The Flight

This morning when considering a section of Scripture which is really part of the Christmas story, but often neglected part of Scripture defined in Matthew chapter 2 and were looking at verses 13 through 23. So if you have your Bible, and I did turn their viewing of the Bible is one in the pew in front of you. This is the fourth message. No in our series on Matthew. Matthew began as you may recall in chapter 1 verse one by saying the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Christ, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Yes, our Lord Jesus is the son of Abraham, the great Abraham a covenant said in part that in Abraham all of the families the nations of the earth will be blessed and that we are seeing that fulfillment through our Lord Jesus Christ is the son of Abraham and Matthew was making it clear that Jesus the Christ comes not just to save the Jewish nation but the whole world in him.

All of the nations of the earth will be blessed and Matthew was going to conclude his gospel by declaring the commandments of the Lord to his followers to go and make disciples of all the nations we are saying that Matthew presents Jesus as the King. Not only is Jesus the son of Abraham is the son of David David, Israel's greatest king, and as we were saying earlier that kingdom. The kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ is a kingdom which lasts forever and so is the wise man come traveling from the east, I coming to Israel, but I going first to Jerusalem, the question is, where is he who is born King of the Jews, and as they find the little Jesus. They worship him because they recognize that he is indeed the king not just King of the Jews. But King of all of the nation's King of Kings and therefore is to be worshiped by all as in fight will be the case in the future when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Yes, he is the king, but in Matthew's gospel but also seeing that the King Jesus is rejected throughout Matthew's gospel. The religious leaders reject, criticize the spies conspire, and eventually succeed in putting Jesus to death. That is another King. King Herod will see today is a very cruel carrying a very evil man would notice and he violently rejects Jesus he sees Jesus as King of the Jews as a threat to his own little throne and he tries to destroy him. So we have the king prophesied, we have the king barn. We have the king worshiped.

We have the king rejected and in our passage today were going to see the king preserved now in Matthew two, verses 13 through 20 3R3 clear sections. I'm going to take them section by section.

Each section very interestingly ends with a quotation on reference to the Old Testament Scriptures Matthew new is Bible. He knew the Old Testament and as he presents the Lord Jesus as the King of the Messiah. He quotes frequently from the Old Testament were ready seeing two of his quotations. Chapter 1 verse 23 Woody quotes about the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and also he quotes in chapter 2 verse six microfibers to where that was a prophet say that the Messiah is going to be born in Bethlehem the lid with me. First of all, towards the end of the last 15 Matthew to the end of verse 15, Matthew says this was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet out of Egypt I called my son and again in verse 17 then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah and then the end of the chapter verse 23 he went and lived in the city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew is very interested in the Old Testament Scriptures knows them and is making it very clear that Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. There son of David, the son of Abraham is coming in fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. Augustine said that in the Old Testament, the New Testament is concealed, whereas in the New Testament. The Old Testament is revealed and Matthew was wonderfully revealing the Old Testament to us with these wonderful quotes that were going to look at this morning ready to learn about Jesus. You say you love him to come to worship him. You ready to obey him. Are you ready to follow him throughout 2020. I think this passage will help us first of all, in verses 13 through 15 we see that God preserves God reserves a wonderful truth that we need to be reminded of this we going to see particularly applied to the Messiah. So here we are. Matthew two verse 13, that when they wise man had departed to hold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt and remained there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him and you rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of hundreds. This was to fulfilled what the Lord has spoken by the prophet out of Egypt I called my son no. In the earlier part of Matthew to those we thought of and Christmas Eve. The wise men come from the East and to come to worship the King, the king of the Jews one we know as King Jesus, the chief priests and they strives they knew the Bible as well and they knew according to the prophecy of Micah that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem and so this is communicated to the wisemen about Ezra Martin Christmas Eve. I find it amazing that although they knew the Scriptures they have no real interest in checking out whether that Old Testament Scripture could in fact be being fulfilled in the lifetime so they don't check it out for themselves how to read, pretends great interest.

He wants to know where the baby Jesus is born 19,000 wisemen when you find out where he is. Let me know so that I can come and worship him for that. Of course, was a deception.

Herod had no intention of worshiping anyone, far less someone who profess to be the king of the Jews he wanted is were going to see he wanted to eliminate Jesus.

He wanted to kill him and to destroy him. And so, in the providence of God, the wisemen are warned in a dream not started talking to headed so verse 12 and being warned in a dream is wisemen not to return to headed the departed to their own country by another way that may have come from Persia about a thousand miles away and so they returned there and they don't tell Haddad that they in fact had located the one who was born King of the Jews go this time.

