Expert: Brenda Martin - 8/25/2007

Question
QUESTION: Matthew gives account of horrid slaughtering of all new borns...a memorable event to say the least........but Luke 2:22,39 has Jesus and family return peacefully to Nazareth for birthing rights,then a safe return to Galilee......??? Im a Christian for 25 years,but as of late have been struggling with my faith....this ? of what happened ,and when is just one of many Im finding that make no sense....I mean which is it? flee to Egypt, or go do birthing rights?...it cant be both

ANSWER: Hi Chris, you said--"MATTHEW GIVES ACCOUNT OF HORRID SLAUGHTERING OF ALL NEW BORNS"

Matthew 2; 1-18

Contrary to popular belief, the Magi first arrived, not in Bethlehem, but in Jerusalem, after Jesus was born. They were not present at the time of Jesus’ birth. Later, when they went to Bethlehem, the Bible says that “when they went into the HOUSE they saw the young child.” (Matthew 2:1, 11) So, it is clear that by the time the Magi visited Jesus, his family had moved into a normal dwelling. They did not find him lying in a manger.

In the light of the Scriptures, the popular story of three kings honouring Jesus at the time of his birth is not accurate. The Bible teaches that the Magi who visited Jesus were not kings but astrologers who practiced the occult. The Scriptural record does not say how many there were. Also, they did not visit Jesus at the time of his birth, when he was placed in a manger, but, rather, sometime later, when his family was living in a house.

King Herod sent the astrologers to Bethlehem. But after these observers of dreams failed to report back and tell him where he could find the recently born Jesus, King Herod sent his soldiers to Bethlehem and had all the baby boys of two years of age and younger killed off. But Mary and her husband, Joseph, had been forewarned and left Bethlehem and took refuge in Egypt so as to preserve the young child Jesus alive.

Some interesting points regarding Jesus—

Jesus was born in the month of Ethanim (September-October) of the year 2 B.C.E.

Jesus was born approximately six months after the birth of his relative John (the Baptizer), during the rule of Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus (31 B.C.E.–14 C.E.)

A number of events intervened between the time of Jesus’ birth and Herod’s death. These included Jesus’ circumcision on the eighth day (Lu 2:21); his being brought to the temple in Jerusalem 40 days after birth (Lu 2:22, 23; Le 12:1-4, 8); the journey of the astrologers “from eastern parts” to Bethlehem (where Jesus was no longer in a manger but in a house—Mt 2:1-11;  Lu 2:7, 15, 16); Joseph and Mary’s flight to Egypt with the young child (Mt 2:13-15); followed by Herod’s realization that the astrologers had not followed his instructions, and the subsequent slaughter of all boys in Bethlehem and its districts under the age of two years (indicating that Jesus was not then a newborn infant). (Mt 2:16-18) Jesus’ birth taking place in the fall of 2 B.C.E. would allow for the time required by these events intervening between his birth and the death of Herod, likely in 1 B.C.E.


"LUKE 2:22,39 HAS JESUS AND FAMILY RETURN PEACEFULLY TO NAZARETH FOR BIRTHING RIGHTS, THEN A SAFE RETURN TO GALILEE?"

Yes correct;--Jesus is 40 days old, his parents now take him to the temple in Jerusalem, which is only a few miles from where they are staying in Nazareth then return home after this.

Just before Mary was to give birth, they had to go south to Bethlehem, and there Jesus was born. They later fled to Egypt to protect the child from Herod’s murderous designs. After that, “they went back into Galilee to their own city Nazareth.”—Luke 2:4, 39; Matthew 2:13-23.

IM A CHRISTIAN FOR 25 YEARS,BUT AS OF LATE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH MY FAITH.

I remember being like that too when I attended the Protestant church for 19 years, I never received answers to my questions & what I was taught didn’t make sense. What a relief it was when I found answers to my questions.

"JUST ONE OF MANY IM FINDING THAT MAKE NO SENSE"

Well as you can see there is a logical explanation, so give me your next one & let’s see what the answer is.

All the best
Brenda



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I am,to say the least, quite impressed with your detailed answer.....I do have another question for now...when you have time to answer.......Matthew 10:23 (NKJV) "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
To understand this verse, the first thing that we have to know is who is Jesus talking to? Who is the "you"? To find out, let's back up to verse 1 and notice the personal pronoun, "you" in this text:

Matthew 10:1-18 (NKJV) And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 "And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'
Now, is there any doubt as to who Jesus is talking to so far? He calls the twelve to him and gives them power. He "commanded them, saying":

Matthew 10:8-18 (NKJV) "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9 "Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, 10 "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. 11 "Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 12 "And when you go into a household, greet it. 13 "If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 "Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! 16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
Who is Jesus sending out as sheep in the midst of wolves? It is the twelve!

