Note for 20250522

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

According to Matthew

Part 119 - Mat 2 - God's Warnings

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The House of Bread · Note for 20250522 - The Gospel of Jesus Christ - Part 119 - Mat 2 - God's Warnings

Matthew 2:1-23 NASB2020

[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.”

https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.2.1-23.NASB2020

You know about the account of the witnesses of Jesus Christ about His birth, even of the account of the Shepherds and of the Angel Choirs of Heaven declaring the Glory of Jesus Christ our Saviour. I was expecting to speak on who the Magi (wisemen of the East) was, even to tie it back to those that learned in Babylon, studying the stars, but here is the verses that was brought to my attention:

Matthew 2:12-13 NASB2020

[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.”

https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.2.12-13.NASB2020

*Note: We are looking at the NASB version, I have found that the headings, inserted by men later also get copied when quoted. Please remember the headings are not part of the original scriptures. (So I removed it here for this quote)

GOD warns by Dreams of impending danger, but also later tells Joseph to bring his family back to Israel and once more to go to Galilee. This is actually, throughout the Bible, one of the ways in which GOD warns those He loves, or for the sake of those He loves. We even see GOD speak to King Nebuchadnezzar in a dream, and is it not because of a dream, that Joseph, the Son of Jacob, is brought out of the prison in Egypt? GOD often spoke by dreams and visions to people. Did the donkey on which Balaam sat not see the Angel in the way and refused to go forward? Paul saw Christ on the way to Damascus, while the others with him did not.

Dreams and Visions are two of the ways in which GOD speaks to mankind. Friends, you know well about the contents of this chapter, you have been exposed to it all of your lives around Christmas time. Don't you think it is important that we also look at how GOD communicates with man? Now, it is not the only way.

1 Kings 19:11-13 NASB2020

[11] So He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and powerful wind was tearing out the mountains and breaking the rocks in pieces before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. [12] And after the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire, a sound of a gentle blowing. [13] When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

https://bible.com/bible/2692/1ki.19.11-13.NASB2020

The Israelite determined the will of GOD by the Urim and Thummim, that was carried under the breastpiece of the High Priest (Leviticus 8:8) and we can learn more here:

Numbers 27:21 NASB2020

[21] Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his command they shall go out, and at his command they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, all the congregation.”

https://bible.com/bible/2692/num.27.21.NASB2020

Of course, for us as believers in Jesus Christ, we have a greater comforter in the Holy Spirit of GOD. For Christ prayed unto the Father to send us this Comforter once He ascended into Heaven to our Father in Heaven.

John 14:26 NASB2020

[26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.

https://bible.com/bible/2692/jhn.14.26.NASB2020

GOD gets involved in the lives of those that love and obey Him, He will even send messengers from both Heaven and Earth, we are not left without direction. And friends, for a while now I have been speaking about reading the Word of GOD for yourselves. We can not always determine whether the words of someone else comes from GOD, though we should try the spirits if they be of GOD (1 John 4:1,) but we can know when GOD speaks to us.

Do you know what I haven't read in the word of GOD? That someone had a feeling to do something or not. I have read of how GOD spoke to Abraham at the tent, before the destruction of Sodom, but I haven't read that someone had a feeling. I have read about the Necromancy of Saul, calling Samuel out after he has passed on and how the Holy Spirit departed from him because of that, but I haven't read that any of the men of GOD had a feeling. There are mentions of being pressed in the reigns, which are the parts near the kidneys, but not a feeling. So I am particularly weary when someone tells me they have a feeling. Though, some people communicate like that, instead of saying that GOD spoke to them, in fear of being considered crazy in our time.

What we can take as a comfort from the scripture we looked at today, is that if you trust in the Lord, he will let you know and even move others on your behalf.

We have guidance by the Holy Spirit and the Living Word of GOD (which is Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.) The question is, do you really want to hear GOD? I know it is a question best asked in secret. The Israelites were so afraid of GOD, that they said Moses can speak to GOD on their behalf. So, it is a question to consider, or even as Christ said, calculate the costs. (Luke 14:28-33) Do we qualify as those who can hear, then shouldn't we? One that wants to hear the Lord will go to His Word, not?

I can afford to speak on this to you, because of how I minister unto you. You hear me at your convenience, in a private place, time that you have set apart to hear about our Lord. Do not just hear about Him, hear Him. Pray to the Lord for your Pentecost moment, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That is a righteous request to make to God, not of all these things that we want, or even those things that GOD knows we need.

What is your expectation from the LORD? Is it for your will to be done, or His? The heart in something matters, friends. How will you be warned, if you cannot hear it?

Selah, Shalom.

The House of Bread

(NOTE: If You feel that you want more, please take note that this here is basically just the notes for the Audio version of the Note. There is much more in the Audio and Video Versions of the Daily Notes)

Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App

Matthew 25:31-33 NASB2020

[31] “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. [32] And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; [33] and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

https://bible.com/bible/2692/mat.25.31-33.NASB2020