Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

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 of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

16 Then Herod, when he 15. Until the death of Herod. How long the family remained in Egypt cannot be precisely ascertained. It was, however, but a short time. Herod is believed to have died in the second year of our Lord. || By the prophet. Hosea 11: 1. The prophet in this passage merely makes a declaration of God's kind dealings towards the nation of Israel, whom he delivered from bondage in Egypt, and whom as a nation he affectionately called his son. But now that Jesus, who was in the highest sense his son, was by a divine monition conveyed to Egypt, the language which was formerly used in reference to the nation of Israel was to be verified, or fulfilled, in a higher and more remarkable sense. That language was applicable to the case of Jesus more fully and appropriately, so that the event which the evangelist was relating, could be happily expressed in those same words. There was, then, a striking resemblance between the language of the prophet and this event in the history of Jesus; and thus this event might be regarded as filling out that language. An examination of the passage in Hosea will show, that it is not a prophecy of this event in the life of Jesus; and the word fulfil is here used in the wide sense in which we often employ it in ordinary life. It points out the striking resemblance between language in the Old Testament and an event in the history of Jesus.

16. Mocked. The word mock now means to mimic, to imitate in a way of contempt. But in the Bible it means to treat disrespectfully, to trifle with. Herod felt that he had been trifled with, deluded, and defeated. || All the children. The original Greek, and

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.

the circumstances of the case, make it appear probable that it was only the male children whom he ordered to be put to death. || The coasts thereof; the places bordering on Bethlehem.

In respect to the number of infants put to death on this occasion, it is impossible to speak with certainty. Bethlehem was rather an inconsiderable town as to population, and the families bordering upon it were probably few. One of the modern travellers states the present population at three hundred, and is inclined to think the population formerly did not much exceed that number. But if we estimate it at one thousand, the number of male children of the ages mentioned would doubtless fall short of fifty. Fifty is sometimes stated as the highest number; the number of ten, or twelve, is frequently stated as the most probable. But our judgment of Herod's conduct must not be regulated so much by the number of children put to death, as by the nature of the act and the motive which influenced him. This act, cruel as it was, corresponded to other deeds of Herod. He put to death a brother-in-law, one of his own wives, and three of his children; and when expecting his own death, he ordered that several principal men of the Jewish nation, who were for this purpose confined in Jericho, should be killed as soon as it should be known that he himself had died, so that there might be mourning at his death. This cruel order was not, however, obeyed. Josephus, the Jewish historian, in summing up the character of Herod, says, "He was a man universally cruel, and of an un governable anger."

17 Then was fulfilled that 20 Saying, Arise, and take which was spoken by Jeremy the young child and his mother, the prophet, saying,

18 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.

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:

applicable, and still more fully verified, on this occasion, than on the one to which it originally referred. Well might he feel that this heart-rending event did really fill up that language.

17,18. Jeremy; that is, Jeremiah. See Jer. 31: 15. || Rama; the name of a city a few miles north of Jerusalem. || Rachel; one of Israel's wives, and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. See Gen. 30: 22-24. Rachel died and was buried not far from Ephrath (Gen. 35: 16-19), that is, Bethlehem, Bethlehem was about six miles south of Jerusalem, and Rama a few miles north. In the passage quoted, the prophet poetically represents Rachel as sorely distressed at the going away of her descendants into captivity; sympathizing with them in their woes, she mingles her voice with theirs, and would not admit consolation. The distress thus poetically described, Matthew repre-od, repaired to Rome, to procure from

sents as again endured by her, in view of the calamities now experienced in Bethlehem. Those calamities occasioned a general and wide-spread mourning; the deep distress in the families of Bethlehem could not better be described than by adopting the language of Jeremiah, in reference to a preceding state of calamity and mourning. The distress, which fell so unexpectedly, so unreasonably, so cruelly, upon helpless babes and sorrowing families, was of no ordinary character. And well might the evangelist, while recording this act of unheard-of cruelty, summon to his aid the strong poetic representation of the prophet, and regard the prophet's language as still more

20. Land of Israel; country of the Jews. See on v. 6. || They are dead. Herod's partisans doubtless partook of his spirit in regard to any one who might be supposed able to interfere with their honors. Others besides Herod had died, from whom evil might have been apprehended.

