THRONES OF BLOOD
Matthew 2:1-23
Matthew chapter 2 starts with the account of the magi going to Israel to inquire about the birth of a king, the Jewish Messiah. Herod heard of this visit and asked for them to come to him to tell him too.
Now the one thing you should know about Herod is the fact that he was a paranoid sociopath. He literally had his sons killed when his paranoia led him to believe there was a plot against him to take his throne. It was said of Herod that “It's better to be a pig in Herod's house than a son.”
A book that I found most helpful in understanding this man and this period is called “Thrones of Blood” it is a modern translation and interpretation of the works of Flavius Josephus, a historian of the early first century. It is here you will be able to delve into the mind of King Herod. I cannot recommend it enough.
Back to the story, the magi are there seeking the Christ to be born. As stated before, the book of Daniel pinpoints the year of the Messiah's birth, so they came to worship Him and found most of Israel thoroughly unconcerned with the birth of the Messiah.
Herod couldn't tolerate another King near him so he wanted to know where this King was so he could kill him. This is a man who killed his own children to keep his power, there was no atrocity that was beyond him.
Take note that when the magi asked, there was no hesitation on the part of the learned Jewish scribes. When asked where the Messiah was to be born the leaders quoted their prophet, Micah. In our bibles, the specific reference is Micah 5:2.
Matthew is already referring back to messianic passages and predictions in scripture and we're barely 2 chapters into his gospel. Daniel gives us the time, Micah gives us the town.
When he told the magi to return and inform him when they found the Messiah because he wanted to worship the Messiah too did you get that “ick” feeling? I did. I'm pretty sure they didn't need to be told Herod didn't really want to worship the new Jewish king, but after finding him, an angel warned them to return to their nation by a different route. Joseph also received a warning from an angel that same night. A warning to pack up and leave immediately for fear of Herod. So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt. There they were safe from Herod’s wrath.
Verse 15 makes it clear that this was done to fulfill yet another messianic prophecy found in Hosea, chapter 11 and verse 1 in our bibles, where it says, “Out of Egypt I called My son”
When Herod learns he was tricked, he sends men to the area to murder every two year old boy born in the area under two. This is a parallel to the Egyptian pharaoh killing the firstborn males of the Hebrew slaves when Moses was born.
And in his doing so Matthew lists yet another Hebrew messianic reference to Jesus being the Messiah. Here he quotes Jeremiah 31:15 about Rachel weeping for her children for they have been killed. It's after this that Joseph is told by an angel that Herod has died.
So Joseph returns to Judea avoiding the main area where Herod's son Archelaeus is ruling. Seriously you need to read “Thrones of Blood” by Flavius Josephus to understand this. And they settle in Nazareth where Matthew again uses the Torah to prove the identity of Jesus by quoting Isaiah 53:3 about the Messiah being called a Nazarene. A typical jew of this time period would have been very familiar with these prophecies as being in reference to the Messiah. Join me for this journey through Matthew to learn of your Jewish messiah.
Matthew 2:1-23
[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, [2] “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. [5] They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: [6] ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” [7] Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” [9] After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. [13] Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” [14] So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. [15] He stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” [16] Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. [17] Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: [18] “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.” [19] But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, [20] “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” [21] So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, [23] and came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 2:1-23
Matthew chapter 2 starts with the account of the magi going to Israel to inquire about the birth of a king, the Jewish Messiah. Herod heard of this visit and asked for them to come to him to tell him too.
Now the one thing you should know about Herod is the fact that he was a paranoid sociopath. He literally had his sons killed when his paranoia led him to believe there was a plot against him to take his throne. It was said of Herod that “It's better to be a pig in Herod's house than a son.”
A book that I found most helpful in understanding this man and this period is called “Thrones of Blood” it is a modern translation and interpretation of the works of Flavius Josephus, a historian of the early first century. It is here you will be able to delve into the mind of King Herod. I cannot recommend it enough.
Back to the story, the magi are there seeking the Christ to be born. As stated before, the book of Daniel pinpoints the year of the Messiah's birth, so they came to worship Him and found most of Israel thoroughly unconcerned with the birth of the Messiah.
Herod couldn't tolerate another King near him so he wanted to know where this King was so he could kill him. This is a man who killed his own children to keep his power, there was no atrocity that was beyond him.
Take note that when the magi asked, there was no hesitation on the part of the learned Jewish scribes. When asked where the Messiah was to be born the leaders quoted their prophet, Micah. In our bibles, the specific reference is Micah 5:2.
Matthew is already referring back to messianic passages and predictions in scripture and we're barely 2 chapters into his gospel. Daniel gives us the time, Micah gives us the town.
When he told the magi to return and inform him when they found the Messiah because he wanted to worship the Messiah too did you get that “ick” feeling? I did. I'm pretty sure they didn't need to be told Herod didn't really want to worship the new Jewish king, but after finding him, an angel warned them to return to their nation by a different route. Joseph also received a warning from an angel that same night. A warning to pack up and leave immediately for fear of Herod. So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt. There they were safe from Herod’s wrath.
