If your Bibles again turn to the portion of Scripture we've just read together, Matthew's Gospel and the chapter number 2. We're looking at this new short mini-series really, looking at those things that must be fulfilled as Matthew reveals them to us in the Word. Three of them directly hear the word fulfilled, use verse number 15. And it was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled, which spoke unto the Lord by the prophet saying out of Egypt, have I called my son. And then later on down. In the word, you've got the words in verse number 17, So three references there to those things being fulfilled. And of course, also verse number five and six, And they said unto him in Bethlehem, Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet and by Bethlehem. Again, reference, of course, the birthplace of the Savior. Three times the word fulfilled is used. And then the fourth one is a reference to the prophet being fulfilled, Micah chapter five there in Matthew two, verses five and six. With God's word before us, let's again still our hearts together in the Lord's presence and pray for his help as we come to study the word again this evening. Eternal God and Father, we do thank you again for a time, at the close of this Lord's Day, a time to reflect again upon truth. Thank you that Christ himself says, my word is truth. And so we remember, oh God, that the Old Testament scriptures, they are true. And the prophecies are true. and they indeed do come to pass. Thank you that Christ fulfills every type and shadow and prophetic word in the Old Testament scriptures, that He is the one and only Savior of sinners. Help us, O God, to grow in our faith tonight, that we would not, O God, trust this sweetest frame, but rather wholly lean on Jesus' name. And so encourage us tonight, as we consider the word, give help to preach her and to hear her, May this be a season where you're pleased to bless. We ask in Jesus' name, amen. I'm going to ask you a question that we posed last Lors the evening and that is why should we as a Gentile congregation study the fulfillment of Hebrew prophecies? Undoubtedly Matthew has intentioned to teach Jewish hearers and readers the truth regarding Christ Jesus. That Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Christ their Messiah and he's going to use his Old Testament scriptures to really encourage them to put their trust and confidence in Jesus, who is indeed the Christ. But that's the benefit to a Jew. But surely, we as Gentiles, we receive the similar benefit. Whilst the Old Testament Scriptures may not have come to us, if you like, they were to the Jewish people, yet we read them, we study them, we understand them to be historical documents, and we value their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. It strengthens our faith. And perhaps for some, it may encourage them to believe the gospel. I've certainly heard testaments, I'm sure you have also, of people who did not believe the gospel, but when they came to see that Christ fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament scriptures, they recognized this could not have happened by chance. That one individual in human history would come in a point in time and his life would fulfill dozens and dozens of prophecies, surely God is in it. He'll have come to faith in God, and more than that, come to faith in Christ Jesus. So may that be so for some even, perhaps in their own gatherings in coming days. But it's also for the child of God, a reminder of the sovereignty of God. Again, all of these things and their fulfillment can only be true If there's a God in heaven who has planned and purposed all of redemption. That none of these things happen accidentally or coincidentally. They're all occurring by the plan and purpose of God. And the God of heaven is of such power. That no man, no angel, no devil can thwart the purpose of God. That nothing can act like a branch or a twig in the wheel, if you like, to stop the engine of redemption going forward. Nothing can prevent God doing His good and perfect will. We see the sovereignty of our God here. A God who's involved in this world, who's not distant and far off, but a God who is right beside. His purpose and His will. Entering into human history. Doing all things for His glory. A God who is faithful and reliable. What He says He will do. Every promise of His word is true and certain. God is reliable in His word and therefore the future prophecies regarding Christ's return are also true. and will certainly come to pass. And so there is great benefit, I believe, in studying these scriptures. They'll speak of things being fulfilled. And again, I mentioned we've read them already. There are three here in Matthew chapter two, in addition to the quote from Micah chapter five in the early part of the chapter. The whole chapter points us in the direction of Jesus as the King. We see that the wise men, in verse number two, are to say to them, where is he that is born King of the Jews? This theme of Jesus, the King, is forefront in Matthew's gospel. Again, Banner of Truth, some years ago, brought out a commentary from Charles Hutton Spurgeon on the Gospel of Matthew. I commend it for your study. Very, very edifying. And every single section, Spurgeon has a title regarding Christ as the King. He sees the theme of kingship running through the entire gospel and points out very brilliantly. Here it is clearly in chapter 2, whereas he is born king of the Jews, even the prophetic scripture in verse number 6, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. We're in the realm of the kingship of Christ Jesus here. We've sang those hymns for that purpose. Herod, of course, as the Jewish king, verse number 3 is troubled. I'm the only king in this place, thinks Herod, and if a king is born, surely the king would only be born, a future king would only be born in a palace, my palace, not somewhere else. So he's troubled and burdened, and he goes to the chief priest and gathers him around. He's jealous of a new king in Jerusalem. Now what I want to do tonight, I want to walk through this passage together, but really I've got a goal. And so if you have your bulletins there, unless you have your bulletin there, you'll see at the close of the bulletin, there are like three concluding doctrines. I want to try to bring you along in the study of the word tonight to get to that conclusion. Because I think that conclusion ties together the entire chapter. It is a language given to us by God that speaks of the coming King. A king that comes to fulfill the covenant to save mankind, thereby entering into the conflict with the devil, and thus suffering. Suffering to fulfill the covenant of God and save us from our sins. And so I think we'll get there eventually. Let's just take our time one by one. Let's begin by looking at this section in terms of the promise of the King. I'm going to take the words here in verse number four, or five and six initially. The promise of a coming King. Again, the background, the wise men. Again, there's various, I've said this before, but we sometimes wonder, did the wise men hear about the coming King from Daniel? They're from that area. And they've heard perhaps Daniel speaking of a coming king and his prophecies. And they're looking, expecting the king to come. They are again burdened for this. And they see a sign. Something they understand to be significant. And they want to find this king. Where is he that is born king of the Jews? You know the story very, very well. Well, Herod consults the religious men and demands of them where Christ should be born. And note there, verse four. Christ there is not a name for Jesus. It's a term for Messiah. Where will Messiah be born? What does the scripture say? Verse 5. They had knowledge here. It always amazes me how much knowledge unbelievers can have. These are the folks who are again going to really pass on their knowledge to future generations. The scribes and the pharisees and the chief priests who 30 years later are going to reject Jesus as the Messiah. But they have knowledge of the Word of God. They understand these things to be true and it's very possible for people to have great knowledge of the Word of God and yet not put their faith in Christ Jesus. Well, Bethlehem is mentioned, verse number five. They said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet. They had no difficulty believing the concept that God's word had to be fulfilled. They understand these things. Again, sometimes we despise, again, the religious leaders of that day and generation that they were so removed from all knowledge, but they had grasp of biblical principles. They knew Messiah was coming. and the expected scriptures to be fulfilled in his coming, including him being born in Bethlehem of Judea. So they say that in Bethlehem, verse number five, of course, significant. The word speaks of the house of bread. Christ is the bread of life. The only one that can sustain us, satisfy us and maintain our life in the presence of God. He is the bread that gives life. but especially it is the city of David. Again, Luke makes that point. Luke chapter two, again, on two occasions refers to, and again, Bethlehem is the city of David. Turn across in Luke chapter two, verse four and verse seven, and you'll see it there. Luke 2 verse 4, And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. And verse number 7 also. Actually not verse number 7. Oh yeah, verse 11. For unto is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And so there you have again, this repeating of the theme that Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem, the city of David. So here, Matthew is pointing us in the direction of truth. This King that comes is no ordinary King. It's the King that's going to fulfill the promises made to David. That of David, From his lineage would come a king that will sit on the throne forever and forever. That's how Matthew begins his gospel. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David. This is so important. I want you to turn back to a couple of portions of the Old Testament scriptures. Isaiah chapter 11 to begin with. Isaiah 11. I want to turn you here because we've actually been looking at this verse several times as it's quoted by Paul in Romans chapter 15. As I say, 11 verse number 1. It speaks of, again, the whole section speaks of the trouble of Judah in their captivity. And then verse 11, or 11 verse 1 says, And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots, and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. Again, these are predictions regarding Christ's coming. And he's from the roots of Jesse. Again, verse number 10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse. It's like the tree of Judah, the tree of Israel is damaged, but out of that will come forth Christ. And it says there, which will stand for an end sign to the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek and his rest shall be glorious. Messiah. coming from the seed of