22. Archelaus. Herod the Great had, in his last will, appointed Archelaus his successor in the government. He, accordingly, on the death of Her

Augustus, the emperor, a confirmation of the arrangement which his father had made. But his brother Antipas disputed his title, since Herod had, in a previous will, appointed him to be his successor. The result was, that Archelaus was established in the government of a part of his father's dominions, namely, Judea, Idumea, which was partly in the south of Judea, partly further south, and Samaria, three cities excepted, with the title of ethnarch; Antipas, that is, Herod Antipas, was constituted tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Perea was the southern part of the country on the east of the Jordan. Archelaus proved to be a very cruel ruler, and after a few years was banished from his government by Augustus. He died in notwithstanding, being warned | spoken by the prophets, He shall of God in a dream, he turned be called a Nazarene. aside into the parts of Galilee :

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was exile. || Galilee. The Jewish territory on the west of the Jordan was divided into three parts - Galilee on the north, Samaria in the middle, and Judea at the south. Joseph retired with his family to Galilee; for this was beyond the jurisdiction of Archelaus.

23. Nazareth; a town in the southern part of Galilee, and the former place of Mary's residence. See Luke 1:26. By the prophets, &c. The expression which follows cannot be found in any of the books of the Old Testament. Nor does Matthew intimate that any one prophet in particular had used this expression concerning the Messiah. He is rather to be understood as saying, that what he is about to express accorded with prophetic declarations respecting him. In order fully to understand the evangelist in this place, it should be considered that Nazareth appears to have been regarded, by the people of Judea, in a contemptuous manner. See John 1:46. From John 7: 52, it appears, that the whole district of Galilee, in which Nazareth was situated, was viewed in an unfavorable light. Hence, "to be a Nazarene," was a phrase implying reproach. The expressions Jesus of Galilee and Jesus of Nazareth, in Matt. 26: 69, 71, were probably meant as terms of reproach. Now, it had been predicted that the coming Saviour would be "despised and rejected of men." See Is. 53: 2, 3. Instead, then, of simply saying he would be an object of reproach, Matthew uses an expression of the same import, suggested by the circumstance of his abode being in Nazareth-he shall be called a Nazarene.

CHAPTER III.

IN N those days came John the Baptist, preaching in

filled in respect to the birthplace of Jesus. Verse 1 compared with v. 6. The fulfilment of prophecy is a strong evidence of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures.

we to

2. The Eastern Magi treated the infant Messiah with distinguished respect. What reverence ought cherish towards him, having so superior knowledge of his character!

3. How vain it is to attempt defeating the purposes of God! v. 13. He makes even the wrath of man to praise him. Compare Ps. 76: 10.

4. Notice the extreme cruelty to which a sinful heart may prompt. v. 16. Comp. Ex. 1:22. 2 Kings 8:11-15.

5. In every exigency, God will provide for those who trust in him. vs. 11, 13, 22.

6. What changes God effects! Egypt, from being the place of oppression to the Lord' people, becomes a place of refuge and protection for the infant Messiah from cruelties in his native land.

CHAPTER III.

1. In those days. A new scene now opens before us. The evangelist, having related what took place in the early infancy of Jesus up to the time of the family's becoming again established in Nazareth, passes over a very considerable period in the life of Jesus. During that period, he lived in comparative obscurity, and was not occupied in matters pertaining to the public discharge of his office as Messiah. This period occupied a space of between twenty-five and thirty years. See Luke 3:23. How Jesus was occupied during this time, we are not informed. The only circum-stance particularly related, in regard TOPICS FOR REFLECTION suggested to this period, is his visit to Jerusalem by this chapter. with his parents, at the age of twelve 1. Prophecy was remarkably ful-years. See Luke 2: 41-51. There

the wilderness of Judea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for

is also a general remark made by Luke (2:52), which shows that Jesus, while advancing in age, manifested much intellectual capacity and piety. From Matt. 13:55, it would appear that Joseph, his reputed father, was, by trade, a carpenter; and from Mark 6:3, that Jesus himself wrought at the same occupation. His dignity consisted in innocence and holiness of character, and in performing a work which should glorify God by bringing countless multitudes to holiness and happiness. This portion of his life, however, was by no means destitute of an important bearing on his official work. He came to be the Redeemer of men; it was therefore suitable that he should know, by experience, how to sympathize with human beings in the ordinary circumstances of life, as well as with respect to their eternal interests. Heb. 2: 11, 14, 17, 18. Besides, the Jews maintained, that every man, whatever his station or his prospects, ought to be able to follow some trade.

