Matthew 2:13-23 (Week 10)

​What does the Bible say about angels and dreams?  What about radical trust, the fulfillment of prophesies, Matthew’s personal knowledge of the writings of the prophets, and embracing the place where you live.  All this is in 11 verses in Matthew 2.  Yet, the end of the chapter takes us to “The Waiting” years of Jesus.  What can we learn from “The Wait?”

Teaching Resources

• Speaker: Jim Price, Senior Pastor ​
• Handout
• Audio​
• Slides

This week, as we start Matthew Chapter 2, we are in Jerusalem about two years after the birth of Jesus.  Herod the Great is the Roman-supported, self-proclaimed King of the Jews and finds himself visited  by Magi from the East looking for “one who has been born king of the Jews.” 

As the story unfolds, Herod and the religious leaders of the day are disturbed as their power is threatened.  Yet, the Magi are delighted as they worship and bring gifts to the King even though they likely do not begin to comprehend just Who it is they have traveled to see.

The theme of the reaction of the political and Jewish religious leaders as compared to the gentiles is already in play this early in the story of Jesus’ life.   This same theme will play out throughout his life and death.  

So many things about the life and teaching of Jesus, starting with His arrival, are not as we perhaps would have expected.  As we continue through the Gospel of Matthew,  it is imperative that we keep the eyes of our hearts open to working of God in and through Jesus. Somewhere along the line, probably in many places, we are likely to have our expectations challenged.  Are we willing to hear what Jesus teaches and not just what we want Him to teach or what we always thought He meant?

If Jesus is the unexpected messiah, are we willing to expect the unexpected?
Are we willing to accept the unexpected?

Matthew knows that the life and teaching of Jesus will challenge its hearers…so Matthew is challenging his readers from the outset.
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Teaching Resources

• Speaker: Casey Moss, Teaching Pastor ​
• Handout
• Audio​
• Slides

We often believe a lie that says "Nobody understands me," but in fact, Jesus does! Because He is physically Mary's son, He is 100% human.  Jesus is also legally Joseph's son, and as such, is the Heir of Abraham and David and is King of the Jews.  Fundamentally, however, Jesus is God's Son.  He is the 100% divine King of Kings.  He is the King of the Kingdom of Heaven and the fulfillment of scripture.

The name Jesus means "Yahweh is salvation," and the title given to Him, Immanuel, means “God with us."  Both His common name and His title given here in Matthew 1 indicate two profound truths: 

-Jesus specifies what He does--> “God saves”
-Immanuel specifies who He is -->“God with us”
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We can not separate WHO Jesus was and WHAT Jesus Did.
We can not walk in salvation without walking in relationship.

We pray the same prayer as 13th-century English bishop Saint Richard of Chi-chester:

Thanks be to Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults Thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly.

Teaching Resources

• Speaker: Casey Moss, Teaching Pastor ​
• Handout
• Audio​
• Slides