I am introducing a series which naturally begins with his birth. Also, there so many prophecies that are fulfilled by these few facts. These link the two testaments and show its accuracy in every detail.
We know that the Gospel of Matthew was written with the Jewish nation in mind because of these many prophecies that had been made many years before. The non-Jewish world was not aware of these, but every person of Jewish descent was. They were a part of the fabric of their lives. It was through these prophecies that God prepared this nation for the coming of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:18-25 (King James Version)
18 “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Matthew 2:24 tells us that all of this was foretold by the prophet.
Herod was troubled about this prophecy for he was king at that time. This same prophet had also told where the Messiah would be born. Bethlehem of Judah, just a few miles from his very throne! “And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”
Herod being who he was, the Lord warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt to save him, and to fulfill the prophecy “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.” God had brought this family from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so that Jesus might be born there, and then instructed them to flee to Egypt so that, he could be called back to return to Nazareth that he might begin his ministry from Nazareth, “and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.“ Matthew 2:23.
God still puts his servants where He plans to use them today.
In so doing, he saved Jesus from the destruction that Herod sent on the whole area of Ramah. “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18, a fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.
Before he began his ministry in Galilee, Jesus went to seek John the Baptist that he might be baptized by him. John was preaching there also in fulfillment of a prophesy from Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Isaiah 11:2, 42:1.
In the first three chapters of Matthew, there are ten prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, that are all fulfilled. And they came to be!
