The Climax of Christmas

Matthew 2:13-23

When we think of Christmas, we naturally think of the mood as fun, festive, and laughter. However, what the Bible says about the surrounding events of the birth of Jesus is anything but fun and laughter. Instead, it was dark, demonic, and deadly. It is something that many people want to forget, as we shall see why in a minute.

Out of the four Gospel writers, only Matthew has recorded the events of escaping into Egypt and killing the innocent boys in Bethlehem.[1] From a human perspective, this particular biblical narrative is dark, demonic, deadly, and devastating. Yet there is a turning point, a climax of the story, a defining moment in this portion of the redemptive history.

The central theme here is that God will always win, and Christ the King cannot be eliminated because he is matchless, unrivaled, and incomparable. And to see all of that as a whole picture is like putting the pieces of puzzles together. And each part of the puzzle is an important event when putting it together collectively with other details to give a glorious picture of Jesus and the theme of Christmas. And that is the goal of this sermon. Let us begin with the first event.

1. Intervention by God (v. 13)

Notice God’s intervention by his revelation for his provision and protection. That is a loaded sentence!

God reveals his plan to Joseph through an angel of the Lord in a dream. This is the second dream in which Joseph received God’s intervention by revelation (1:20). However, this is the third dream in Matthew’s Gospel so far in which God’s plan is revealed through a dream (1:20; 2:12).

What’s happening in our text is descriptive, not prescriptive. Matthew is merely describing a historical account here, not prescribing for us to know God’s will through dreams. It is not a normative practice for Christians to seek dreams for God’s will. What is happening in Matthew 2 was during a particular time when the Bible wasn’t complete. But now, if you want to know God’s objective will, then seek God’s word instead. The word of God is far more superior and sure than dreams and visions (WCF 1.1).

The purpose of God’s intervention is not only to protect Joseph and his wife Mary from Herod but, most importantly, for God the Father to protect his Son, Jesus. So, an angel of the Lord commanded Joseph to take the child and the mother and flee to Egypt.

Isn’t God’s timing perfect? God intervenes when he sees the need.

Today God is still in the business of intervention with his revelation every week, namely through the preaching of his word. And why? Like this narrative, for provision and protection.

2. Obedience of Joseph (vv. 13-15a)

God’s commands to Joseph are clear in four words in verse 13: “Get up, take, flee, and remain.” Those are not God’s four suggestions, but God’s four commands. And Joseph’s obedience is clearly seen in verse 14: “So Joseph got up, took, and left.” In verse 15, the text reads: He remained there until the death of Herod. Joseph represents what Christians do – obedience to God’s word.

According to Calvin, the fact that Joseph obeyed God’s commands and stayed in the foreign land until Herod’s death shows the perseverance of Joseph’s faith.[2] Also, Charles Spurgeon said, “The Lord’s servants must wait for the Lord’s word before they make a move, whether it be to go abroad or to come home. Waiting is hard work, especially waiting in Egypt, but it is safe to tarry till we have our marching orders.”[3]

Joseph represents what Christians do – obedience to God’s word. When you learn God’s truth, you must faithfully, joyfully, and immediately obey them. And you obey, especially when things are difficult. Your obedience to God is not based on how you feel. Your obedience to God is based on what he says in the Bible.

In what ways are you obeying God’s word at this time?

• Are you faithfully committed to keeping the Lord’s Day holy by gathering with God’s people every week? Or do you allow other things to take precedence? What part of “do not forsake assembling together, as is the habit of some” in Hebrews 10:25 you do not understand? What kind of message do you give to others when you allow work, recreation, and other things to come before worshipping God on the Lord’s Day with your local church? In what ways are you obeying God’s word?
• In what ways are you obeying God’s word about being committed to learning and studying God’s word? Why aren’t you taking advantage of Friday Night Bible Study and/or Foundations of Faith class? What part of “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” in 2 Tim. 2:15 do you not understand, yet you want to be a leader?
• In what ways are you training up your children and modeling for them? Prov. 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” In what ways are you training up your child in the way he/she should go regarding how to worship God, how to pray, how to listen to God, how to serve God in the context of the local church? 
• In what ways are do you support and submit to the spiritual leadership that God has sovereignly placed you under? In what way do you have accountability with your pastor? Or do you listen more and support others who are not your pastor? What part of “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you” in Heb. 13:17 you do not understand?

3. Fulfillment of the Prophecies (v. 15b)

One of the keywords in Matthew’s Gospel is “fulfilled.” Matthew uses this verb repeatedly throughout his writing. The reason for this repeated emphasis is to show how the fulfillment of what God promised in the OT came about. And you see that throughout Matthew. Here in our text alone, he mentions three OT fulfillments (vv. 15, 17, 23).

Perhaps this is a good place to mention the NT interpretation of the OT briefly. In other words, how do the NT writers interpret the OT? For instance, in verse 15, how did Matthew use Hosea 11:1 to mean the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah? Granted, the writers were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But how do we today interpret the OT in light of the NT?