David. And you see it also in Ezekiel chapter 34. So these portions of scripture that point of the restoration of Israel after captivity, they're reminding the people in their captivity that God will indeed bless the people and bring forth Messiah. Ezekiel 34. And the verse number 23, And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them. Even my servant David, he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David, a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken it. This is the covenant of peace. Verse 25, I will make with him a covenant of peace fulfilled by Christ's blood. These are essential truths. Christ is indeed the son of David and he is the son of God. Again turn to Micah chapter 5 where again we have that prediction of Bethlehem being the place. Micah chapter 5 in the verse number 2 it says And here's the additional section not quoted by Matthew. whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Here the Messiah, a truth that was not fully understood by the Jewish leaders. Remember that? What do they struggle with? This aspect of Micah. They don't fundamentally struggle with the idea of a King being born in Bethlehem of the line of David. But when Jesus says he is divine, he is the I am, what do they do? They bend down, they pick up stones, and they go to kill him. But the scriptures tell us that Jesus is indeed the one who is from of old, from everlasting. The son of David is the son of God and the Christ of God. So we see this, therefore, predicting that Christ will rule. Again, back to our portion in Matthew chapter two, we can see, for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel. Immediately in the gospel, the announcement of Jesus' birth is an announcement of one as a king. Before he goes to school, before he reaches adulthood, He's pointed out as a king. He is a king born. So again, we have to remind ourselves once more that Jesus as the king is the one who rules and reigns over us, but not as a malicious tyrant, but as a loving Lord who provides for us and protects us. It is safe to be a subject of this king. to put ourselves under his care, to live according to his will. It is not safe to live under a tyrant who demands you obey those things that are harmful for you. The devil would have you do his will, and his will will destroy you. Christ will have you do his will, and his will will save you, protect you, and bless you. Christ comes as a king. the promise of the king. But secondly, we should note the preservation of this king. Again, just working our way through the story, we know what happens. The wise men are warned of God regarding the malice of Herod. And they're warned as to what Herod wants to do to this child. And so Joseph himself is also warned. There's a warning there, verse 12. But Joseph also was warned in a dream, verse number 13. And when they departed, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph. It's like to say, to Joseph also in a dream, saying, arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt. And be thou there until I bring the word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. So God's intervention in human history. with visions and dreams to the kings, and also then to Joseph, preserves the child Jesus escaping the wrath of Herod. And in so doing, there are two separate prophecies that are fulfilled. Verse 16, that it might be fulfilled. And verse 17, then was fulfilled. We're gonna look at these both separately. Verse 15, Now that's a quotation from Hosea chapter 11 verse number 1. We've been reading Hosea in our Sunday morning services. A portion that speaks of God's love for his people. despite their unfaithfulness. Hosea's love for Gomorrah, despite her whoredoms and yet the love of God that he has for them. And so Hosea in 11 will refer to God's love for his people as he kept them and preserved them in Egypt. Out of Egypt have I called my son. And Hosea is referring to God's love and preservation of his people, Israel. And you look at this and go, what's Matthew thinking? How does Hosea 11 verse one point forward to the babe Jesus being in Egypt, preserved in Egypt and taken out of Egypt? You see sometimes in these fulfillment we learn more about how to understand Old Testament scriptures. What Matthew sees here is that Christ is identified with his people. He sees that Christ is indeed the ultimate Israel of God. He is the ultimate Prince of God, the ultimate Son of God. He fulfills all the Old Testament types and shadows. This is really important regarding our thoughts of modern Israel. See, Christ himself is the ultimate Israel of God. And all of God's covenant promises to Israel, they come to pass in Jesus Christ. Thus, he as the Israel of God is the one who is the head of all who trust in him. So those who are in Christ, they are the true Israel of God, spiritually, not physically. You can go back to the stories of Numbers 11 regarding God's purpose for Israel and that he hasn't done with that nation ethnically. But scripturally, theologically, Israel are all those in Christ who is the first and foremost Israel of God. The identification of Christ with his people. But what you see here, more importantly, is that as the babe is endangered by Herod, God providentially fulfills the pattern of Israel going to Egypt under Joseph and being preserved there. And then taken out of there as a redeemed people entering into covenant with God. And then there are those obligations that are given to Israel in the old covenant. And what we see here