Matthew 2:1-12
- Who were the wise men? (Daniel 2:12 *”For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.”* , Acts 13:6 *”And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain {1} sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus; {1) Gr Magus ; as in Mt 2:1, 7, 16}”*
- How many were there? What does this mean to you?
- Why was Herod concerned? What was Herod like?
- Prophesy relative to the birth place of the Messiah Verse 5,6 and Micah 5:2
- What was the Wise Men’s reaction having seen the star?
- What was their reaction having seen the child?
- Why did the Wise Men take another path? Would you have done the same?
- Describe the nature and character of the Wise men – refer to verses here to be specific
Matthew 2:13-18
- What guided Joseph to leave Egypt?
- What was Joseph’s reaction to the message?
- Prophecy fulfilled – Hosea 11:1 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt”
- What was Herod’s reaction to the Wise Men’s actions? What do you think motivated him?
- What is our first feeling and then reaction when things don’t go the way you expect or plan?
- What do you think of Herod’s resolution to the Messiah problem?
- Why do you think that Herod didn’t do this first when he heard of the birth? Why did he wait until after the Wise Men didn’t return?
- Verse 15 compare with Jeremiah 31:15 “Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.”
Matthew 2:19-23
- What guided Joseph to return to Israel?
- How long did it take for Joseph to do this? Was he distracted, uncertain, confused?
- What happened that sent Joseph into Galilee?
- Isaiah 11:1 – Refers to Branch – also Nazarene in Hebrew.