In Bible interpretation, one of the things to pay attention to is identifying and interpreting “types.” Typology is when “the NT looks back to a number of persons, things, and events in the OT and treats them as foreshadowing then-future persons, things, and events.”[4] More than 10 percent of the NT is made up of citations or direct allusions to the OT. By quoting the OT frequently, the NT writers demonstrated their trust and confidence in the OT.[5]

Sometimes the NT writers referred to individuals, things, and events in the OT and then stretched those texts or contexts beyond their original historical setting to refer to Christ. And such is the case in Matthew 2:15. Historically and contextually, Hosea 11:1 is a reference to Israel, which is also called God’s son in Exodus 4:22. But Matthew goes beyond the historical and contextual setting to give Christological or Christ-centered interpretation using Israel as a type of Christ. According to D.A. Carson, “The NT writers insist that the OT can be rightly interpreted only if the entire revelation is kept in perspective as it is historically unfolded.”[6] And this method of Bible interpretation is called the redemptive-historical approach. That is to say, interpret the Scripture in light of the gospel and Christ. That is what a Christ-centered interpretation is. Jesus said in John 5:39 that the Scripture testifies about him. After all, Jesus is the center of the entire redemptive history of the Scripture. Another way to look at it is that the OT is the preview of the NT, whereas the NT is the OT’s fulfillment.

4. Demonic Extermination (vv. 16-18)

Even though Herod is an unbeliever, Herod’s action in Matthew 2:16 goes beyond the standard of what non-Christians do. That is to say, even in the eyes of unbelievers, what Herod did is evil and wicked like Hitler.

Isn’t it interesting that even those who reject the notion of absolute and objective truth, such as non-Christians, do have specific standards of morality? In other words, even non-Christians who reject the moral standards of biblical teaching do have standards of what is evil and wicked like Hitler?

How do we Christians explain when some people like Hitler, Herod, and others do evil and wicked things beyond what non-Christians do? According to Scripture, this kind of evil act is influenced outside of an unbeliever’s normative behavior. In other words, this action is beyond depraved mind, but demonic. In John 8:43-44, Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, made this jaw-dropping comment:

^NAU John 8:43 “Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. ⁴⁴ “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Peter also said, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pet. 5:8).

At the end of the day, Herod is responsible for his own wicked actions. At the same time, there is a demonic influence that cannot be ignored. Biblically and historically, some individuals have been demonically influenced to stop God’s plan and the work of God. The Scripture is clear:

^NAU Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

What we see in Matthew 2:16 is a horrific picture of the demonic extermination of innocent Jewish boys under the age of two. Flashing swords, screaming moms, flowing drops of blood are the dark side of the Christmas story.[7]

The Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie” is not the case, but now, “O Little town of bedlam (chaos), how deep we hear thy cry.” It is no longer shepherds running through the streets, but now soldiers marching in the streets. The joy of peace on earth is now replaced by piercing swords. The silent night became a screaming night. The blood is flowing, babies are dying, and the parents are weeping. That’s the dark side of Christmas.[8] According to Matthew, this is another fulfillment of the OT prophecy, namely from Jeremiah 31:15, which says:

Thus says the LORD,

            “A voice is heard in Ramah,

            Lamentation and bitter weeping.

            Rachel is weeping for her children;

            She refuses to be comforted for her children,

            Because they are no more.”

According to a Bible commentator, Rachel’s tomb was near Bethlehem. And Rachel was considered by many to be the mother of the nation of Israel. That is why she is seen weeping over these children’s deaths.[9]

5. The Divine Elimination (vv. 19-20)

Like verse 13, we see here God’s intervention. But this time, it is God’s intervention by elimination, namely the elimination of Herod. Verse 19 says Herod died.

The lesson here is that no one (including evil ruler or demonic influence) can frustrate the will of God. God’s plan cannot be frustrated or hindered by anyone. God will always accomplish his sovereign plan and purpose. And God will always eliminate anyone who tries to hinder God’s work and plan.

^NIV Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.

Notice the contrasts between Herod the king and Jesus, the king:

• Herod, an epitome of a selfish and self-indulgent ruler; Jesus, a self-denying and self-sacrificing ruler.

• Herod, ruled by Satan. Jesus, the ruler of Satan.

• Herod the destroyer. Jesus the Savior.

• Herod, the cruel murderer of little ones. Jesus, the one who calls little ones to him.

• Herod, in the end, losing all. Jesus, still in control overall.[10]

6. Supremacy of Jesus Christ (vv. 21-23)

In his writing, Matthew repeatedly points out the supremacy of Jesus Christ over everyone, including his mother, Mary. For example, in verse 11, it was to Jesus the worship is directed, not to Mary. It was to Jesus the gifts were presented, not to Mary. This type of example is shown throughout Matthew’s writing, especially how Jesus is mentioned first and before his mother, Mary. Not once Mary is mentioned or preferred before Jesus (vv. 13, 14, 20, 21).

All that to say, Matthew’s goal in his writing is to show the supremacy of Jesus Christ. But that’s not only true in Matthew 2. You recall in the genealogy how Christ is better and superior to anyone else. For instance, Jesus Christ is mightier and better king than David. Jesus is more faithful than Abraham, the father of covenant faith. Jesus is wiser than Solomon. Jesus is supreme over everyone that is mentioned in the genealogy. Jesus is the greatest in all history. We don’t need dreams or visitations from an angel to believe all of that because we have more sure revelation because we have the words of Christ.

Furthermore, according to Matthew 2, Jesus Christ crushed the demonic influence and plans of Herod. No man, no power, no force is a match to our Lord Jesus Christ. Herod thought he could eliminate Jesus. But guess what? He got eliminated! In this world, there are only two wills: God’s will and man’s will. Guess what? The will of God always prevails. The story’s central theme is that God will always win, and Christ the King cannot be eliminated because he is matchless, unrivaled, and incomparable. And that is perhaps the most important lesson that Christmas teaches.

I would like to echo the words of Paul regarding the supremacy of Christ in Colossians 1:15-18. It says:

^NAU Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities– all things have been created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ¹⁸ He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Do you know him? Would you like to know him, the main reason for this season?