is that Christ is going to fulfill all of those. He obeys every single type, shadow, and command of the Old Testament scriptures. Matthew's gonna bring that up again later on, or Christ is in Matthew chapter five, that Christ will fulfill every single jot and tittle of the law of God. Verse number 18 of chapter five. So what you're seeing here is that when God brought Israel out of Egypt under Moses, he placed them under covenant. And when God brings his son out of Egypt, his son is also under the obligation to obey the covenant, to live a life of perfect obedience, and to die a death of sacrifice, substitutionary sacrifice. Those are the things that were spoken of in the Old Testament scriptures. Obedience to the law, sacrifice for sin, Christ is the one who's going to fulfill all of these things as the ultimate Israel of God. Israel field. Christ succeeds. Israel break the covenant. Christ keeps the covenant. As one who has been preserved in Egypt at this time. That's part of the fulfillment here. There's also a second one. And that's the reference to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31 verse number 15. In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning. What's happening? Well, Herod, of course, you've got verse number 16. Herod's angry at the wise men, and he sends forth and slews all the children in Bethlehem, two years old and under, according to the timing of the wise men. What's he trying to do? He's not trying to kill all the children. He just wants one child, just one. It's very, very clear. Verse 20, for they are dead which sought the young child's life. No other way but to kill all the children. Tragic, dreadful circumstance. Jeremiah 31 is referring to the sorrow of mothers in Judah regarding the exile. Their children are lost as soldiers in battle. Or children taken and slain by the Babylonians. Or others taken captive and they're weeping. You as mothers can feel the crying out in pain at the loss of a child. That's what's happening here. The voice of weeping. So what's the connection here? What's the parallel here? You'll see in verse 18 there's no prediction here, there's no future prophecy, it's a description. But Matthew sees it as a parallel. He sees the people of God under oppression. He sees the people of God in conflict with the enemies of God. It's a conflict picture here. In Jeremiah, Judah in conflict with Babylon. Now here we find Christ in conflict. If you turn across quickly to Revelation chapter 12, you'll see this. Again, this is the picture that we're given in the vision of Revelation of the woman. The woman refers to Israel. She brought forth a man-child, verse number five, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Again, what we're seeing, out of Bethlehem will come a governor who shall rule his people. Verse number five, she brought forth a man-child who was to rule. And her child was cut up unto God and to his throne. What happens before that? Clearly, verse five, is friend of Christ Jesus. Verse number four, the dragon stood before the woman which is ready to be delivered for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Herod is acting here as an agent of the devil, seeking to devour the child the moment the child is born. Of course, Herod and the work of the devil does not cease at that point. There are other times in Christ's life where his life is threatened and endangered, But we're seeing here in Matthew the king that comes. See the lines here. The king is coming to rule and to reign. He's coming to keep covenant in order to save his people. But the one who comes to save his people is stepping into a theater of conflict. He will save his people only by destroying the one who seeks to destroy him. Christ will crush the serpent's head. Matthew sees this. He sees the conflict picture here and reckons that Jesus' life was indeed endangered, not by Herod ultimately, but by the devil. Christ had to live that life of perfect obedience to the law. He had to keep the covenant perfectly. He could not die at the hand of Herod. That death would not have secured atonement. He had to die under the curse of the law on a Roman cross. He had to be hanged from a tree, not killed a babe. The king, Jesus, at his earliest time was involved in this conflict and praise God the devil did not triumph. Never will. Christ is indeed the conquering King. We see thirdly, the despising of this King. We know in the New Testament themes that Christ is the King. He was exalted in the path of obedience. He obeys the law. Wherefore God is highly exalted in Philippians chapter two. And so the path of the King was exaltation following humiliation. And this entire chapter speaks of the humiliation of Christ, an unknown birth, a humble birth, a troubled start. are now being raised in a place that is despised. Verse 23, And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which is spoken by the prophets, he shall be called a Nazarene. Now you will note what's said here, verse 23, that it might be fulfilled which is spoken by the prophets, plural, he shall be called a Nazarene. There is no clear text that is being quoted here. It seems to be the case that Matthew understands the Old Testament scriptures and is drawing out the sense of the prophetic word. Not a particular text, but a theme contained in the Messianic prophecies. Now, what is that theme? Well, there are a few ideas. There are some who say that it's a prediction that Christ would be a Nazarite, but he wasn't. And so we can dismiss that