Jesus would not of been in the manger. He'd been in a house in the small town of Bethlehem. Think of this, the God of course was well ahead of headed God was well aware of the murderous intent of headed and so as we read the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and instructs Joseph to take Mary and the little boy Jesus to go to Egypt to avoid Haddad. Matthew has already told us a little bit about Joseph chapter 1 verse 19 that he was a just man is also very clear from Matthew chapter 1 and two, that Joseph is also a humble man whenever he receives directions from the angel of the Lord, he immediately obeys in this case he takes Mary and Jesus and depart immediately. Verse 14 to Egypt, and the reason they believe in Jesus because they leave by night, but this is the third dream in the story so far.

First dream the angel had previously appeared to Joseph in chapter 1 and told him that this little body is to be called Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

The wisemen were warned in a dream not to return to Haddad but here's another dream a second evangelic appearance to Joseph in a dream he receives the divine revelation get going take Mary and Jesus to leave quickly and go to Egypt and Joseph's regions is a great example for us because he obeys immediately. You want to discuss things with the Lord argue with the Lord the way the wonderful thing is when we practice instant obedience.

That's hard for us have said before, my dad used to say to me more times than I wanted to hear. It is a little boy, John, when are you going to learn to do what you're told my dad like all dad's like instant obedience and for some reason I didn't like to obey and I didn't like to be instantly but something rebellious in the human heart is neither, but as a follower of Jesus as those who worship the King, as those who recognize that he is the King of Kings that he is the Lord of the universe. The Lord expects us not only to obey but to obey instantly some wonderful qualities in shows humility shows sensitivity and it shows a great love that we have for the Savior instant obedience and Joseph does that not notice verse 15 with Old Testament fulfillment so to go to Egypt for the size of Israel. As you know, and remained there until the death of hundreds and then Matthew because this this was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet is quoting from Hosea chapter 11 verse one out of Egypt I called my son in the context of Hosea 11 verse one, who is my son will generally Old Testament you know it is a reference to Israel in her series on the life of Moses we read. As we studied Exodus or verses 12 and 23 the Lord calls Israel my firstborn son. And so the message through Moses to Pharaoh is let my son go and eventually God's son, Israel comes out of Egypt and there's delivered to the Red Sea is relearning and here Hosea essay chapter 11 verse one out of Egypt I called my son, Israel was delivered from Egypt and eventually went to the promised land and Iris has Matthew in a very interesting reference an application and call a typology of whatever but he is saying that, of course, these son is not Israel these son is Jesus Christ is the son of God, and Mary and Joseph with little baby Jesus go to Egypt just south of Israel and at that time were told her what about a million Jews living in Egypt and so there they were quite safe. The jurisdiction of Haddad didn't go into Egypt they were safe there save from the murderous Haddad and so the Scripture is fulfilled because of not going to stay in Egypt were going to learn the next section out of Egypt I called my son and so Egypt, and God's prophetic program is a special place because Egypt gave safety to the Messiah God preserving the Messiah number three verses 16 through 18.

Not only does God preserve, but God guides, then headed when he saw that he had been tricked by the wisemen became furious at the center and killed was in this all the male children in Bethlehem and all that region which were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise man think of that God preserves Joseph preserves Jesus rather by guiding Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt using we often forget this, that God is a living God and God is active in the lives of his people and God knew all about evil Haddad. He knew what Haddad was going to do and so the Lord goes before his people. We saw that as we looked at Israel being delivered from Egypt. Moses recalls that the Lord went before them and hear the Lord is going before Joseph. The Lord is going before Mary of the Lord is going before the baby drink Jesus and anything that is not wonderful truth for you to grasp as you think of 20/20, whatever it holds for us and none of us know we don't know the future, but we do know this, that God goes before us that gives us great confidence. Doesn't that were not alone, that God goes ahead of us. God not only preserves us, God guides us know Haddad is furious when he realizes that he's been tricked by the wisemen and he gives this murderous edict. Can you imagine it he went he wants all of that we boys from two years and under to be killed in Bethlehem. He wants to make sure that this little boy who is claiming to be the king of the Jews is killed and so he sends his soldiers to go through all of the homes in the region of bathroom and to kill every little baby boys. We don't know how many were killed and calculated that Flynn wasn't really a big place and calculated could have been about 20 little boys killed. We know a lot about how to integrate he was a monster, he killed his own family and his lust for power and prestige. No one would stand in his way. He was a monster. This incident is sometimes called the massacre of the innocents is indeed it was chose. Incidentally, what our Lord said about our enemy, Satan, that he is a marketer from the beginning to realize that that our enemy, Satan is our daughter from the beginning. And he hates babies and sadly he still killing little babies unborn babies all over the world is a murderer from the beginning, but God is guiding his family. I think of the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scripture here in verses 17 and 18. Matthew says was intriguing. I think this was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah how much you know of Jeremiah, like a quiz on the book of Jeremiah.