8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART” — that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

To watch this sermon, you may click here.

---

[1]John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville, Ten.: Thomas Nelson, 2006), 1114.

[2]John Calvin, “Harmony of Matthew, Mark, and Luke,” translated by William Pringle in Calvin’s Commentaries (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003)16:162.

[3]Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Gospel of Matthew (Grand Rapids: Revell, 1987), 25.

[4]Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation (Colorado Springs, Co.: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1991), 169.

[5]Ibid., 252.

[6]D.A. Carson, “Matthew” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 92-93.

[7]Jon Courson, Matthew Vol. 1, 1-13 (Jacksonville, Oregon: Tree of Life Publishing, 1993), 30.

[8]Ibid., 33.

[9]Louis A. Barbieri, “Matthew” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck (Colorado Springs: Cook, 2000), 23.

[10]William Hendriksen, Matthew (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2002), 193.

Consider Christ of Christmas

Matthew 2:1-12

Christmas can mean different things to different people. For some, it is about vacation, road trips, shopping, gifts, and so on. While those things are fun, sometimes needful, and nothing wrong, there is one thing we Christians cannot ignore – i.e., worship!

According to Matthew 2, worshiping Christ is the central focus and activity. Three times worship is mentioned (vs. 2, 8, 11). The word worship (προσκυνέω) means to bow down or to prostrate – i.e., bowing with your face down to the ground in a flat and surrendering position. Such physical posture sends the message that I am lower than the one I’m worshiping and that I am surrendering my all. That is what worship means.

So, worshiping Jesus the King is the focus of this text. And I want to point out six aspects of true worship as we consider Christ of Christmas.

1. Worshiping Christ requires sacrifice.

These magi traveled a very long distance from the east. It’s about 750 miles of traveling in just one way. That’s like a roundtrip to San Diego from Norcal. Imagine traveling that distance with a group of people without a plane or a car through dusty storms and bandits.

Contrary to these magi who traveled far, the religious people of Judaism who knew of the messianic prophecy did not even bother to check out the fulfillment of the OT when it was just a few miles from Jerusalem. In his book, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers said:

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it costs those who do not love Him a good deal.

King David said that he would not offer unto the Lord that doesn’t cost him anything (1 Chron. 21:24).

Where does such sacrifice come from? This leads to our second point.

2. Worshiping Christ requires both belief and believing.

Unlike the chief priests and scribes who knew that Christ would be born according to the OT and failed to go and worship him, the Gentiles from the east believed the OT promises (the belief that Jesus is born) and acted on such belief (sacrificing themselves, they traveled a long distance across the desert to worship Jesus). Hence, worshiping Christ requires both belief and believing. It is both. And it is always in that order: belief and believing. That is to say, you can’t just believe without the belief, and you can’t just have the belief without believing. The two go together.

Let me first explain the importance of belief or truth. Christian worship involves truth. Where God’s truth is absent, there is no true worship. In verse 2, we have two important truths concerning Jesus Christ: 1) “he has been born” and 2) he is the “King of the Jews.” Those two truths are essential truths of Christology (the doctrine of Christ).

Almost every creed or confession throughout the church history points out the birth of Christ, specifically, his virgin birth. For instance, in the Apostles’ Creed:

            I believe in God, the Father almighty,

                       creator of heaven and earth.

            I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

                       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit

                       and born of the virgin Mary.

The point is, how did Jesus come in his first coming? This specific doctrine points out that Jesus experienced human birth. It points out the humanity of Christ. It points out that Jesus had human flesh. He was real, and that Jesus was an actual historical person. So, the doctrine concerning Christ matters. Does theology matter in worship? Does it matter if we have the right Jesus? Absolutely it does! That’s because if you have the wrong Jesus, your worship is false. That’s why truth matters in worship.

Any so-called worship that doesn’t teach God’s truth, express God’s truth, and promote God’s truth is likely filled with false worship with mere opinions and people’s sentiments. Such so-called worship is likely filled with people who say it doesn’t matter how we worship as long as we worship sincerely. According to 1 Timothy 3:15, God’s word tells us how we ought to conduct ourselves in the household of God, which is the “church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”

The church (as well as individually as a Christian) is built on God’s truth. So, true Christian worship involves truth. Where God’s truth is absent, there is no true worship. In John 4:23-24, Jesus says, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people, the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship spirit and truth.”

In verse 2, the second doctrinal truth about Jesus is that he is called the “King of the Jews.” That speaks of his ethnicity. Moreover, this implies his connection to the OT. That’s because the title “the king of the Jews” is the same as “the king of Israel.” So, who is this man called the King of the Jews?

If you would look at verse 6, this OT quote is from Micah 5:2. And I would like for you to compare Matthew 2:6 with Micah 5:2 right now. Please put on your investigative lens.

Although the two seem identical, there is a vast difference. Do you notice what the chief priests and scribes failed to quote? Can you see what they left out? It is the last sentence in Micah 5:2: “His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”

What does this say about who this Jesus is? It tells us that this man is no ordinary man. Why? That’s because what man you know that exited from ages ago, from the days of eternity? There’s no one! Yet Jesus is the man that existed even before he was born. He is the God-Man. He is of eternity. He is the Ancient of Days. He is as the apostle John says the Logos, the Word. In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was at the beginning with God. 

Again, true worship involves God’s truth, specifically, the biblical truth concerning Jesus Christ. You do not have true worship when you do not have the real Jesus. You do not have true worship when you do not have true teachings of Christ. You cannot ignore the truth when worshipping. That’s why biblical truth is central in preaching. That’s why biblical truth is paramount in sermons. That’s why biblical truth is central to what we sing.

