The Escape to Egypt

XIII. THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT

Matthew 2:13-18

Victor M. Eskew

INTRODUCTION

A. Angels have played an important role in the birth of Jesus. They continue to do so in this section.

B. Joseph and Mary left their home in Nazareth many days ago. It will be some time before they are able to return to their home.

1. They are about to make an unexpected trip into Egypt.

2. The gifts that they received from the wise men of the East provided for their sustenance while there (Matt. 2:11).

C. Recall that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are in Bethlehem residing in a home.

I. THE WARNING (Matt. 2:13-15).

A. The Dream (Matt. 2:13)

And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

1. This is the second time an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream (Matt. 1:20-21).

2. The command involved taking the young child into Egypt.

a. It was close. The border of Egypt was about 75 miles away.

b. Egypt was a separate Roman province. Herod had no jurisdiction there.

c. “There were at that time about one million Jews in the Nile Valley. In Alexandria, a city of 300,00, from one-fifth to two-fifths of the population were Jews, two of the five wards being given over to them; and the Talmud describes how, in its great synagogue, all the man of like craft or trade sat together” (McGarvey, 49).

3. The reason for the flight: “…for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”

a. A king of the Jews poses a threat to Herod.

b. Thus the joys at the honor of the magi’s visit and worship gives place to the terror of the wrath of Herod.

B. The Departure (Matt. 2:14).

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

1. The land of bondage became the place of refuge for the Son of God.

2. Joseph immediately obeyed the angel. There was no time to waste.

3. Joseph now has a very precious charge. God will now take care of the child through His human agent, Joseph.

4. “Joseph and Mary begin to see that the high honor of being the earthly parent and protector of the child is freighted with great danger; every God-given honor is attended with great responsibility, sacrifice, and sorrow” (Boles, 53).

5. This flight into Egypt served three purposes:

a. Security of the child from His enemies

b. To show the divine care and valuation of the holy child

c. To make Jesus’ childhood sufferings an antitype to the history of the children of Israel

C. The Duration (Matt. 2:15a)

And was there until the death of Herod…

1. Herod died a gruesome death in 4 B.C. while in the city of Jericho. He was seventy years old.

2. This would have only been a few months after the flight into Egypt.

D. The Design (Matt. 2:15b)

…that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

1. The prophecy being quoted is Hosea 11:1.

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

2. Many have difficulty with the application of this verse to Jesus.

a. If the text applies to Israel, which it plainly does, how can it be applied to Jesus?

b. Did Hosea have Jesus in mind when he wrote these words?

3. Again, this is a dual prophecy.

a. The immediate application was to Israel.

1) NOTE: They are referred to as God’s “son” (See Exo. 4:22).

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.

2) When Israel was referenced as “a son” to God, the Jews also understood that it was a reference to the Messiah.

3) The movement of Israel into Egypt and out of Egypt became a prophecy concerning the movement of the Messiah.

b. Since Jesus was the antitype (the substance) of Israel (the type, shadow), His going into Egypt and being called out of Egypt fulfilled the prophecy.

c. “In the type and antitype relationship the Old and New Testaments may be likened to the shell and kernel of a nut. Israel was Israel, and God’s Son, because it included in itself the yet unformed and unborn body which was later to be inhabited by the spirit of the Word or Son of God. The seed of Abraham was called out of Egypt, that the promised seed enveloped within it might have a body and nature prepared in the land of liberty, and not in that of bondage. Israel was the outer shell, and Christ the kernel, hence the double significance of the prophecy – the twice repeated movement of the nation and the Man” (McGarvey, 50).

II. THE WRATH (Matt. 2:16-18)

A. The Dissemination (Matt. 2:16)

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

1. Herod believed the wise men intentionally deceived him.

a. This only fueled his anger.

b. The words “exceeding wroth” literally mean “a passion that is beyond measure.”

2. Herod sent forth and slew.

a. This was in keeping with his character.

b. Even Augustus said that it was better to be Herod’s sow (hus) than his son (huios), for the sow had a better chance of life (Macrobius, Sat. II. iv. II).

3. Herod’s plan was full and complete:

a. The area: Bethlehem and the surrounding region

b. The age: Two years old and under

4. The number of the children slain is not known. Estimates have been as many as 1000 and as few as 20.

5. Herod made the age determination based upon what he was told by the wise men in his private meeting with them regarding the star (Matt. 2:7).

a. Did the star appear before the birth of Jesus, at the birth of Jesus, or after the birth of Jesus?

b. Not knowing, the age of two years old and under gave Herod plenty of room against any error.

6. Lesson: Here we see the lengths to which evil men will go to rid themselves of even perceived threats to their well-being and power.

B. The Disclosure (Matt. 2:17-18)

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachael weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

1. This prophecy is found in Jeremiah 31:15.

Thus saith the Lord, A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachael weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.

2. The prophecy’s initial fulfillment happened when Israel was carried away into Babylonian captivity.

3. The incident that now takes place in Bethlehem evokes the same emotional response that the captivity did in the long ago.

4. Ramah was a town located about five mile north of Jerusalem. The town heard the cries of the captives in the past. Now it is hearing similar cries from Bethlehem due to Herod’s evil activities.

5. Three words are used to describe the sorrow:

a. Lamentation (2355): wailing

b. Weeping (2805): weeping

c. Mourning (3602): mourning

6. Rachael weeping for her children:

a. Ramah was a town in Benjamin (Josh. 18:25). The Benjamites were the descendants of Rachael. Thus, when they wept, Rachael was weeping.

b. Rachel’s tomb was located very close to Ramah. From her grave, she heard the weeping and also wept.

7. She could not be comforted because her children were not around.

CONCLUSION

A. In Matthew 2, we have seen three different types of prophecies:

1. A direct prophecy

2. A typical prophecy

3. A mirror prophecy

B. There were three things bearing on Matthew’s mind as he penned these prophetic statements:

1. The common rabbinical rules of interpretation

2. The explanations Matthew would have received from Jesus

3. The guidance of the Holy Spirit

C. Matthew had a purpose in mind:

1. He wanted to prove to the Jews that Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophecy concerning the Messiah.

2. John 5:39

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

3. Matthew 5:17-18

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.