The Gospel of the Kingdom - Matthew - The Escape Route of the Child Jesus - Part 2

 

TEXT: MATTHEW 2:16-18 – “Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’”

Yesterday we saw the reason that Joseph was told to take Jesus and Mary and to flee to Egypt – both in prophecy and in the command of the Angel. It all boils down to a man called Herod.

Needless to say, Herod was not a nice guy. Matthew here records the purge of Herod. In his anger and insecurity, he kills all the male children in Bethlehem in an attempt to eliminate Jesus.  The word used here can mean “children – girl or boy” the context and the culture make it male. The command was to “massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.” Again, we can see that Jesus was apparently 2 years old at this time when the family escaped to Egypt. Notice the phrase “in and around Bethlehem” – the Greek word covers all boundaries or coasts. This wasn’t a small massacre in the town of Bethlehem alone but included the outskirts of the town. 

Again, we are told that this was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah in verses 17 and 18. This Old Testament prophet predicted this Bethlehem massacre. If we turn to Jeremiah 31:15, the prophet said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.’”

Interesting that in the prophecy it refers to Ramah. Jeremiah said that she was figuratively weeping because of the loss of the people killed or taken in captivity. And since she was the mother of Benjamin, it would fit because those in Ramah were Benjamites. This area is located as north of Jerusalem and Bethlehem is south of Jerusalem. Therefore, Herod possibly slaughtered all the male children in a 20 to 25 mile radius around Bethlehem. How could he, you say? Remember, he was jealous, insecure, vicious, and cruel.

Tomorrow, we will conclude this chapter and account with the return from the trip. Today, ponder how much Satan hated that Jesus had come into the world to save mankind. Realize that Satan hates individuals and us, he is never our friend and he is never going to bring us good.