How would you do this was fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah advice was had in Rome we paying and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they are no more than Matthew to verse 18 is a quotation from Jeremiah 31 2010.

There in your Bible. If you can find it.

One of the major prophets, Jeremiah and Jeremiah thought 51 is known to us who are followers of Jesus because it contains the details of the new covenant, the new covenant, which is going to be fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 51 but look at verse 15 Jeremiah 31 verse 15 thus says the Lord of voice is how it had in Rome lamentation in Britain, weeping Rachel was weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more, thus says the Lord give you advice from weeping injured eyes from tears for that is our Lord for your word declares the Lord.

Initial come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the Lord was the contacts, the original context of Jeremiah 31 the context of Jeremiah 31 is that the command of Nebuchadnezzar's army babbling at this time is the superpower and they are conquering Israel under the great King Nebuchadnezzar and what did they do, they rhymed up the captives and many of them are rounded up at Rome which is just north of Jerusalem, before taking them and change the babbling member Daniel, Ezekiel and others end up in babbling. I did together. The Bible needs come they conquered Israel to destroy the temple. They break down the walls of Jerusalem undertake many people captives done over to chapter 14 Jeremiah 40 verse one for little more detail on this.

Jeremiah 40 verse one the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after nephews Anna down the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramallah to combined in chains, along with all of the captives of Jerusalem and Judah were being exiled to babbling. So here are the captives the rounded up at Rome this place just north of Jerusalem. We know quite a lot about Ramallah, Hannah. Very intriguing lay was from Ramallah, Samuel, her son, that was his home time. Hannah was a woman who knew about tears willing about their tears and for Samuel.

One is you doesn't have any children and she's weeping. We also know that Rachel was very, very close to Ramallah. Rachel was Rachel. She is the mother of Joseph and Benjamin remembered also for many years.

Rachel the many children, says the Lord closed her womb. When she cried out and cried out to the Lord for children and eventually Jacob's youngest two boys are born with Rachel as her mother, Joseph and Benjamin. But Rachel and fight dies at the birth of Benjamin. So Rachel is a woman who knows about tears and I think in Jeremiah chapter 31, two becomes a type of a mother in Israel and so Matthew is courting from Jeremiah 31, referring to Rachel who is buried near Ramallah, I woman us who knew tears cannot also new tears and that they are weeping over what happened to the people of God as their taken into captivity by Babylon. Can you imagine if your mother and your son is taken captive by bubbling your left in Israel and he is marched off many many miles the babbling. Perhaps your husband other members of your family and here are these woman that Matthew is referring to here in Matthew to verse 18 of voice was had in the Ramallah weeping and loud men lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children. She refused to be comforted, because they are no more.

So Matthew in this intriguing way applies weeping by mothers of the Babylonian captivity to the weeping and mourning of the mothers of the little boys and Bethlehem who were killed by Herod. Interestingly to you Scriptures into with. Although there is morning as it was in Jeremiah chapter 31 in Jeremiah 51 I read a little bit ahead and write a couple of verses farther than Matthew does where the Lord says that Israel has a hope. Israel has a future. Yes, that is the future of the new covenant, and although there is morning and Bethlehem, the Messiah has been preserved under the guiding hand of God. Yes, there's weeping, but there is a hope for Israel. There's a hope for the world because the Messiah has been preserved. Parent and Satan himself as they try to stamp out the Savior of the world.

God preserves guides there's weeping as it was weeping in Jeremiah chapter 31 within Jeremiah 31.

There is a great promise of the new covenant. You can read about it in Hebrews chapters 8 and 10 is and what is the new covenant with the new covenant quickly is fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ were about to take communion. Listen to what the Lord Jesus says this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins, a reference to you covenant a wonderful receiver may follow Jesus Christ. We are sure not only of his preservation, but were also assured of his guidance and wilderness. Israel was guided pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, when it moved.

They moved when it stopped. They stopped because many of us who worry and fret about the future. Don't do that. Don't worry and fret about God's guidance, God loves you is watching over you and he will guide you. Proverbs 16 verse nine the heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes the steps the Lord is a way I had a future Lord knows the difficult situation. You have a work Lord knows a difficult family situation a personal situation. That problem we may face as a church. The Lord is aware ahead of us. He preserves us he guides us. This is why we follow our Lord. First, God preserves. Second, God guides. Third, God accomplishes his purposes. Verses 19 through 21st 19 but when Herod died bold and angel of the Lord appeared in the dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead. And he arose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was raining over Judea in place of his father headed. He was afraid to go there and being warmed in a dream is for foreign he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled that he would be called a Nazarene Herod dies after the death of Herod the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream, directing him to take Jesus and Mary back to Israel.

We don't know how long they were in Egypt from our knowledge of the time of Herod's dad.

It may have just been a matter of months, almost certainly less than a year.

Herod dies his son Archelaus is raining over Judea which included Bethlehem, but we again see God's preservation. We again see God being well ahead of the situation and he warns Joseph in another dream, not to go to Judea. Archelaus is there, the Messiah may still be in danger go to Galilee so Joseph and Mary and Jesus traveled north to Nazareth. Nazareth being in the north of Israel will recall that Mary and Joseph came from Nazareth. This was the home time that Joan made from Nazareth to Bethlehem before Jesus was born to register for the census.

Jesus is born in Bethlehem. Then the Lord had guided them to Egypt and now he was directing them back to Nazareth, to say the obvious need to be reminded of it God's purposes are always fulfilled. Consider again God's purposes are always fulfilled in the Messiah is preserved, but what about the Old Testament fulfillment here in the end of verse 23 he went and lived in the city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled that he would be called a Nazarene. This is a bit perplexing because unlike verses 15 and 18 verse 23 is not a direct quote from any of the prophets. We know verse 15 is a direct quote from from Hosea 11 verse one we know that verse 18 is a quote from Jeremiah 31 verse 15 but where did the prophet say that Jesus would be called a Nazarene and show me that text, I would be very very appreciative and notice. Matthew says so that what was spoken not by the prophets.

One prophet was as their second prophet is Jeremiah he says spoken by the prophets plural and no one in the Old Testament is it said that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.

I don't confuse a mass of rights. Such was Sampson the Nazirite by with Nazarene Nazarene is someone who is brought up in Nazareth. So what's going on here answer is we were not really sure sure, but we do know that Nazareth was sort of look down on it might be like when I came to Charlotte for example which a little while to get used to this. People would speak of dystonia in a certain way and that any something to sit on. She's from dystonia. He's from dystonia as if you know we Charlotte where sophisticated here, but that dystonia is sort of little bit provincial little bits in the words I want to say for the record, all of the people I met from dystonia absolutely wonderful very salt of the so I let everyone have known from dystonia and have just driven through a couple times a day and never impressed me either way, for or against some neutral about dystonia when you get the point. There are places think of you were born of North Carolina or another country that there are certain places that are kind of look down on this rather unsophisticated provincial and then perhaps the spies that was Nazareth members a man called Nathaniel and John chapter 1. The question is asked, can anything good come from Nazareth. I would expect from the good to come from Nazareth. It's it's unsophisticated is provincial really dying on it is sort of despised with interesting the King of Kings and Lord of lords grew up not in Jerusalem or the was the temple not in Bethlehem. He was born in Bethlehem, but he didn't drop in Bethlehem Bethlehem was the city of David. It was David's home time.

No, the Lord of glory, the Creator of the heavens and the art is raised in this time this Saturday called Nazareth that at least by the contemporaries was regarded as rather despised lowly Nazareth. Your point, but the prophets Matthew. The first are well regarding the coming Messiah.

Isaiah had prophesied in Isaiah 11 verse one there there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse whose Jesse Jesse's, David's father, there shall come forth as shoots from the stump of Jesse Hebrew for truth there is no there and Matthew may have been making a play of on words. That said, Nazareth and the Messiah. When he's going to come is coming from a mere shoots from the stump of Jesse is another Scripture that says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel in this holy one to one deeply despised apart by the nation, the servant of rulers. Isaiah 47 verse 49 verse seven and then Isaiah 52 verses two and three. He grew up before him as prophecy regarding the coming Messiah like a young plants. Unlike other fruits out of dry ground. He had no former Majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him. He was the spies. This is the Messiah. He was despised and rejected by man, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. So Jesus came as the despised servant growing up in the relative obscurity not understanding of the temple, not even in Bethlehem and some of the bigger cities but this rather northern say they not particularly culture, possibly look down on by others, and it is there that Lord Emmanuelle rose up. Can we say is not what God is like becomes to the lowly becomes to the poor, he who is the greatest becomes the lowest size ball for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he were rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

No one is higher. No one goes Lord in our Lord Jesus Christ is called a Nazarene. In these verses. Fascinating. I find them so praise God for the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies regarding Messiah and thankful that Matthew uses Old Testament of court is writing under the inspiration of the holy Scriptures we of the Holy Spirit. We know that, but I'm so thankful that Matthew quartz these Old Testament Scriptures to emphasize that God's promises and his prophecies will always be fulfilled. Notice I would great sovereign God always accomplishes his purposes. God, not man, is in control of all human history. I think sometimes as followers of Jesus Christ. We forget that our emotions go up and down depending on who is the president what the United States does what Iran does or any other country does in the yes we are to be interested and we should be concerned and take an interest in our world, but we know this, that at the center of the universe is not the United Nations is now the president of the United States is not trying, or put in what is our Lord Jesus Christ, and he is working all things to the counsel of his will. If you believe that is an omen.

