Nazareth. A tiny agricultural community of perhaps 500 people. When Nathanael heard that Jesus was from there, he asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46). This wasn’t snobbery; it was a common assumption. Nazareth was the punchline...
Joseph obeyed God and returned to Israel, only to discover that Herod’s son Archelaus now ruled Judea. One oppressor had fallen, but another had risen in his place. The threat continued. This is often how life works. We overcome one challenge only to face...
This is the fourth time in Matthew’s Gospel that we read of Joseph rising and taking the child and his mother in response to divine instruction. The angel gives a command; Joseph obeys. There’s no hesitation. No negotiation. No “Let me think about...
These words should sound familiar. In Exodus 4:19, God told Moses: “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who were seeking your life are dead.” Matthew uses almost identical language on purpose. He wants us to see that Jesus is the new Moses, and everything...
Notice how casually Matthew treats Herod’s death: “But when Herod died.” That’s it. No fanfare, no dramatic scene. This was a man who commanded armies, built fortresses and palaces, and ordered the slaughter of innocent children because he...
