Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Arise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt

 13  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  14  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt,  15  and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”  19  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,  The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

 13  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

 14  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 

15  and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”

 19  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 

20  “ Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”  21  And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.  22  But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.  23  And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” The Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

20  “ Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 

21  And he rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 

22  But when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 

23  And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

DREAMS This was the second dream or vision that Joseph received from God. Joseph’s first dream revealed that Mary’s child would be the Messiah (1:20, 21). This his second dream told him how to protect the child’s life. Although Joseph was not Jesus’ natural or biological father, he was Jesus’ legal father and was responsible for his safety and well-being. Going to Egypt was not unusual because there were colonies of Jews in several major Egyptian cities.

This was the second dream or vision that Joseph received from God.

Joseph’s first dream revealed that Mary’s child would be the Messiah (1:20, 21).

This his second dream told him how to protect the child’s life. Although Joseph was not Jesus’ natural or biological father, he was Jesus’ legal father and was responsible for his safety and well-being.

Going to Egypt was not unusual because there were colonies of Jews in several major Egyptian cities.

Parallels These colonies had developed during the time of the great captivity (see Jeremiah 43–44). One of the recurring themes of Matthew’s Gospel is to draw parallels between, Abraham, the founder of the Hebrew people, Moses savior of the Hebrew people from the clutches of the Egyptian Pharaoh, King David and Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed. Matthew wrote his Gospel to the Jewish converts and to those Jews who were thinking about conversion but were still unsure. By making these connections Matthew firmly placed Jesus in the history of Israel and shows the completion of God’s Old Testament promises.

These colonies had developed during the time of the great captivity (see Jeremiah 43–44).

One of the recurring themes of Matthew’s Gospel is to draw parallels between, Abraham, the founder of the Hebrew people, Moses savior of the Hebrew people from the clutches of the Egyptian Pharaoh, King David and Jesus, the Messiah, the anointed.

Matthew wrote his Gospel to the Jewish converts and to those Jews who were thinking about conversion but were still unsure.

By making these connections Matthew firmly placed Jesus in the history of Israel and shows the completion of God’s Old Testament promises.

To the Jewish convert or potential convert these connections show the natural outgrowth of Christianity from Judaism that forms a bond with all Jews. Here are just two interesting parallels between Jesus’ flight to Egypt and Israel’s history. As an infant nation, Israel went to Egypt, years later the infant Jesus did the same. God led Israel out of Egypt - Hosea 11:1  When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. God told Joseph when to lead Jesus back Mt. 2: 20  “ Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel

To the Jewish convert or potential convert these connections show the natural outgrowth of Christianity from Judaism that forms a bond with all Jews.

Here are just two interesting parallels between Jesus’ flight to Egypt and Israel’s history.

As an infant nation, Israel went to Egypt, years later the infant Jesus did the same.

God led Israel out of Egypt - Hosea 11:1  When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

God told Joseph when to lead Jesus back Mt. 2: 20  “ Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel

Another interesting parallel is that Moses was born at a time when male children were also being killed to please the ruler (Exodus 1:15-16). Jesus was also born at a time when the leader, Herod killed all male children under the age of two (Mt. 2:16-17). And both Moses and Jesus remained in exile until those who sought their life were dead (see Matthew 2:20 ; Exodus 4:19 ). Another reason for making these connections is to show how God has been working in the lives of the people since the beginning of time and how his plan has become a reality.

Another interesting parallel is that Moses was born at a time when male children were also being killed to please the ruler (Exodus 1:15-16).

Jesus was also born at a time when the leader, Herod killed all male children under the age of two (Mt. 2:16-17).

And both Moses and Jesus remained in exile until those who sought their life were dead (see Matthew 2:20 ; Exodus 4:19 ).

Another reason for making these connections is to show how God has been working in the lives of the people since the beginning of time and how his plan has become a reality.

FREE high resolution PowerPoint of this and other presentations visit www.SaintPaulMinistries.net