If you do, don't oppose God. You still have no proposed drug winter. Peter said that God gives grace to the humble. But God is opposed to the product you you private part of your achievements.

You run your own life. You do know one thing you want say that way but in actuality they were nearly forward to 20/20.

You want to be in control. You not like anyone telling you what to do. Be very very careful. Don't oppose God, you will fail God's faithfulness and preservation artwork centuries ahead of us. These Old Testament Scriptures were written centuries ago and now they reach the perfect fulfillments in this lowly boy young man from Nazareth despised, despised and rejected by men, and the forces of darkness, and Satan are utterly opposed to God's righteousness, his kingdom, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are still evil habits sales slaughtering innocent babies still in the womb. Followers of Jesus throughout the world are still opposed, ridiculed, despised the job says there's 40 chapter 42 verse two.

I know that you can do all things and know, and that no purpose of years can be thwarted during that God can do all things, no purpose of God's can be thwarted. Don't oppose the God don't stand up against God.

Don't think that you know better be humble, lowly follow the humble Christ who says come to me for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul if you want to live a life of rest and to know that piece which passes all understanding quietly submit to the purposes of God in your life. Great God works all things, as Paul according to the Council of his will love the Savior worship him, obey him instantly and humbly and you will see God at work in your life. God's purposes are always accomplished some of your anxious about 20/20 and you anticipate some challenge some difficulty some heart ship heartache so you're not looking forward to going back to work because you don't like what may be true summary of but because you got a difficult situation perhaps difficult boss difficult colleagues. Some of you would send regarding some personal problems and family situation. Some something in your in your ministry. Today's message of hope gives you comfort and hope God will preserve your God will guide you. God's purposes will be accomplished in your keep your trust in the Lord, the just shall live by faith. Daily you do this as God for wisdom as God for strength as God, for protection as God for guidance. When you have that difficult situation. As you may then difficult person at work when you get together with a family member or the other person that rubs you the wrong way or you can quote as God humbly to help you obey King Jesus as many of you know traditional for the monarch of the United Kingdom to give a Christmas they broadcast her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II gave a broadcast on Christmas day as the monarchs have done for many many years. On Christmas day 1939, Great Britain was a war. London was being bombed. Hitler and the Third Reich seemed unstoppable in the monarch at that time was our present Queen father, George VI and he finished his broadcast on Christmas day 1939 by courting appoint the words of many Louise Haskins the gate of the year and here it is.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year.

Give me a life that I may trade safely into the unknown and he replied go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, that shall be to you better than light and safer than unknown way I was.

If you like me you like to know was going to go ahead you like to take that step of faith you want to know what lies ahead you in 2020, how things will work out going to say no. I want you to live by faith in this reset target may appear to be dark, but in fact are stepping into the light. If you're in the hands of Christ who gives us eternal life, we shall never perish, and no one shall snatch her side of the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The father's arm as you go into 2020 as I go into 20/20 none of us know what you hear will bring, but with her hand in the hand of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

There is nothing to fear. The God who preserved his son is the same God who preserves his sons and daughters who had been redeemed by his precious blood. He will watch over us. He will care for us, he will guide us and all of the forces of darkness, however strong they are against us. They will not overwhelm us. So we strong and courageous, not general, and strength within the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and one of the places perhaps the preeminent place where faith is strengthened is right here at the Lord's table as we are reminded once again of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

You just buy one. As we prepare our hearts to receive communion. Our father and the God we thank you for your God, who preserves God who goes ahead of us.

God who guides us a God who always accomplishes your purposes, help us not to question them to keep on hands in your hands. Thank you for your tenderness. Thank you for your patience with us and forgiveness. There may be some here don't yet know Christ who don't have this confidence that you are with them but have never experienced Emmanuelle God with us may be drawn to the Savior. Maybe come to the cross and though their sins forgiven and help was not humbly to take this bread than the scope strengthen our faith. Father, help us to be strong and courageous in the board.

In Christ name we pray