Jesus, the humble King—Matthew 2:13-23 | RIOT Podcast Ep 111 | Christian Discipleship Podcast

Jesus, the humble King—Matthew 2:13-23 is the topic that will be discussed today on the RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast.

In our last two episodes, we uncovered two facts related to Jesus’s qualifications as a King. The first qualification we discussed was that Matthew was proving that Jesus’s genealogy from both Joseph and Mary gave Him the right to David’s throne. But He knew that would not be enough because there were other men who could claim that as well.

We then discussed Jesus' divine ancestry and how it alone distinguishes him from any other living human being. From there, we talked about the Magi paying Jesus homage and how that also proves His kingship.

Today we want to read Matthew 2:13-18 and uncover the hostility that came against Jesus and then finish up with Matthew 2:19-23 and talk about the humility of a King

Read Matthew 2:13-18

Matthew knew that a person is identified not only by his friends but also by his enemies. Herod pretended to worship the newborn King when, in reality, he intended to destroy him.

Herod’s anger was evidence of his pride; he could not permit anyone to get the best of him. This led Herod to kill the baby boys, who were two years of age and under, who were still in Bethlehem.

What we see in these verses is that Matthew is introducing us to the theme of hostility, which he focused on throughout his book. Satan is a liar and a murderer, as was King Herod.

The first mention of Bethlehem in Scripture is in connection with the death of Jacob's favorite wife, Rachel (Gen 35:16–20). Rachel died giving birth to a son, whom she named Benoni (son of my sorrow). Jacob then renamed his son, Benjamin (son of my right hand). Both of these names relate to Jesus, for He was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,” Isa 53:3, and He is now the son of God at God's right hand, Acts 5:31. With all of this said, Jacob put up a pillar to mark Rachel's grave near Bethlehem.

Jacob saw Bethlehem as a place of death, but the birth of Jesus made it a place of life! Because of His coming, there would be spiritual deliverance for Israel, and in the future, the establishment of David’s throne and kingdom. Israel, the son of my sorrow, would one day become the son of my right hand.

Very few people today think of Bethlehem as a burial place; they think of it as the birthplace of Jesus. Bethlehem is a much bigger story than most people realize. And because Jesus died for us and rose again, we have a bright future before us. Without the new life in Bethlehem, we cannot have our new life, which leads to eternal life.

Let’s now read Luke 2:19–23 and talk about the humility of the King.

Herod died in 4 BC, which means that Jesus was born sometime between 6 and 5 BC. It is impossible not to notice the parallel between Matthew 2:20 and Exodus 4:19, the call of Moses. “The LORD said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead”

Archelaus, one of Herod's sons, is mentioned in Verse 22; Herod had willed the title of king to him. However, the Jews discovered that, in spite of his promises of kindness, Archelaus was as wicked as his father. So, history shows that they sent a delegation to Rome to protest his kingship. Augustus Caesar agreed with the Jews and appointed Archelaus to govern half of his father's kingdom.

But even this fulfilled prophecy! Once again, Matthew points out that every detail in the life of Jesus was foretold in the Scriptures. It is important to note that Matthew did not refer to only one prophet in Matthew 2:23 but instead says that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets (plural)

We will not find any specific prophecy that calls Jesus a Nazarene. The term "Nazarene" was one of reproach. John 1:46 says, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” In many Old Testament prophecies, the Messiah's lowly life of rejection is mentioned, and this may be what Matthew had in mind.

Who has ever heard of a king born in a humble village and growing up in a despised city like Nazareth? No one. He is different and entered this world this way to show us how we also ought to live.

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