Studying the Book of Matthew, Chapter 2
Verses 1-18
During my study this morning, I am left with some questions. I see there are these Magi (i.e. wise men) who somehow all managed to join each other before reaching Jerusalem by following this "star" in the sky.
What I don't understand is that if these men are wise and they knew about the coming of Jesus, then why did they not know Jesus would be born in Bethlehem? The first question from the Magi to King Herod is: where is He (Jesus)? King Herod asks his council of chief priests and his priests find the answer in the Book of one of the minor prophets (Micah). If these priests, who were not expecting the birth of Jesus Christ, where able to figure out where Jesus would be born, then why didn't the Magi? Why did the Magi, who expected Christ to be born, have to ask the king of Jerusalem?
I guess that even the Magi were shocked that the king and priests of Jerusalem were not seeking out the birth of Jesus Christ. I don't know. But, this story is mysterious especially since these wise men came from there own countries in the East to find Jesus while the priests (who are supposed to be wise as well) who lived nearby where Jesus would be born didn't even seem to care enough to find Jesus. I'm also making an educated guess that the Magi (from the East) heard of Jewish faith from the times when Jews were spread out (or scattered) among nations during the Babylonian rule (like in the Book of Esther).
Verses 9-23
A few days later, I'm studying the rest of chapter 2 after meditating on the previous verses. I see Joseph is always visited by an angel of the Lord through his dreams. I wonder if this is the same as in the Old Testament, yet the Old Testament doesn't state clearly if the angels visited the prophets in dreams or not. Perhaps they were "daydreams"? I don't know, but I think this is another good question to ask JC when I see him.
As for "those who were trying to take the child's life" in verse 20, I'm guessing this is including King Herod's buddies who were wishing this prophecy was false. I wonder if King Herod lived in great fear until he died since he didn't kill JC. Hmm, so many questions and this is only the beginning of the New Testament.
It's also interesting to read "the child and his mother" when the angel speaks to Joseph. Why didn't the angel say "your child and your wife"?
But here is one of the most debatable verses I've encountered throughout my study of the Bible. Considering the Book of Matthew is published in by the Canon (i.e. the team of scholars who put the Bible together of the individual scrolls or "books"), why did Matthew state this verse and which prophets is he referencing?
23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
I've done some research on the Internet and am very vexed on what this means. After all, if one verse in the Bible is wrong or found false, then the Truth (as sometimes the Bible is referred to) can be completely wrong or altogether found false. Here are some online references that I've read which gives insight, but no clear answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_2:23
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/matthew-mark/did-ot-prophesy-jesus-coming-nazareth
http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/12265/who-said-he-would-be-called-a-nazarene
What would also be great to know is if Matthew wrote his original book in Hebrew, instead of Greek as I've assumed considering it's grouped into the New Testament where most of the books are written in Greek? Here are some more references associated to my question (and others).
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/was-matthews-gospel-first-written-in-aramaic-or-hebrew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew
Yep, lots of questions, but no clear answers. A very mysterious beginning to the New Testament and the early life of JC.
Verses 9-23
A few days later, I'm studying the rest of chapter 2 after meditating on the previous verses. I see Joseph is always visited by an angel of the Lord through his dreams. I wonder if this is the same as in the Old Testament, yet the Old Testament doesn't state clearly if the angels visited the prophets in dreams or not. Perhaps they were "daydreams"? I don't know, but I think this is another good question to ask JC when I see him.
As for "those who were trying to take the child's life" in verse 20, I'm guessing this is including King Herod's buddies who were wishing this prophecy was false. I wonder if King Herod lived in great fear until he died since he didn't kill JC. Hmm, so many questions and this is only the beginning of the New Testament.
It's also interesting to read "the child and his mother" when the angel speaks to Joseph. Why didn't the angel say "your child and your wife"?
But here is one of the most debatable verses I've encountered throughout my study of the Bible. Considering the Book of Matthew is published in by the Canon (i.e. the team of scholars who put the Bible together of the individual scrolls or "books"), why did Matthew state this verse and which prophets is he referencing?
23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
I've done some research on the Internet and am very vexed on what this means. After all, if one verse in the Bible is wrong or found false, then the Truth (as sometimes the Bible is referred to) can be completely wrong or altogether found false. Here are some online references that I've read which gives insight, but no clear answer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_2:23
https://carm.org/bible-difficulties/matthew-mark/did-ot-prophesy-jesus-coming-nazareth
http://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/12265/who-said-he-would-be-called-a-nazarene
What would also be great to know is if Matthew wrote his original book in Hebrew, instead of Greek as I've assumed considering it's grouped into the New Testament where most of the books are written in Greek? Here are some more references associated to my question (and others).
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/was-matthews-gospel-first-written-in-aramaic-or-hebrew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew
Yep, lots of questions, but no clear answers. A very mysterious beginning to the New Testament and the early life of JC.