one very quickly. The other one is really, there's a couple of other possibilities. There are those who draw a connection here between the word Nazarene and the Hebrew word Nezer for branch, as in Isaiah 11 verse one. a branch from the root of Jesse. It would certainly fit very well with the context of Matthew 2, the son of David being born in Bethlehem as a Nazarene coming from that branch, perhaps. But perhaps more likely, it is the fact that Nazarene was used as a derogatory slang term. John 1, 46, can any good thing be from Nazareth, come out of Nazareth? Is there anything good in Nazareth? It's used in that derogatory sense. And I think in that way we see fulfilling the types, the shadows and the promises of the scriptures that the Messiah was despised and rejected of men. It's like Matthew is setting the scene here. Just think about his gospel. He opens up Jesus, the son of David. Matthew 2, born in Bethlehem. Wise men coming from the east, having seen a star, all of this circumstance. The babe in the manger is a king. But the next 27 chapters are going to see a king despised, tempted of the devil, rejected of men. A king that is misjudged in Matthew 12 as working according to Beelzebub. A king that after his death is said to be a deceiver by those who sought to hush up his death and resurrection. He's despised at every point of the journey. The entire crowd are said, what has he done? It doesn't matter, crucify him anyway. How is he a king? How can he be a king in Matthew 2 and hang upon a tree at the end of the gospel? Only if we understand the nature of his kingly rule. He will be a king, not by human oppression, not by gathering an army. In John chapter 6, they want to make him king by force and he goes alone. He's a different sort of king. He's a king that is humble and lowly. He's a king who rules and reigns not by oppression, but by mercy. And he draws people into his care for his love that he shows towards them. He's a king who understands that if he is to reign, he must suffer. If he is to rule, he must die. If he is to be exalted, he must be humiliated. He is despised and rejected of men, and Matthew is saying, in what's going to follow, understand, he shall be called a Nazarene. He's going to be despised of men. He's going to come unto his own, and his own are not going to receive him. This is our King. See, even today, we have those who will not accept Christ as King. They read the gospel record, the gospel narrative, and they cannot see the glory of the Savior. They see one who is weak in their minds. One who does not seem in their minds to have any sway over nations. What sort of king is this? 11 disciples at the end of his ministry. That's all he's got. A few women gathering as well. There's no power, no strength, no majesty in this army of this king. This king is worthless. A waste of time in their minds. And they do not see that he is despised on the pathway to glory. And now our Savior reigns over the nations. He rules and reigns over the hearts of a multitude of his subjects who gladly say and cry out publicly, Jesus is my King. And across the nation of this world, there's a vast company that no man can number. that when Christ's return, we'll bow their knee before Jesus. And on that day, there'll be no doubts and no questions. On that day, he's not despised, he's glorified. And a company of the redeemed will say, behold, the Lamb of God. And they'll fall and worship this King. Oh, he was despised in Matthew's gospel, but he also rises from the dead. And you see the nart of developing. He ascends to the right hand of God as the ruling, conquering king, the son of David. Do you see how it all comes together? He's the king that is coming. He's the king that's coming to fulfill the covenant God made with Israel. He's gonna fulfill that perfectly and save mankind. But in so doing, he enters conflict with the evil one. And he suffers and dies. that he may rule and reign. What will you do with Jesus tonight? It's always the question. Matthew is telling you tonight, Jesus of Nazareth, that historical figure, was predicted in Old Testament scriptures, he fulfills them perfectly hundreds of years later, and he demands your obedience. He demands your submission. He demands your trust. He demands your affection. You can't be neutral. You're either with him or against him. You're either for him or rebelling against him. What will you do with Jesus? Please, consider him afresh tonight. Take him as your Lord and Savior, a wonderful, gracious King. Let's close together in prayer this evening. Eternal God and Father, we humbly come and we realize that there are some things in these verses that we find it hard to enter into fully, to understand them properly. But grant us the grace, O God, to see how the Old Testament scriptures point forward to Jesus Christ. And then have the confidence to say publicly, He is my God and my King and my Savior. Oh, we pray for the gift of faith tonight. We pray for the strengthening of faith. We pray, O God, that we'd believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Encourage each of us this evening. Thank you again for your word, for time spent in your house today. Lead us and guide us, bless us this week. Keep your hand upon us, bless time spent with family. Oh, Lord God, we pray for those whose hearts are heavy, who struggle this week. Bless them, we pray. Grant us all your grace and may your blessing indeed rest and abide upon us as we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.