Matthew 10:17-18 (NKJV) "But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. 18 "You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
These events actually happened as trials took place and scourging occurred in the synagogues. Jesus warned the twelve that they would be brought before government officials, because of their testimony for Jesus Christ:

Matthew 10:19-23 (NKJV) "But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 "for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. 21 "Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 23 "When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. .............also...Matthew 16:27-28 (NKJV) "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 28 "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom." To me ...Jesus is talking directly to his disciples....commanding them...using "you".....and the part "some will not taste death".....to me means...some will die,and some wont....before 2nd coming....Now this cant quite possibly mean there are some disciples still alive today?...no...
Revelation 22:12 (NKJV) "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work...andJohn 16:16-17 (NKJV) "A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father." 17 Then some of His disciples said among themselves, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" ....this all indicates very near future....????  

Answer
Hi Chris, you said--“MATTHEW 10:1-23 WHO IS JESUS TALKING TO?”

Yes, no doubt who Jesus is talking to, is there? He summons the 12 apostles, whom he had chosen nearly a year earlier. After giving instructions to his apostles, Jesus sends them out into the territory in pairs. Probably the brothers Peter and Andrew go together, as do James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Thaddaeus, and Simon and Judas Iscariot. The six pairs of evangelizers declare the good news of the Kingdom and perform miraculous cures everywhere they go.

He tells his disciples not to make material preparations for their preaching tour. Those who appreciate the message will respond and contribute food and housing.

It is true that Jesus gave this instruction, warning, and encouragement to his 12 apostles, but it was also meant for those who would share in the worldwide preaching after his death and resurrection. This is shown by his saying that his disciples would be ‘hated by all people,’v.22 not just by the Israelites to whom the apostles were sent to preach.

Further, the apostles evidently were not haled before governors’ v.18 and kings when Jesus sent them out on their short preaching campaign.

Moreover, believers were not then delivered up to death by family members. V.21

So when saying that his disciples would not complete their circuit of preaching “until the Son of man arrives,”v.23 Jesus was prophetically telling us that his disciples would not complete the circuit of the entire inhabited earth with the preaching about God’s established Kingdom before the glorified King Jesus Christ would arrive as God’s executional officer at Armageddon.

MATTHEW 16:27-28--JESUS IS TALKING DIRECTLY TO HIS DISCIPLES, "SOME WILL NOT TASTE DEATH" SOME WILL DIE, AND SOME WONT....BEFORE 2ND COMING.?

Considering the immediate context of the scripture can help us understand the meaning at Matthew 16:28 Some may feel that these words were not fulfilled because all of Jesus’ disciples who were present when he said those words died before the establishment of God’s Kingdom in the heavens.

However, the context of this verse, as well as that of the parallel accounts by Mark and Luke, helps us understand the real meaning of the scripture. What did Matthew relate right after the words of Matthew 16; 28? He wrote: “Six days later Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother along and brought them up into a lofty mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them.” (Matthew 17:1, 2) Both Mark and Luke also linked Jesus’ comment about the Kingdom with the account of the transfiguration. (Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:27-36) Jesus’ coming in Kingdom power was demonstrated in his transfiguration, his appearing in glory in the presence of the three apostles. Peter verifies this understanding by speaking of “the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ” with regard to his witnessing Jesus’ transfiguration.—2 Peter 1:16-18.

How strengthening this vision proves to be, both to Jesus and to the disciples! The vision is, as it were, a preview of Christ’s Kingdom glory. The disciples saw, in effect, “the Son of man coming in his kingdom,” just as Jesus had promised a week earlier.

REVELATION 22:12 & JOHN 16:16-17--THIS ALL INDICATES VERY NEAR FUTURE?

Interestingly in Revelation 22:12, TEV inserts the name Jesus, so the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 13 is made to appear to apply to him. But the name Jesus does not appear there in Greek, and other translations do not include it.  

Malachi 3:1-6 speaks of a joint coming for judgment on the part of Almighty God and his “messenger of the covenant.” Jesus Christ.

The apostles fail to understand that Jesus will die and then appear to them after he is resurrected. So they ask one another: “What does this mean that he says to us, ‘In a little while you will not behold me, and, again, in a little while you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” in John 16.

Jesus death was “very near” yes, so that is what Jesus meant by; “little while” in a short while the apostles would not see Jesus because he will be dead & in the grave 3 days & nights, when that “little while” passed & Jesus was resurrected, the apostles were able to see Jesus once again before he ascended to his Father.

Excellent questions by the way, I enjoyed researching the answers, I look forward to hearing from you again.

All the best
Brenda