Yes, doctrine divides. That’s because the very nature of truth is divisive. Truth separates itself from errors, false, and counterfeits. However, the truth also unites. It unites those who love God’s truth (e.g., the church). The beautiful fact and the picture of the church are that people who are so different in looks and background can unite as one because of the gospel. Hence, what glues the church is one faith, one Lord, one baptism, and one gospel (not because of the same ethnicity, culture, feelings, or sentiment (“jung” in Korean). So, does truth matter when worshipping? Absolutely! So, true worship involves beliefs.

It also involves believing.

^NAU Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

3. Worshiping Christ includes the people of all nations.

Notice who came to worship Jesus. They weren’t the people of Israel. Instead, they were the outsiders, foreigners, Gentiles! That is a picture of the church – the makeup of the people of all nations. And to the people of all nations, the church is commissioned to go to make disciples. In his book Let the Nations be Glad,John Piper says, “Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship doesn’t.”

That’s why you cannot separate the gospel from worship or worship from the gospel. They go together. True worship is the expression of the true gospel. You cannot have true worship without the true gospel. That’s why a person who is gospel-minded is mission-minded and also worship-minded.

4. Worshiping Christ involves giving.

Historians tell us that ancient people did not dare to approach a king empty-handed because that was considered an insult. And such insult usually meant punishment or death. So, notice that the magi did not come to Christ empty-handed, but they came to present gifts to him. Verse 11 tells us three gifts were given: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

In ancient times, gold was given to someone who is of high authority, like a king. On the other hand, frankincense was given to a priest because it was used in the temple sacrifice. And lastly, myrrh was used to embalm the body of the dead. Notice that each gift says something about Jesus: the king, the perfect high priest, and the ultimate once-for-all-sacrifice.

Worship is not only about what I get, but also what I give. John Wesley said, “When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man, when he gets all he can and saves all he can, does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!”

5. Worshiping Christ involves great joy (v. 10).

Sometimes people come to worship as if it is a chore or duty. What’s missing is joy. But not just any joy, but as the text indicates – a great joy. That is a significant adjective – great joy.

This particular verse in Greek has a double emphasis. It reads: They rejoiced greatly with great joy. What is emphasized doubly are the words joy and great. And the adjective that describes joy in Greek is μέγας, where we get the word mega from, which means large, greatest, very great (e.g., mega-mall, megaphone). The point was when these magi came to worship Christ, their attitude and expressions were evident, namely with great joy, a huge celebration, gigantic gladness, immense happiness, and joyful, joyful cheerfulness.

• ^NAU Psalm 59:16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.

• ^NAU Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Labor is easy to those of a cheerful spirit; success waits on cheerfulness. The ones who work while rejoicing in God and believing with all their hearts have success guaranteed.” A pastor wrote the following word several years ago:

My challenge each day is not so much working hard but cheerfully working hard. If I understand Scripture accurately, I will not glorify God simply by working hard. To truly bring Him honor, I must labor with a cheerful spirit. Therefore, I must not only serve my family each day, but I must serve them with joy. I must not only prepare a sermon, I must do it cheerfully. I must not only labor faithfully in the church, I must do so happily. Merely working hard is not sufficient. It must be done with gladness. It is for my good and His glory that God has given this sweet command, “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2).[1]

6. Worshiping Christ involves obedience (v. 12)

God is not glorified (let alone worshipped) when I fail to obey his word. We are joined by many people worldwide who are attending worship service on this Lord’s day. However, many people are merely going through religious routines today. They may physically participate in worship (or virtually), but their mind is checked out elsewhere.

As much as God is concerned about your church attendance, he is also concerned about your obedience. I would rather work with ten people obedient to God’s word than a hundred people who care less about obeying Scripture. God says to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22).

^NAU Psalm 81:15 “Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.

Religious pretension is a great sin because you are lying to God as if God can be fooled. Not only such a notion is erroneous but insulting to God, who sees and knows everything. Jesus says in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” J.C. Ryle said:

What is the first thing we need in order to be Christians? A new heart. What is the sacrifice God asks us to bring to Him? A broken and a contrite heart. What is true circumcision? The circumcision of the heart. What is genuine obedience? To obey from the heart. What is saving faith? To believe with the heart. Where ought Christ to dwell? To dwell in our hearts by faith.

---

[1] C.J. Mahaney, “New Attitude.” http://blog.togetherforthegospel.org/ (accessed on May 27, 2006).

The Visitation to the King

Matthew 2:1-12

Matthew 2 is taking place sometime after the birth of Jesus Christ. So, this is a post-incarnation narrative. Notice verse 1 says, “Now after Jesus was born.” That means Jesus and Mary and Joseph are no longer at the manger as in Luke 2:7, but they are now in a house (v. 11). Verse 11 also tells us that by this time, Jesus is no longer an infant, but a child.

Also, when discussing the birth of Christ, people often wonder when the actual date of Christmas is. There have been many discussions about the possible dates in church history. Traditionally, there are two suggested dates. In the Eastern Church (e.g., the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, etc.), January 6^th is the date for Christ’s birth and the arrival of the magi on Christ’s second birthday.

However, according to Chrysostom, one of the early church fathers, stated in 386 A.D. that December 25^th is the correct date and became the official date for the birth of Jesus. Although the exact date for Jesus’ birth cannot be known, most scholars suggest that December (5 BC) or January (4 BC) be the date.

I would like to point out six events surrounding after Jesus was born.  

1. The Visitation of the Magi (Vv. 1-2)

Regarding the magi’s visitation, let me raise three questions that would help you know these men: 1) who or what are the magi, 2) where these men come from, and 3) how many of them did come to Jerusalem? First of all, the word magi (v. 1) come from the Greek word μάγος, where we get magic from. The ESV, KJV, and NKJ all have translated it “wise men,” but they should not be confused with “wise men” like sages or people who possess wisdom. Instead, they were ancient astrologist, experts in astrology, mysticism, and magic. Some would say that they were equivalent to today’s fortune-tellers or palm readers.

Secondly, according to Matthew, these men came from the east. Most scholars suggest that these men were the magi of Babylon, which is modern-day Iraq. Some also say that they were from the Medes or Persia, the region that includes Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other neighboring countries that we call today the Middle East.

In Christmas plays or even in films that depict the birth of Christ, the magi are usually represented in the number of three individuals. However, the Bible does not say that there were only three. People who believe three magi support their view by verse 11 – i.e., the three gifts mentioned. But the Bible does not say that three magi brought the three gifts. That is merely reading the meaning into the text. The gifts could have been brought by two, three, four, or more. It is doubtful that only three men would have traveled across the Arabian Desert by themselves, where there are many dangerous bandits. So, it is likely that these magi had some sort of a military escort from their own country, so a large caravan of people would have come to the city to look for Jesus. This explains why Herod was “troubled” in verse 3 because there was a considerable commotion in the city from the outsiders.  

2. The Agitation of Herod (v. 3)

Put yourself in the shoes of Herod. You’re the boss and the only boss. You’re the guy who has been appointed by the Roman Empire to rule the city of Jerusalem. You have some serious political, military, and economic backer. You’re at the top of the food chain. Imagine in your ruling days, a big caravan of people from another country show up to your doorstep with their military escort looking for the king of the Jews when you’re the king?

According to Matthew, Herod was troubled. The Greek verb has the idea of stirring up the water. The verb means that he was upset and also frightened.

In the NT, there are about seven different Herod beginning with this one in Matthew 2. I want to spare you all the details about these seven Herods. However, I do want to tell you a little bit about this Herod in Matthew 2. The historians refer to this Herod (a.k.a., Herod the Great), who lived from 37 BC to 3 BC (here and Luke 1:5). He was only about 4’4”, a short man who wanted to prove that he was a big guy. So, he became a master builder, and under his leadership, he built massive palaces, fortresses, and several cities. He is known for making the famous fortress Masada near Israel’s southern region near the Dead Sea.[1] Under his leadership, he also built aqueducts, remodeled the Temple in Jerusalem, and made statutes and monuments for his name and legacy. He was very much absorbed with himself.

Besides being a great builder, Herod is also known for his cruelty. One night, he got mad at his wife, so he kills her. And then he kills his three sons the same night. The next morning, he felt terrible about what he did, so he built a high tower, which still stands in Jerusalem today, dedicated to his wife and his three sons’ memory. He was so cruel to his family that Caesar Augustus said, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.”

Herod was an Edomite, not a Jew. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau. In the OT, you recall when Isaac and Rebekah had twins – Jacob and Esau. As the story goes, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which all the people of Israel are the descendants of Jacob. On the other hand, all the Arabs are the descendants of Esau in which the struggle between those two still goes on today.

How did Herod become the king of Judea to rule this particular region that we are reading about in Matthew 2? Here’s an interesting fact. When the Roman Empire was expanding, the emperor would set up kings of the countries that the empire had conquered. And these kings would play the role of a puppet, being subject to the Roman emperor and did whatever the emperor told them to do. Herod was no different. He was one of the kings that the Roman Empire had appointed to serve the emperor. 

Many historians would agree that Herod was a political con-artist who gained political power and influence through some tricky deals with a guy named Marc Anthony. Maybe that name rings a bell to you. Marc Anthony was a powerful ruler in Rome at the time, and it was him who appointed Herod as the king of Judea. So, Herod became a ruler, but he was only a puppet of Rome in all reality.

It was during this period when Herod was ruling Judea that these magi came from the east. It was this Herod who turned the first Christmas season into the bloody rampage by killing all the boys who were under the age of two to kill Jesus because he was thinking – “There is no other king but me, the Herod the Great.”

Because of his fear for another king in his district, he was troubled. Since he was known for being a ruthless dictator, all the people in Jerusalem were also troubled not because there is news about a possible new king but feared what Herod might do to the people due to his jealousy and agitation. And such agitation eventually came to its fruition when he ordered the mass killing of the innocent boys. But before that took place, we see Herod’s deception.

3. The Deception of Herod (Vv. 4, 7-8)

Herod was not interested in finding Jesus so that he would worship him. No, he wanted his men to find Jesus so that he can eliminate him (i.e., he was thinking – eliminate Jesus, you eliminate your political threat). So, he deceived the people into believing that he was interested in worshiping Jesus when he had an ulterior motive. And this brings up a crucial lesson.

Like Herod, some people give lip service and pretend to worship Christ when they have different motives. Worship is not their chief goal. They only pretend. Like Herod, some are very good at acting, almost believable. Like Herod, they have motives that are driven by selfishness. Like Herod, they may come to a place of worship to be recognized and seen by people.

Let me ask you a question: why do you come to worship? Why are you here?

Like Herod, the pretense to worship shows that one does not know God, such pretense insults God as if God can be fooled.

