BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

GIFTS AND WORSHIP

From Matthew 2:1-12

During the reign of King Herod the Great, wise men came from the east to ask about a new-born king. They did not know yet that this was Yeshua, who had been born in Bethlehem of Judea. [Where is this child who is to become King of the Jews?] they asked. [Far to the east we have seen His star and have come here to worship Him.] When King Herod heard this, he was very upset that a new king might take his kingdom from him. The people of Jerusalem were upset, too, for they knew that Herod would do anything to destroy this new king. Herod was anxious to know more about this new king, so he called the Jewish religious leaders into a meeting. Then he talked with them about the Moshiach, YHVH’s Son, and where He was to be born. [The prophet Micah said that the Moshiach would be born in Bethlehem,] they told Herod. [Here is what he wrote: You are not as unimportant as some think, Bethlehem, for you will produce a great ruler to govern our people, Israel.] Herod secretly brought the wise men to him and asked them when the star appeared. Then he told them what he had learned from the religious leaders, that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the Child they wanted to find. [Search for the Child in Bethlehem,] Herod told them. [When you find Him, come back and tell me where He is, so that I, too, may go there and worship Him.] The wise men left Herod and headed toward Bethlehem. What a joyful time it was when the star appeared again and pointed the way to the Child. When the wise men went into the house where Mary and the Child were, they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they gave Him precious gifts they had brought with them -- gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Before they left, YHVH warned them about Herod in a dream. Therefore, they returned home without going back through Jerusalem.

A HIDING PLACE IN EGYPT

From Matthew 2:13-15

When the wise men had gone, an angel of YHVH visited Joseph in a dream. [You must get up now, this very night, and leave for Egypt with the Child and His mother,] the angel said. [Stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod is searching for the Child to murder Him.] Joseph left that night for Egypt with Yeshua and Mary. There they remained until King Herod the Great died. This fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy, [Out of Egypt I have called my Son.]

TEARS FOR RACHEL’S CHILDREN

From Matthew 2:16-18

When the wise men did not return to him, Herod grew furious. In a fit of anger, he ordered his soldiers to murder every baby boy in Bethlehem and its surrounding country. This order included every boy up to the age of two, a decision based on the time that had passed since the wise men first saw the star. The murder of the children fulfilled what Jeremiah the prophet had written: [Cries and tears rise up from Ramah. Rachel weeps for her children, but there is no comfort, for the children are gone.]

HOME FROM EGYPT

From Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:40

After Herod the Great died, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. [You may now take the Child and His mother back to Israel,] the angel said, [for the one who wanted to kill Him is dead.] Joseph took Mary and Yeshua back home to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Herod’s oldest son, Archelaus, now ruled over Judea, he was concerned that there still might be danger. Then Joseph was warned in a dream not to go to Judea, so he took his family back home to Nazareth in Galilee. This fulfilled a prophecy, [He shall be called a Nazarene.] As time passed, the Child Yeshua grew in every way, becoming stronger, wiser, and pleasing YHVH in all that He did.

COMMENTARY

TRAVELS OF THE BOY YESHUA

When Yeshua was still a very young child, His family had to escape from their own country to protect Him from Herod’s jealous hate. They probably left at night and took the road that would get them the most quickly out of the king’s reach. The ancient route was called the Via Mans. The name meant [The Way of the Sea.] It went along the coastline all the way down to the borders of Egypt. There were several places along the way where Yeshua’ family might have stayed. The first major stop was Ashkelon. The city did not belong to Herod, but he had much influence there. Afraid of his spies, Mary and Joseph did not dare stay long. Twelve miles farther south was Gaza. A flourishing and busy trade city, it might have offered them a place to hide. But it was Herod’s city, full of his soldiers, and Yeshua’ family hurried through. Only after they had crossed the Brook of Egypt did they feel safe from Herod’s grasp. Their first stop in Egypt was probably at the city of Pelusium. Called the [stronghold of Egypt,] it was famous for its military strength. But even though they might have been safe there, the family chose to move on. They travelled to a quiet place just outside of Cairo where there was a large grove of balsam trees. In that town, called Matareyeh, is the place where Yeshua and his family are traditionally believed to have stayed until Herod’s death made it safe for them to return to Nazareth.

"Death and life are in the hand of the tongue"

Pr 18

"Death and life are in the hand of the tongue"

Pr 18

Thought for Today: Monday October 13

When we purchase something of great value – a house, for example – we are usually required to put down a deposit to indicate our sincerity and to promise that our intentions are serious… YHVH has made some incredible Promises to us – Promises that stagger our imaginations. He has promised that we might have a relationship with Him through His Son. He has Promised never to leave us or to forsake us and to be with us always. He promised us to be in Heaven when we die… Not only is Yeshua Moshiach a sufficient “down payment” on YHVH’s Promises, He is in fact, payment in full!

Happy are those who are humble, for YHVH will share His home with them.

Happy are those who express their sorrow, for YHVH will bring His comfort to them.

Happy are those who do not demand much, for YHVH will give them the world.

Happy are those who desire to please Him, for YHVH will give them a satisfied heart.

Happy are those who show mercy to others, for YHVH will reward them with His own.

Happy are those whose hearts are pure, for YHVH will be their friend.

Happy are those who lead others to peace, for YHVH will claim them as His own children.

Happy are those who are treated wrongfully because they do what YHVH desires, for YHVH will give them heaven for their reward.

