The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment
The Flight to Egypt
The Slaughter of Children
Return to Nazareth
Be Wise and Be Warned
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment
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A clear example: Matthew 2:6 – Micah 5:2
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Matthew 2:6 (NASB)
‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF
JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’
Micah 5:2 (NASB)
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler
in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment
A clear example: Matthew 2:6 – Micah 5:2
 An unclear example: Matt. 1:23 – Isaiah 7:14
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Matthew 1:23 (NASB)
23 “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD
AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL
HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated
means, “GOD WITH US.”
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Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you
a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child
and bear a son, and she will call His
name Immanuel.
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Prophecy and Its Fulfillment
A clear example: Matthew 2:6 – Micah 5:2
 An unclear example: Matt. 1:23 – Isaiah 7:14
 Another type is the O. T. system of sacrifice as
argued in Hebrews that points to Jesus and
His atoning death.
 These general types of prophecy are very
important links from the Old to the New
Testament.
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The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Flight to Egypt
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Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 do not
necessarily need a futuristic fulfillment.
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Hosea 11:1 (NASB)
When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
Jeremiah 31:15 (NASB)
15 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.”
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Flight to Egypt
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Hosea 11:1 and Jeremiah 31:15 do not
necessarily need a futuristic fulfillment.
There is no mention of the slaughter in secular
texts. But it would not have been necessary.
Bethlehem was a town of only 300 to 1,000
people. The children killed would have probably
been no more than 15 to 20.
This would have just been another atrocity!
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Flight to Egypt
This action perfectly suited Herod’s reputation
 He murdered his favorite wife, Miriamne
 Strangled her two sons and another son,
Antipater
 Herod would not record this because it would
cast him in a bad light
 But, it would not have even ranked among
Herod’s greatest sins
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The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Flight to Egypt
Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1, knowing this is
about Israel!
 Matthew is looking at the big picture! Jesus is
the ultimate embodiment of Israel, the true
character and destiny of the people.
 Egypt is about the promise to save God’s
people.
 It is also about God’s faithfulness to them in
spite of their disobedience.
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The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Slaughter of Children
The age was determined by the timing of the
arrival of the Magi and the sighting of the star.
 Matthew is not concerned with the details of
this account but the account in Jer. 31:15-18.
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Jeremiah 31:1-18 (NASB)
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“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of
all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”
Thus says the LORD,
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when it went to find its rest.”
The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
Again you will take up your tambourines,
And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.
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“Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria;
The planters will plant And will enjoy them.
“For there will be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim call out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.’”
For thus says the LORD, “Sing aloud with gladness for
Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O LORD, save Your
people, The remnant of Israel.’
“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country,
And I will gather them from the remote parts of the
earth, Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and she who is in labor with
child, together; A great company, they will return here.
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“With weeping they will come,
And by supplication I will lead them;
I will make them walk by streams of waters,
On a straight path in which they will not stumble;
For I am a father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.”
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob
And redeemed him from the hand of him who was
stronger than he.
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“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion,
And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—
Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,
And over the young of the flock and the herd;
And their life will be like a watered garden,
And they will never languish again
“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their
sorrow.
“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,”
declares the LORD
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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.”
Thus says the LORD,
“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD,
“And they will return from the land of the enemy.
“There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD,
“And your children will return to their own territory.
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving,
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be
restored, For You are the LORD my God.’”
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
The Slaughter of Children
The age was determined by the timing of the
arrival of the Magi and the sighting of the star.
 Matthew is not concerned with the details of
this account but the account in Jer. 31:15-18.
 Matthew’s message is of hope, just like
Jeremiah’s message is of hope – a return of
God’s people from exile. The Messiah was
spared and would return to fulfill the promise.
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The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Return to Nazareth
Joseph again has a dream and is told not to
go back to Bethlehem but to Nazareth.
 Archelaus, the ruler of Judah, was just as
ruthless as his father.
 Joseph goes to Nazareth where the
tetrarch, Herod Antipas, ruled, a much
milder ruler.
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The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Return to Nazareth
Matthew now uses a difficult reference
that is general and not specific
 He uses the word prophets and not
prophet as before
 He also uses “that” instead of “said”
 Nazareth was a despised place – John 1:46
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John 1:46 (NASB)
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good
thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip
*said to him, “Come and see.”
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Return to Nazareth
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Matthew now uses a difficult reference
that is general and not specific
He uses the word prophets and not
prophet as before
He also uses “that” instead of “said”
Nazareth was a despised place – John 1:46
Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 22:6-8, 13, 17; Dan. 9:6
Isaiah 53:3 (NASB)
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He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Daniel 9:6 (NASB)
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Moreover, we have not listened to Your
servants the prophets, who spoke in Your
name to our kings, our princes, our fathers
and all the people of the land.
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Be Wise and Be Warned
So what have we learned?
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First – we see the sovereignty of God,
especially in the details of the birth and life
of Jesus.
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Second – we see the need to confess Jesus as
our King and Savior rather than oppose Him
as Herod did.
Psalm 2 (NASB)
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Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
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“I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your
inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and
you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
The Old Concealed, The New Revealed
Matthew 2:13-23
Application
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Have you taken refuge in Jesus?
The only refuge from the wrath of God
is found in His mercy, at the foot of the
cross.
Is Jesus reigning over you or is He ruling
over you?
Make Him ruler of your life!