4. The Insubordination of the Religious (Vv. 4-6)

This is perhaps one of the most tragic sections in Matthew’s Gospel. Notice to whom Herod turns to inquire where the Messiah is born: “all the chief priests and scribes of the people” (v. 4). In other words, Herod turns to the religious elites. These people were religious professionals. They were the OT scholars.

What is tragic (and frightening at the same time) is that these people knew where the Messiah would be born! All along, they knew that Christ would be born and that they knew where he would be born (v. 5). They knew where in the OT mentioned the messianic prophecy (v. 6).  

Bethlehem was the home and the city of David. As the genealogy shows from Matthew 1, Jesus is the descendent of David. Matthew 1:1 clearly says Jesus Christ is “the son of David.”

The city of David or Bethlehem means the “house of bread.” It was and still is a small town; not very impressive for tourist attraction. I still remember the place to be somewhat dirty and grungy when I was there. Yet at this place, Jesus the Bread of Life came.

What is so tragic is that the religious elites knew of the OT prediction that the Messiah would be born just five miles outside of Jerusalem. However, they did not even bother to make a short journey to Bethlehem to see what was happening. You don’t read that these religious people were eager to look for Jesus to worship Him. No.

The magi from the east probably spent weeks, if not months, traveling across the desert, spending much money and energy to see the King of the Jews. Yet, the religious who knew the OT would not even get on their feet to see what was happening in what is only just five miles away!

There is a tremendous lesson here for all of us. Sometimes we think knowing the Bible stories or facts is enough, but like the religious elite, it is not just knowing the truths of Scripture, but what you do about it is just as important. 

Over the years, I have witnessed people who would drive an hour or more to hear biblical preaching and teaching, yet some people live just a short driving distance with no interest or too lazy to come out to church. My wife and I knew a gal who drove two hours, only one way from where she lived (Torrance), to come to where I was preaching (Riverside). That’s four hours of Southern California driving every Sunday, and she also came out for Friday night Bible study with Friday night traffic! This was not because there were no churches in Southern California that she couldn’t go to, but because she was committed to the church that I was pastoring and was hungry to learn and be discipled.

Another lesson is that people may be religious, yet spiritual blindness is a real possibility. We need to take this truth to heart. The religious people, who possess a great heritage and divine revelation can be spiritually blind like the scribes and the priests.

5. The Depiction of the Gospel (Vv. 9-10)

Here’s an interesting irony. The story that Matthew is telling his audience is not about the Jewish faithful coming to their long-awaited Messiah. No. It is about God bringing the Gentiles from the east to worship the King of the Jews. That’s a picture of the gospel! God bringing the outcast and outsiders of the covenant into the covenant community. That’s the gospel.

The Jews had predicted Jesus Christ in their Scriptures, but no one seemed to care or acted upon such knowledge when he did come. Ironically, God invites the Gentiles from the east to go to Jesus.

• ^NAS John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

• ^NAU Romans 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

God did not say, Israel, you have your Messiah, and to the rest of the nations, you can have your own. No. That is not the message of the gospel. The gospel is that there is one faith, one Lord, one Savior, one King, and one Messiah for all nations (Ephesians 4:4). The gospel is not only to the Jews but also to all nations. And God is still bringing the people of all nations to turn to God by turning to Christ alone through faith alone.

6. The Exaltation to Christ

Without a doubt, the central focus or theme here is worshiping Jesus Christ. Matthew repeatedly emphasizes worshiping Jesus. Worship is mentioned three times in our context alone (vv. 2, 8, 11). The verb means to bow down. The word means to prostrate – i.e., to face down in a surrendered position on the ground. Such a physical posture sends the message that the surrendering party is lower than the one surrendering. That is how worship looks.

To watch this sermon, you may click here.

---

[1]If you are interested in seeing some quality pictures of Masada, you can visit a website called Bible Places, www.bibleplaces.com and click on Masada under the sites of Judah and the Dead Sea. 

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:1-17

The first document of the New Testament (NT), The Gospel According to Matthew, is known as “the book of Genesis of the NT.” The word “genealogy” in 1:1 in Greek is γενέσεως, where we get genesis. It speaks of the beginning. So, the first book of the NT unfolds the beginning of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

To learn from The Gospel According to Matthew, we first have to understand what the word “gospel” means. There are three ways the word gospel is used. First, we use the word “Gospel” with capital G when referring to the title of the historical documents of Jesus, namely the first four books of the NT. In fact, all four Gospel books begin with “The Gospel According to” whether it be Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. So, the word “Gospel” with capital G refers to the title of the historical documents about Jesus.

Second, the word “Gospel” or “Gospels” also refers to the NT’s specific genre. In other words, the Gospels don’t read like Psalms or the Epistles. The four Gospels are like the biographies about Jesus. But these are not like the biographies that we’re used to since every biography contains character flaws because no one is perfect. But these four biographical documents are radically different because these are divinely inspired (i.e., God-breathed documents) that show that Jesus does not have any flaws, among many other truths about him. As one scholar in the Gospels writes, “While the teaching of Jesus is certainly very important, what makes him stand apart is his person by nature.”[1]

Lastly, the word “gospel” with a small letter g is used when referring to not the title or genre but the message. The message of the gospel is that “it is the good news of salvation addressed to a world lost in sin.”[2] The gospel is “good tidings of great joy brought to those who deserve to be condemned, but who, through the mercy of God, have found salvation through Jesus Christ.”[3] Thus, to preach the gospel refers to “the oral proclamation about Jesus the Christ (meaning the anointed Davidic King) – who he was; what he accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection; the promise of his future return to establish God’s reign; and the concomitant call to repent and have faith.”[4] That is the message of the gospel.