Happy are you when others insult you and persecute you and say evil against you because you are Mine.

Be glad! Be very glad! For YHVH will reward you greatly in heaven, for even the prophets were treated this way.

BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

BIRTH OF A KING

From Matthew 1:18-25

This is the story of Yeshua’ birth. While Mary was engaged to Joseph, and while she was still a virgin, Ruach HaKodesh became the father of her Child. When Joseph discovered that Mary was going to have a baby, he felt it proper to break their engagement. But he was a good man and did not want to bring this matter before the public for Mary’s sake. As he thought about these things, Joseph dreamed that an angel was visiting him. [You must not be afraid to become Mary’s husband,] the angel said to Joseph. [The Child in her has come from Ruach HaKodesh. She will give birth to a Son, and you will call Him Yeshua, which means Saviour, for He will save His people from their sins.] All of this happened to fulfil what Adonai said through Isaiah the prophet: [A virgin will expect a child and will give birth to a son, and he will be named Emmanuel, which means, ‘YHVH with us’.] When Joseph awoke, he did what the angel told him to do. Mary became his wife, but she remained a virgin until the Child was born. Obedient to the angel, Joseph named the Child Yeshua.

CRADLED IN A MANGER

From Luke 2:1-7

About that time, the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus gave orders for a tax census to be taken throughout his empire. This census was begun while Quirinius was governor of Syria. The emperor’s order required each person to register at his ancestral city. Since Joseph was descended from King David, he left his home in Nazareth in Galilee, and returned with Mary to Bethlehem in Judea, the childhood home of David. While they were there, it came time for Mary’s Child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby and wrapped Him in bands of cloth. Since there had been no room in the inn, she cradled Him in a manger.

THE NIGHT THE ANGELS SANG

From Luke 2:8-20

On that same night when the Child was born, shepherds watched their sheep on a nearby hillside. In a moment, an angel of YHVH appeared to them, and with it came the brightness of YHVH’s glory, illuminating everything about them. Great fear came upon the shepherds. Then the angel spoke to them: [Do not be afraid. I have Good News that will bring you great joy. Tonight, a Child was born in Bethlehem, the city of David. He is the Saviour, the Son of YHVH. This is the way you will know who He is. You will find a baby wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger.] Suddenly, the heavens were filled with angels and with their voices filled with praise: [Glory to YHVH in the highest heaven; Peace on earth to men who please Him.]

When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds urged one another, [Come! Let us go to Bethlehem and see this wonderful thing which Adonai has revealed to us.] They hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. When they had seen the Child, they told everyone they met about Him. Those who heard were astonished. But Mary kept these things as her own precious secret, turning them over and over again in her heart.

A NAME AMONG MANY NAMES

From Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:21

After eight days, the time came for the Child to be circumcised. At that time, He was Named Yeshua, as the angel had instructed Joseph long before the Child was born.

AN OLD MAN AND A BABY

From Luke 2:22-38

At the end of forty days, it was time for Mary to make her purification offering at the temple, as required by the Law of Moses. Joseph and Mary brought the Child Yeshua to Jerusalem, to present Him to Adonai. The Law said that if a woman’s first child was a boy, he should be dedicated to Adonai. The offering that Joseph and Mary brought was a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, the offering required of a poor family. While Yeshua’ family was in the temple, an old man of Jerusalem named Simeon was there, too. Simeon was a good man who devoted himself to YHVH. He was filled with Ruach HaKodesh and looked eagerly for the Son of YHVH to come. Ruach HaKodesh had shown Simeon that he would not die until he saw YHVH’s Son. So, under the direction of Ruach HaKodesh, Simeon had come to the temple that day. When he saw Mary and Joseph come in, he took the Child Yeshua into his arms and offered his praise to YHVH: [Adonai, I am ready now to die in peace, for I have seen the One You have Promised. I have seen the Saviour whom You have sent, the Light of the World, the Glory of Israel.]

Joseph and Mary were filled with a sense of awe at the things Simeon said. Then Simeon talked with Mary. [Among our own people of Israel,] Simeon said, [He will bring forth many different responses. Some will rise to the heights of joy because of Him. Others will reject Him and thus bring about their own downfall. You will see your Child become a symbol of rejection, and you will be deeply hurt. Your Child will not leave men neutral, but will cause them to bring forth their deepest feelings for or against Him.] In the temple that day there was also a prophetess named Anna, a descendant of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman now, for she had been a widow for eighty-four years, and previously had been married seven years. Anna lived there at the temple day and night, praying and fasting and worshiping YHVH. While Simeon talked with Joseph and Mary, Anna came up to them. She began thanking YHVH and telling everyone she could that the Son of YHVH had come at last.

COMMENTARY

THE EMPEROR AND THE SHEPHERDS

Gaius Octavianus Caesar Augustus, the Caesar Augustus mentioned in the Bible, was only nineteen when he began to rule the greatest empire of the world at that time. He defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony, unified the Roman Empire, placed himself over all military forces, and became the first emperor of the Roman Empire. But Caesar Augustus is best remembered for a rather unimportant census which he ordered, which might have been forgotten had it not brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for a night the world will never forget, a night when Yeshua was born. On that same night, some shepherds guarded temple sheep on a lonely hillside near Bethlehem. They, too, would have been forgotten had not angels appeared to them. The emperor and the shepherds, worlds apart in their power and authority, never met. But they are world famous today because they had a part in the birth of Yeshua.