The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
January 2
Matthew 2:13 - 3:6
Commentary by Nick Boork
January 2
Matthew 2:13 - 3:6
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Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” 19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Scripture we see the hand of God on Joseph and Mary guiding and speaking to them intervening and protecting His Son, Jesus Christ. God spoke to Joseph in dreams He sent angels to speak to him guided by God. How can we apply this to our lives today? God is faithful to give us guidance. He knows how to communicate to us and lead us in his path. Jesus Christ was fulfilling several prophetic utterances: He was called out of Egypt and there was a prophecy of the massacre that would happen in Ramah. That's what happened when Herod ordered all the male children 2 years old and younger to be killed because he did not want any kind of competition from any other king. God made sure Jesus survived the attacks of the devil that came against Him. God's hand is with you to my friend. He will protect you and me against the attacks of the evil one. God is our source, protection, rock and our strength.
In chapter 3 we see John the Baptist came on the scene. John was sent by God and it was prophetically declared about his ministry that he would be as a voice crying in the wilderness. What was his message? Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight. What does that mean? It means he was calling people to repent and get their lives in order to receive the Messiah, the promised one of Israel that would be the Savior of the world. The influence of his preaching was great because the Bible says that multitudes of people went out to him and listened to his message and repented of their sins. They were baptized in the Jordan River and became a people prepared for the Lord. That's what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about, getting people ready to meet the Lord.
That's what we need today in our churches and in the body of Christ. We need evangelists that can prepare people through the preaching of the gospel to meet the Lord and to serve the Lord. You know, one day we are all going to stand before God. The message we need to here on earth is repent. We need to heed that message and really turn from our sins. Jesus said enter in at the narrow gate because wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many go that way of destruction because He said straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there be that find. Be one of those that find it! How do you find it? Through repentance turning to the Lord with all your heart saying I just want to do your will. God will make sure that he puts his hand on your life and guide you when your heart attitude is set on him to straighten out the crooked ways in your life and just please God. That's what repentance really is, it's turning away from sin when the light comes in living to please God.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) God knows how to communicate to us and guide our lives just like he guided Mary and Joseph.
2) Just like the devil tried to destroy Jesus the evil one will try to destroy every child of God but God is our protector and will deliver us from evil one!
3) John the Baptist was a radical preacher but God used him mightily to prepare a people ready to meet and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes God raises up preachers to shake the church out of complacency bring spiritual revival.
4) Repentance means turning from sin to God and living in new life that pleases God.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” 19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” 21 Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
In this portion of Scripture we see the hand of God on Joseph and Mary guiding and speaking to them intervening and protecting His Son, Jesus Christ. God spoke to Joseph in dreams He sent angels to speak to him guided by God. How can we apply this to our lives today? God is faithful to give us guidance. He knows how to communicate to us and lead us in his path. Jesus Christ was fulfilling several prophetic utterances: He was called out of Egypt and there was a prophecy of the massacre that would happen in Ramah. That's what happened when Herod ordered all the male children 2 years old and younger to be killed because he did not want any kind of competition from any other king. God made sure Jesus survived the attacks of the devil that came against Him. God's hand is with you to my friend. He will protect you and me against the attacks of the evil one. God is our source, protection, rock and our strength.
In chapter 3 we see John the Baptist came on the scene. John was sent by God and it was prophetically declared about his ministry that he would be as a voice crying in the wilderness. What was his message? Prepare the way of the Lord make his paths straight. What does that mean? It means he was calling people to repent and get their lives in order to receive the Messiah, the promised one of Israel that would be the Savior of the world. The influence of his preaching was great because the Bible says that multitudes of people went out to him and listened to his message and repented of their sins. They were baptized in the Jordan River and became a people prepared for the Lord. That's what the ministry of John the Baptist was all about, getting people ready to meet the Lord.
That's what we need today in our churches and in the body of Christ. We need evangelists that can prepare people through the preaching of the gospel to meet the Lord and to serve the Lord. You know, one day we are all going to stand before God. The message we need to here on earth is repent. We need to heed that message and really turn from our sins. Jesus said enter in at the narrow gate because wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many go that way of destruction because He said straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there be that find. Be one of those that find it! How do you find it? Through repentance turning to the Lord with all your heart saying I just want to do your will. God will make sure that he puts his hand on your life and guide you when your heart attitude is set on him to straighten out the crooked ways in your life and just please God. That's what repentance really is, it's turning away from sin when the light comes in living to please God.
WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) God knows how to communicate to us and guide our lives just like he guided Mary and Joseph.
2) Just like the devil tried to destroy Jesus the evil one will try to destroy every child of God but God is our protector and will deliver us from evil one!
3) John the Baptist was a radical preacher but God used him mightily to prepare a people ready to meet and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes God raises up preachers to shake the church out of complacency bring spiritual revival.
4) Repentance means turning from sin to God and living in new life that pleases God.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll