Category: CHURCH

LUKE 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

WHY Shepherds?   
     It may also be worth noting that many biblical figures were shepherds, among them the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, the twelve tribes, the prophet Moses, King David, and the Old Testament prophet Amos, who was a shepherd in the rugged area around Tekoa.

Who were the Shepherds? 
     Shepherds had a difficult job that earned no rank in society. Some believe they were priests, actually fulfilling Temple duties, and the only ones who could perform Temple duties were priests.

How Many?
    There had to be at least 2, possibly 4 or 5, but the scripture does not say. But how many could have crowded into the place where the manger was to see the new born child?

What were they doing?
  A shepherd’s primary responsibility is the safety and welfare of the flock. The shepherd will graze the animals, herding them to areas of good forage, and keeping a watchful eye out for dangerous animals.

They were Jews and probably knew of the promises of a coming Messiah (Christ the Lord).
They were given a sign (Jews looked for a sign). Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
They Obeyed God (Thru the Angel’s Message) and headed for the city Luke 2:15.

It would appear that they arrived in a short order as Joseph & Mary were still in the Manager. Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

They made this knowledge known abroad. Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

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LUKE 2:9-10 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

What is the name of the angel that appeared to the shepherds?
    Only two angels are named in the Bible: Michael and Gabriel –
(See Angels, Angel Appearances, Michel the Angel, Gabriel the Angel).

Michael is named 5 times in Scripture.
Gabriel is named 4 times in the Bible.

This Angel, who appeared to the shepherds, was probably one of these two.

The multitude
Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Who were the multitude of heavenly host?  Why not just say a lot of angels?
   Primarily the angels are meant, but the name gathers into itself the idea of all divine or heavenly power as available for the need of God’s people.
    Another thought: The heavenly host is a group or army with heavenly power to assist God’s people. The main purpose of heavenly hosts is to strengthen and comfort believers.

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When did the shepherds leave? 
    Luke 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Joseph & Mary have left the Manger and moved into a house.  Eight days after, Mary was now clean (Leviticus 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

A trip to Jerusalem LUKE 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; ) (Leviticus 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

While in Jerusalem at the Temple; The visit of Simeon Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. Read 2:26-35

Anna the prophetess Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; Read 2:37-39

They returned home to Bethlehem probably the same day.

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Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Who was Herod?
He was also known as Herod the Great, was a Roman client king of Judea, referred to as the Herodian kingdom. The emperor Augustus gave Herod the title King of the Jews and his connections with Rome, He would have been deeply offended by the Magi who were (Matthew 2:2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? …

Was Herod a Jew?
Herod was born in southern Palestine. His father, Antipater, was an Edomite (a Semitic people, identified by some scholars as Arab, who converted to Judaism in the 2nd century BCE). Antipater was a man of great influence and wealth who increased both by marrying the daughter of a noble from Petra (in southwestern Jordan), at that time the capital of the rising Arab Nabataean kingdom. Thus, Herod was of Arab origin, although he was a practicing Jew.

Why did Herod kill Baby boys 2 years and under?
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
After consulting with his chief priests and scribes, he determined the child might be as old as two years and living in or around Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

No outsider was going to overthrow Him as King of the Jews.

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Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Who were the wise men?  
     Probably Jews who knew the Scripture and were looking for the Messiah.  Many say they were gentiles because they were astrologers (Couldn’t Jews be astrologers?).  They felt compelled by God and when they saw a new star in the sky to go to Jerusalem and bring gifts to the son of God who was to be born, King of the Jews.

What are Magi?
    The word Magi comes from the greek word ‘magos’ (where the english word ‘magic’ comes from). Magos itself comes from the old persian word ‘Magupati’. This was the title given to priests in a sect of the ancient Persian religions such as Zoroastrianism. Today we’d called them astrologers.

Where did they come from?
     In the ancient Middle Eastern world Magi were trusted advisors to kings, were learned men proficient in the knowledge of mathematical calculations, astronomy, medicine, astrology, alchemy, dream interpretation and history as well as practitioners of magic and paranormal arts. 
Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

How did they travel?
    The Magi travelled in a large group with many camels and horses moving in a caravan. The camels are usually capable of adjusting with the toughest kind of journeys in the desert.

How long did they stay in Jerusalem?
    Until they had met and consulted with the King and then again when the Star reappeared.
Itwould appear the star had disappeared from view for a short time, perhaps by an overcast sky. But once Bethlehem was affirmed as the place the King of the Jews was to be born, the star reappeared over Bethlehem leading them there.
Matthew 2:9-10 When they had 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.

How did they get to Bethlehem?
   They “followed” the star (Bethlehem was only 5 miles from Jerusalem) The star did not move.

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Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Would Gentiles be seeking the KING OF THE JEWS? Maybe the King of Israel.
     Only Jews would have been looking for a sign, looking for the King of the Jews.

What few Bible readers realize is that the claim to be “King of the Jews” was a highly charged political act of sedition or lese-majesty, considered a capital crime by Roman Law.

How did they know what the sign was?
     The Wise Men/Magi were educated and notable men who studied the stars and apparently knew the prophecies (of Scripture) as well. It is thought to have been Daniel the Prophet who first introduced the Magi to the Holy Scriptures of the God of Israel. And, it’s believed that throughout the centuries these wise men studied the Hebrew Scriptures; and therefore, understood the timing of the Messiah’s birth and the sign that would lead them to the place where He would be born.  

Why did they go to Jerusalem? Didn’t they follow the star?
    The Star was over Jerusalem and where else would one look for a King? In the capital city.
   The Star apparently disappeared (perhaps by an overcast sky) when they reached Jerusalem. But later reappeared and the wise men headed form Bethlehem.

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Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Probably not a star. As the well-known story in the Gospel of Matthew goes, wise men, followed the Star of Bethlehem to Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. And after consulting with King Herod of Judea, the men followed the star and found newborn baby Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem

Men have navigated by the stars for centuries.
The star was probably a NOVA, it shines very bright and then fades over a few months. 

Did the star move?
    No, Bethlehem being about 5 miles from Jerusalem, they probably just assumed the King of the Jews would be born in Jerusalem. But now Bethlehem was verified as where they should go.

How did they know this was a sign of the birth of the King of the Jews
    Through their studies of Scripture, the Stars and other writings and perhaps worship and prayer. The Jewish nation is composed of twelve ancient tribes. Jewish prophecy states that a particular tribe will bring forth the Messiah: the tribe of Judah. The symbol of Judah’s tribe is the lion. You can see these connections in an ancient prediction of Messiah’s coming found in the first book of the Bible.

Would Gentiles worship a Jew?
     The only crown the Gentiles gave to Christ was a crown of thorns.

Matthew 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Genesis 49:9-10 You are a lion’s cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness– who dares to rouse him? The sceptre will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.

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Matthew 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Why didn’t the wise men go to straight to Bethlehem?
    They assumed the King of the Jews would be born in Jerusalem.

When did Joseph and Mary move to the House?
    Joseph and Mary moved there after leaving the Manger.

How long did they live in the house?
    Joseph and Mary lived in the house almost 2 years

Who owned the house?
    Probably a relative of Joseph’s, he was born in Bethlehem.

How did the wise men know which house?
   Probably by asking questions, remember the Shepherds made this knowledge known abroad.
Luke 2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

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Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense dand myrrh.

Gold, of course is money.
Frankincense was a perfume and spiritual incense, burned in temples throughout the East.
Myrrh is an expensive spice, used for making perfume, incense, medicine, and for anointing the dead.

Frankincense and Myrrh could easily be sold for money.

Why did they bring gifts?
   These are common gifts to present to Royalty, and were probably used to help Joseph and Mary escape for King Herod.

When did The Magi leave?
     After they had worshipped and presented their gifts.

MATTHEW 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

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Joseph, warned by God in a dream.
(Remember Joseph Believed in and Obeyed God).
Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

To escape Herod, Joseph began a series of moves, (which were fulfilment of Scripture). Led by dreams from God, the first move was to the country of Egypt.
Matthew 2:14-15 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 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.

This fulfilled Scripture; Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

They appearently stayed in Egypt for a short while, until again directed by God.

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