It is true that each of the Gospel books is the historical account of Jesus Christ, which includes his ministry, teachings, and his works. However, they are not mere biographies of Jesus. Each of the Gospel books has the message of the gospel. Salvation is not found in mere acceptance or understanding of the historical accounts of Jesus. You can read each of the Gospel books, which are the historical records of Jesus, yet not be a Christian.

In a typical evangelistic presentation, we often hear people say, “Believe in Jesus!” But such a statement needs clarifications because what does it mean to “believe in Jesus”? Are we saying that one needs to believe the historical facts about Jesus? I would say, yes! Absolutely! The person needs to believe the historical facts about Jesus, such as who he is, what he is, what he did, what he claimed, and so on, because knowing and accepting the facts about Jesus is critical. That’s because one aspect of faith is accepting the truth and facts. After all, having faith in a real Jesus matters because the real and true Jesus saves. So, we have to believe the right Jesus, not the Jesus according to your imagination or people’s opinions.

However, having faith in Jesus isn’t merely to have some facts. A person may know some truths about Jesus, yet still rejects the message that Jesus proclaimed.

Please turn your Bible with me to James 2:19. I would like to point out something that is greatly missing in the minds of many professing Christians. The context of James 2 is about faith and works. Notice James says that “You believe that God is one,” which, by the way, is an excellent theology. In fact, James says, “You do well.” He goes on and says that even “the demons also believe.” In essence, what James is saying is that so what if you say you believe because even the demons also believe. One notable pastor says, “If you believe that God is one or have a proper doctrinal view about God, you just qualified yourself as a demon because even the demons also believe.”[5] Hence, there is no difference between what the demons believe and what you say you believe.

James concludes verse 19 by saying that “the demons also believe, and shudder.” And this is where the problem lies with many professing Christians today. The difference between demons and many professing Christians today is that at least demons believe and shudder! In Greek, the verb to shudder means to tremble with fear. What’s troubling is that the demons tremble with fear for God, more so than many professing Christians. There are people who say they have faith or “believe in Jesus” that are worse than the demons! It shows that demons apply better than those who profess themselves to be Christians with no fear for God! It is this type of holy fear that is missing today in many professing Christians.

When you were driving to the church this morning, what was in your mind? Did you come simply to check off your religious duty, or did you come with a humble heart to worship a Holy God? Was the thought of meeting people your priority or meeting God? Have you come this morning with your mind and heart prepared to worship God? How have you prepared your body, heart, and mind to hear and to receive the word?

Matthew wants to communicate to his readers the gospel message from his Gospel book. At the onset of his document, Matthew tells us there are four realities of Jesus: 1) Jesus is the Savior (from the very name “Jesus”), 2) Jesus is the Messiah (from the title “Christ”), 3) Jesus is the King (the OT prophetic description “the son of David”), and 4) Jesus is the Promised Blessing, the reference to Abrahamic Covenant – from “the son of Abraham.”

Why the Genealogy?

We wonder why Matthew begins his writing with genealogy. For many of us, genealogy does not thrill us. It is not exciting to read about someone’s family tree. But this isn’t just anyone’s genealogy.

For some cultures, family trees and family names are very important because a name is who you are. In some cultures, your name represents the region where you are from, the socio-economic status, and sometimes, this helps or hinders even who you marry.

This is true in Korean culture too. For instance, my family name Kang is from an area in Korea and consider a respected name. But my mom’s family line, the Chungs (in my estimate), are even better than my dad’s side with higher socio-economic status. Typically, you marry up to a higher socio-economic family, not lower. So, I was told by my parents that I am the product of good families – so they say. But sometimes I wonder if they were telling me the truth because how many parents would say to their child, OK, you’re from a family with an ax murderer, a series of convicts, Korean mafias, and so forth. Although Koreans value family tree and family name, I don’t take it too seriously because I have yet to receive a free meal because of my last name.

Like the cultures that value genealogy, the Jewish people are also interested in the records of genealogy. Just look at the first nine chapters in the First Chronicles in the Old Testament. It’s genealogy after genealogy, name after name, and so on for the entire nine chapters! I can assure you that that’s not the portion in the Bible that I get excited about. Nonetheless, genealogy was important in Israel. Think of Israel before entering into the Promised Land. One’s genealogy determined what land you received and how much you received. Also, think about when Israel came out of the Babylonian’s captivity and back to their land. Who was going to work as priests? Since God had appointed only Aaron’s sons, the sons of Levi, to be priests, how do you know who you are unless you have your genealogy? And even after the days of Christ, the importance of genealogy is carried on. For instance, the apostle Paul said this about himself in his letter to Philippians, “[I] was circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin” (3:5).

The Three Lessons from the Genealogy of Jesus

So, what can this genealogy of Jesus Christ teach us today? Let me point out three lessons.

1. The Extension of God’s Grace is Greater Than Most People

In Jewish genealogy, generally, the names of the women are left out. In fact, Jewish men sometimes prayed something like this: “God, I thank you I was not born a Gentile, a dog, or a woman.” In many Jewish genealogies, the female names were left out. This is very true if you read various genealogies in the first nine chapters of the First Chronicles in the OT.

However, here in Matthew, we have the names of five women: Tamar (v. 3), Rahab (v. 5), Ruth (v. 5), Bathsheba (v. 6), and Mary (v. 16). Most of these women (except for Mary) are not known for their godliness or virtues, but disgrace and scandals. Almost all of them (except for Mary) are Gentiles with notorious reputations. Let me briefly introduce these women.

