Matthew 2 Summary in 5 Minutes

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MATTHEW 2 SUMMARY IN 5 MINUTES

• WHEN:

  • The birth of Jesus probably occurred around 4 B.C..

  • From Luke 3:23, we know Jesus began His ministry when He was about 30 years old.

  • This would place the events of Jesus’ ministry roughly between 26-31 A.D..

• CHARACTERS:

  • Wise Men - Men of the east who followed a star which led them to Jesus.

  • Herod the Great - The wicked king of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth.

  • Mary - Jesus’ mother.

  • Joseph - Jesus’ adopted earthly father.

  • Jesus - A baby born to Mary when she was still a virgin, His birth was miraculous

    and it was prophesied He would “save His people from their sins.”

• WHERE:

  • Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

  • Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt shortly after Jesus’ birth.

  • When the family returned from Egypt, they made their home in Nazareth.

• OUTLINE:

  • THE WISE MEN VISIT JESUS (2:1-2:12):

    • Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Herod the Great.

    • After his birth, some wise men from the east came looking for Him.

    • They stopped in Jerusalem and asked Herod where they could find the “king of the Jews”.

    • Herod directed them to Bethlehem and told them to bring him word if they found the child.

    • The wise men found Jesus in a house, worshipped Him, and gave Him gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh).

    • God warned the wise men in a dream not to return to king Herod.

  • JOSEPH, MARY, AND JESUS ESCAPE TO EGYPT (2:13-2:18):

    • When Herod found out the wise men weren’t coming back, he was enraged.

    • God warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.

    • In an effort to destroy Jesus, Herod commanded all the male children 2 years old and younger, in the region of Bethlehem, be killed.

    • Joseph, Mary, and Jesus escaped in time and lived in Egypt till Herod died.

  • JOSEPH, MARY, AND JESUS RETURN TO NAZARETH (2:19-2:23):

    • An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him of Herod’s death.

    • Joseph was told to take his family back to the land of Israel.

    • But Herod’s son, Archelaus, was ruling over Judea, so God guided Joseph back to Galilee, to the town of Nazareth.

    • According to Matthew 2:23, there was a prophecy that foretold the Messiah (Jesus) would be a Nazarene.

• BIG PICTURE:

  • We will talk a lot about the “Kingdom of Heaven” in Matthew’s writing.

  • A simple way to think about the Kingdom of Heaven is God’s reign over all things.

  • In Daniel 2:44 there is a prophecy about how God would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed and it would outlast other kingdoms.

  • Jesus came as the “Christ” (the anointed one), the King of God’s Kingdom.

  • Herod was just the first of many kings who Jesus would outlast.

• APPLICATION:

  • People have been trying to destroy Jesus, His message, and His disciples for generations.

  • But God’s will will never be thwarted by men.

  • God’s intentions will always be accomplished.

  • Even men who are considered very powerful by earthly standards are powerless to stop the King of Kings.