Category: New Testament
Scriptures:
Matthew 2:13-2:23
Matthew 2:13-2:23
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an 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 stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt,
15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”
21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee,
23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Commentary
The motif of dreams marks the ever-present hand of God in the story of salvation. At each of its three movements–the flight into Egypt, the massacre of the innocent children, and the return from Egypt–the narrative reminds us that all is happening according to and in fulfillment of scriptural promise and the word of the Lord.
Like Moses this child escapes. Joseph stands as a model of discipleship in his unquestioning and obedient response to God’s leading. As such he contrasts Herod’s viciously cruel and calculated response in which Matthew invites the reader to ponder what Bethlehem and shepherds and the weakness of innocents can do against the powerful ruling authorities of this world. The flight into Egypt and return is a reminder of the story of God’s people and the recollection of God’s presence with them in the delivery from slavery and bondage. At the same time Matthew’s unique inclusion of the story of the massacre is a reminder that God’s promises are always at risk. Joseph initially intends to divorce Mary. Herod intends to destroy the child. But God’s promises are sure. Joseph is obedient. Herod dies, but the child does not.
Matthew’s community hears in this story that sin and suffering do not suddenly disappear from this world. Evil still abounds and even God’s son needs protection. Under the cover of darkness God comes in dreams that both overturn Joseph’s plans and protect him from unseen dangers. The power of God comes not with armies but in weakness and suffering. In often unseen ways God’s promises will prevail when joined to faithful discipleship and the hearing and doing of obedient response to God’s word of promise.