The expression in those days is a general one, referring to some past time, without intending to connect, in point of time, a following account with events just related. It here carries us back to the early period of the Christian history. The same phrase, used in a similar manner, occurs in Ex. 2:11. || John the Baptist; that is, the baptizer. John was distinguished from all preceding religious teachers by his administering of baptism in reference to the Messiah. The administering of baptism, with this reference, to those whom he deemed suitable persons to receive it, was an important part of his commission. For a full account of the circumstances connected with the birth of John, see Luke 1:5-25, 57 -80. || Preaching; proclaiming. We are not to think of John as delivering formal discourses to established and well-regulated audiences; but as traversing the country, announcing the

the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

approach of the Messiah, and calling on the people to prepare for his coming, by a suitable reformation of heart and life. || The wilderness of Judea. Judea was the southern part of Palestine, or the Holy Land. See the Map. The term wilderness in the Bible has not exactly the same meaning as that in which we use it. We express by it a region not yet inhabited, perhaps uninhabitable by civilized men; occupied rather by wild beasts than by civilized human beings. In the Scriptures, this word, as also the similar word desert, is applied to certain regions, as distinguishing them from more thickly-peopled places; somewhat as our word country is used in distinction from city or village. John was traversing the country parts of Judea. These thinlysettled tracts received names from places near them. The wilderness of Judea, here mentioned, was so called because it commenced in the territory of Judea. It was sometimes called the Great Desert, on account of its extent; commencing at the city of Tekoa, six miles south of Bethlehem, it extended to the east as far as the Persian Gulf, and very far northward along the river Euphrates.

2. Repent. This word signifies that true reformation of heart and life, that becoming truly pious, which would be adapted to the design of the Saviour's coming, and would be a suitable preparation for his approach. By the prophet Malachi (4: 5, 6), it was foretold that the Messiah would be preceded by a distinguished messenger, whose official business would be to attempt a general reformation among the Jews. John was that messenger. Matt. 11:14. 17:1013. In pursuance of his commission, he now began summoning the people to true repentance, that they might be ready for the coming Messiah. See Luke 1:17. || The kingdom of heaven. This expression is of the same import as the expression king

3 For this is he that was crying in the wilderness, Prespoken of by the prophet Esa- pare ye the way of the Lord,

ias, saying, The voice of one

dom of God, used by the other evangelists. The meaning of this phrase must be gathered from the language of prophecy respecting the Messiah, and from some of the views which the Jews were entertaining in regard to him. He was spoken of by the prophets as a king, who was to have a glorious and everlasting dominion. Micah 5:2. Dan. 7:13, 14. Is. 9:6, 7. His administration was to be singularly equitable and prosperous. Is. 11:1-9. Micah 4:1-4. So different from the administration of ordinary kings was to be his reign, and so eminently distinguished above them, that, in a peculiar sense, his reign was to be a reign of God; during his administration it might well be said, that God reigns upon earth. The expression, then, reign of heaven, or reign of God, or, as our version translates, kingdom of heaven, would at once be understood by the Jews as meaning the Messiah's administration, the glorious times in which the long-expected personage would appear and assume his royal authority. They had, indeed, mistaken the true nature of this authority, and were not expecting a spiritual reign, a reign, in their hearts, of the principles of piety and integrity. Still, they would regard this language as an announcement of the Messiah's approach; and John's official object was, to draw their attention to their spiritual state, to lead them to repentance, and thus to effect a true preparation for his coming. Such is the very usual meaning of the phrase kingdom of heaven. It has, also, other meanings, intimately connected, however, with this; and these meanings are, in general, sufficiently well pointed out by the connection in which the phrase occurs.

OBSERVE, here, this requisition of repentance and a holy life, enforced at the commencement of Christianity, is still made of all who would enjoy

make his paths straight.

the spiritual benefits which the Messiah bestows. This requisition results from the very nature of the gospel, and can never cease.

3. Eccias; the Greek method of expressing the name Isaiah. The passage referred to in this verse, occurs in Is. 40:3. The imagery employed is drawn from the practice of ancient Oriental monarchs, who, when on a march, sent before them suitable persons to put the roads and all things in readiness, so that their progress might not be impeded. Thus John the Baptist went before the Messiah, to announce his coming, and to lead the people to a suitable preparation for receiving him. In the case of the Eastern monarchs, preparation consisted in levelling hills, and filling valleys, and removing all obstructions to their march. The preparation for the Messiah must be, of course, adapted to his character and object; and it would consist in obeying the call to repentance.

The language of Isaiah, here applied to John the Baptist, is also applied, in a similar manner, by Mark (1:3); and by Luke (3:4-6); also by John the Baptist himself (John 1: 23). The passage, however, when read in its original connection, appears to be a prediction of Jehovah's coming to deliver his people, the Jews, from their captivity in Babylon. It is probable that the prophetic view of the future, which Isaiah enjoyed, included a series of events embracing the temporal deliverance of the Lord's people from captivity, and the spiritual deliverance of his true people by the coming of the Messian. The language, which was appropriate to the whole series thus presented to the prophet's mind, was also appropriate to the different parts of the series; and hence, in the progress of fulfilment, it was applicable to the appearing of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Messiah.

« VorigeDoorgaan »