In Egypt Till the Death of Herod Matthew 2:15

Matthew shared what happened when the “wise men”, “ heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt”, and in chapter two and verse fifteen of his book, Matthew how Joseph stayed in Egypt “until the death of Herod” where we read:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

The verse reads, “And was there until the death of Herod:” Matthew began with the words, “and was there” which means “Joseph was in the land of Egypt” “until the death” or “till the decease and end of the life” “of Herod” or “belonging to the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles. Herod the Great was the son of Antipater of Idumaea. Appointed king of Judaea B.C. 40 by the Roman Senate at the suggestion of Antony and with the consent of Octavian, and he at length overcame the great opposition which the country made to him and took possession of the kingdom B.C. 37”. Matthew shared how Joseph and his family stayed in Egypt until “Herod” died.

The verse goes on to say, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.” Matthew added the words, “that it might be fulfilled” which means “so that it would complete, render full, consummate, accomplish and carry out” “which was spoken” or “that ordered, uttered, proclaimed and declared” “of the Lord” which means “through he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah” “by the prophet” or “by way of the one who was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “Out of Egypt” which refers to “away from the country occupying the northeast angle of Africa and means double straits” “have I called” or “has God invited and bid forth” “my son” which means “God's offspring and descendant”. Matthew shared how scripture was once again “fulfilled” when God's Son Jesus was “called out” of “Egypt”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how he employs yet another prophesy concerning Jesus. Hosea the prophet wrote, “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1), and God insured that which was written came to pass. God desired redemption and “salvation” for mankind, and He provided specific prophesies including how His Son Jesus would spend in Egypt to prove it. Those who believe these things shall yield their lives to Him and find complete fulfillment not only in God's intentions, but also in His determination to validate that which He has declared.

Next time Matthew shares how “Herod” reacted “when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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