Verse 15 makes it clear that this was done to fulfill yet another messianic prophecy found in Hosea, chapter 11 and verse 1 in our bibles, where it says, “Out of Egypt I called My son”
When Herod learns he was tricked, he sends men to the area to murder every two year old boy born in the area under two. This is a parallel to the Egyptian pharaoh killing the firstborn males of the Hebrew slaves when Moses was born.
And in his doing so Matthew lists yet another Hebrew messianic reference to Jesus being the Messiah. Here he quotes Jeremiah 31:15 about Rachel weeping for her children for they have been killed. It's after this that Joseph is told by an angel that Herod has died.
So Joseph returns to Judea avoiding the main area where Herod's son Archelaeus is ruling. Seriously you need to read “Thrones of Blood” by Flavius Josephus to understand this. And they settle in Nazareth where Matthew again uses the Torah to prove the identity of Jesus by quoting Isaiah 53:3 about the Messiah being called a Nazarene. A typical jew of this time period would have been very familiar with these prophecies as being in reference to the Messiah. Join me for this journey through Matthew to learn of your Jewish messiah.
Matthew 2:1-23
[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, [2] “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. [5] They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: [6] ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” [7] Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” [9] After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. [13] Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” [14] So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. [15] He stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” [16] Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. [17] Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: [18] “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.” [19] But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, [20] “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” [21] So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, [23] and came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
THRONES OF BLOOD
Matthew 2:1-23
Matthew chapter 2 starts with the account of the magi going to Israel to inquire about the birth of a king, the Jewish Messiah. Herod heard of this visit and asked for them to come to him to tell him too.
Now the one thing you should know about Herod is the fact that he was a paranoid sociopath. He literally had his sons killed when his paranoia led him to believe there was a plot against him to take his throne. It was said of Herod that “It's better to be a pig in Herod's house than a son.”
A book that I found most helpful in understanding this man and this period is called “Thrones of Blood” it is a modern translation and interpretation of the works of Flavius Josephus, a historian of the early first century. It is here you will be able to delve into the mind of King Herod. I cannot recommend it enough.
Back to the story, the magi are there seeking the Christ to be born. As stated before, the book of Daniel pinpoints the year of the Messiah's birth, so they came to worship Him and found most of Israel thoroughly unconcerned with the birth of the Messiah.
Herod couldn't tolerate another King near him so he wanted to know where this King was so he could kill him. This is a man who killed his own children to keep his power, there was no atrocity that was beyond him.
Take note that when the magi asked, there was no hesitation on the part of the learned Jewish scribes. When asked where the Messiah was to be born the leaders quoted their prophet, Micah. In our bibles, the specific reference is Micah 5:2.
Matthew is already referring back to messianic passages and predictions in scripture and we're barely 2 chapters into his gospel. Daniel gives us the time, Micah gives us the town.
When he told the magi to return and inform him when they found the Messiah because he wanted to worship the Messiah too did you get that “ick” feeling? I did. I'm pretty sure they didn't need to be told Herod didn't really want to worship the new Jewish king, but after finding him, an angel warned them to return to their nation by a different route. Joseph also received a warning from an angel that same night. A warning to pack up and leave immediately for fear of Herod. So Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt. There they were safe from Herod’s wrath.
Verse 15 makes it clear that this was done to fulfill yet another messianic prophecy found in Hosea, chapter 11 and verse 1 in our bibles, where it says, “Out of Egypt I called My son”
When Herod learns he was tricked, he sends men to the area to murder every two year old boy born in the area under two. This is a parallel to the Egyptian pharaoh killing the firstborn males of the Hebrew slaves when Moses was born.
And in his doing so Matthew lists yet another Hebrew messianic reference to Jesus being the Messiah. Here he quotes Jeremiah 31:15 about Rachel weeping for her children for they have been killed. It's after this that Joseph is told by an angel that Herod has died.
So Joseph returns to Judea avoiding the main area where Herod's son Archelaeus is ruling. Seriously you need to read “Thrones of Blood” by Flavius Josephus to understand this. And they settle in Nazareth where Matthew again uses the Torah to prove the identity of Jesus by quoting Isaiah 53:3 about the Messiah being called a Nazarene. A typical jew of this time period would have been very familiar with these prophecies as being in reference to the Messiah. Join me for this journey through Matthew to learn of your Jewish messiah.
Matthew 2:1-23
[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, [2] “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. [4] And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. [5] They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: [6] ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” [7] Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. [8] And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” [9] After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. [10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. [11] And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. [13] Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” [14] So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. [15] He stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” [16] Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. [17] Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: [18] “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.” [19] But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, [20] “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” [21] So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. [22] But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, [23] and came and settled in a city called Nazareth. This happened so that what was spoken through the prophets would be fulfilled: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
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