come from relationships. Since relationships with other humans can turn sweet and sour, start and end over the years, that means the only truly fulfilling relationship can be with God; a sweet relationship for which there is no end. But having a relationship with God is reflected through my relationship with others here on earth. If the choice is between achieving a thing or achieving a God centered relationship, I need to choose the relationship, as that is a relationship with God. If the choice is between doing something to meet my own needs or the needs of someone else, I need to choose the needs of someone else, as that is a relationship with God.