• Tamar (v. 3)

She was the Canaanite daughter-in-law of Judah (Gen. 38:3, 6). God had taken the lives of her husband, Er, and of his next oldest brother, Onan, because of their wickedness (Gen. 38:7). Judah then promised his daughter-in-law Tamar that his third son, Shelah, would become her husband and raise up children in his brother’s name when he grew up. However, when Judah failed to keep that promise, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into having a sexual relationship with her. The twin sons were born from that illicit act, namely Perez and Zerah (Gen. 46:12).

• Rahab (v. 5)

She, too, was a Gentile and was guilty of prostitution, but unlike Tamar, prostitution was her profession.

• Ruth (v. 5)

She was also a Gentile, although she was later received into the covenant family of God.

• Bathsheba (v. 6)

Although her actual name isn’t found in the Greek text nonetheless, the clue is very obvious from the literal rendering of the Greek: “David the father of Solomon from her of Uriah.” Anyone who is familiar with the OT can tell you that this is none other than Bathsheba. 

• Mary (v. 16).

One wonders why there are shady characters in Jesus’s genealogy – i.e., Gentiles, prostitutes, and adulterers. One wonders, doesn’t this taint or mar the genealogy of Jesus? John Calvin offers interesting commentary. He said Matthew included these names so that the Jews would not glory in their flesh. That is, they would not boast of their Jewish heritage.[6]

However, there is an even greater reason why these names are included in the genealogy. So, what is so important about mentioning these five women?

Matthew implies that the gospel is for all people, not only for the Jewish people. This is clearly obvious by the fact that Gentiles are found in the genealogy of Jesus.[7] Matthew implies that the gospel is for sinners, not for the perfect and righteous! The implication is that there is no perfect nation, perfect ethnicity, perfect race, and perfect color, even though the nation of Israel was the nation that God had chosen in the OT. So, Matthew implies that the gospel is for all sinners. And that’s powerful, especially, coming from Matthew, who is a Jew, writing to the Jewish audience – that the gospel is for all people and not limited to Jews! Hence, the inclusion of women (and that of the Gentile women) shows the far extension of God’s grace. One NT scholar says that this suggests “that Jesus’s mission is not merely to Israel but is to extend beyond to the nations, to the ends of the earth.”[8] Hence, the first coming of Jesus was the preview of his Great Commission, namely to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).

These five ladies serve to remind us that God has shown grace and mercy to “most unworthy” Gentiles in the past. And that God is still showing mercy and grace to unworthy people of today, like you and me! Leon Morris writes, “The history of the people elected to be the people of the Messiah is one of grace rather than glory.”[9] Hence, this is a wonderful example of God’s sovereign grace to sinners.

2. God Often Uses the Lowly and Unconventional People[10]

As you can see from the list of these women and men in the genealogy, they were not the greatest people in redemptive history, yet God used them mightily, fruitfully, and effectively! This is also true of the twelve men Jesus chose as his disciples. He did not choose the great teachers like Gamaliel or leaders like Nicodemus. Instead, Jesus chose common fishermen (Simon Peter and Andrew, James, and John), a despised tax collector (Matthew), and others (cf. 1 Cor. 1:20-31).

3. God’s plan will come to its fruition no matter what.

John Calvin believed that in spite of marred and blemished genealogy, this was the “design of God to show that, in establishing this kingdom, nothing depended on human merits.” These five women are to remind us that the plan of God will fulfill regardless of human failures and shortcomings. So, be encouraged and take comfort, God’s people!

This is perhaps a good description of what the sovereignty of God means. God is not some schizophrenic who is worrying about whether his plans would work. No! The plan of God will fulfill regardless of human failures and shortcomings.

Although I have read many books on this subject, in my opinion, the book The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink is perhaps the best because he offers the best biblical and theological argument on the subject.[11] The term sovereignty of God simply means that God exercises his rule over all of his creations – i.e., human affairs and human history. God is not some passive deity who is oblivious to what’s going on, but that he is working out everything according to his perfect will. According to Pink, God is:

Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent; God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases. None can thwart Him; none can hinder Him. Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that He is on the Throne of the universe, directing all things, working all things “after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11).[12]

Thus, despite human failures, which are evident in the lives of these OT women and men, God’s glorious plan of bringing his promised son to redeem his elect was not hindered but came to its fruition! So, be encouraged and take comfort, God’s people!

To watch this sermon, you may click here.

---

[1]Jonathan T. Pennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012), 29.

[2]Ligon Duncan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi, from his sermon transcript on “Matthew 1:1-17,” http://www.fpcjackson.org/resources/sermons/matthew/mat vol 1 & 2/matthew 1 & 2/01aMatt.htm (accessed March 29, 2006).

[3]Ibid.

[4]Pennington, 5.

[5]John MacArthur, “God’s Glory in Christ’s Cross,” his sermon on Romans 3:25-31. Audio CD # 80-294T.

[6]John Calvin, “Harmony of Matthew, Mark, and Luke,” translated by William Pringle in Calvin’s Commentaries: Volume XVI,(Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 91.

[7]William Hendriksen, Matthew, NTC (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2002), 91.

[8]G. K. Beal, A New Testament Biblical Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011), 389.

[9]Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew, PNTC (Grand Rapids:Eerdmans, 1992), 23.

[10]Grant R. Osborne, Matthew, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, edited by Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010), 69-70.

[11]Arthur W. Pink, The Attributes of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995), 32-36.

[12]Ibid., 32.