In today's passage Jesus comes to John the Baptist for baptism, but why? It is a very important section that shows that Jesus came to fulfill Old Covenant rites in the New.
In today's passage we learn a little more about the ministry of John the Baptist. He baptizes with water, but how does this differ from what we experience in the sacrament of baptism?
In today's passage John the Baptist continues his string language for the religious leaders. He tells them not to presume there righteousness based on being a child of Abraham. Very important words that are also for us today.
In today's passage we read about a spicy interaction between John the Baptist and the Sadducees and Pharisees. John tells them to repent and calls them snakes because they teach one thing and do another.
People are coming in droves to be baptized by John the Baptist and in doing so are confessing their sins. The Jordan river holds a very special meaning and symbolizes the deliverance of God.
Today's passage brings with it a quotation from Isaiah 40:3. John the Baptists is a pivotal figure in the Gospels and all four align his ministry with this prophecy.
In today's passage we are introduced to John the Baptist who has a very in your face message. Repent! Jesus will come again.
Today we finish up Matthew Chapter two with another angel coming to St. Joseph in a dream. He is told to avoid the new ruler Archelaus and to go to the district of Galilee.
In today's passage we read about an angel appearing to Joseph yet again. Herod is dead, and he is told to take the Holy Family back to Israel. There is a lot we can learn from St. Joseph is this passage.
In today's passage Matthew gives us a citation of Jeremiah 31:15. The city of Ramah is mentioned, and this was a place of sorrow and trail from a historical perspective. Here Matthew is calling Bethlehem the new Ramah because of what has happened to the holy innocents.
Herod realizes that he has been tricked by the Wise Men and goes into a rage. He orders that every male child two years or younger be killed.
Joseph is told in a dream to flee with the family and go to Egypt. This was logical as Egypt was home to a couple large Jewish colonies.
The wise men find Jesus and offer him gifts. There is a lot of meaning in these gifts. Gold was a gift for royalty, frankincense was used for priests, and myrrh was for anointing. These give us big clues to the kingship, humanity, and divinity of Christ.
In today's passage the wise men obey the orders of Herod and depart to find the newborn king of the Jews. They see the star that guides them and they go with great joy.
In today's passage we read about Herod summoning the wise men for a secret meeting. He tells them to locate the Christ child so he can go worship him, but this is a lie and a big ruse.
Today we continue in the infancy narrative of Jesus to see concerned Herod who begins to obsess over the the baby Jesus. Why? He knows that his power is illegitimate and Matthew firmly established the kingly lineage of Christ in 1:1-17.
In today's passage we read about Jesus being born in Bethlehem. This was the city of David and where David was anointed king. It is also known as "House of Bread" and Jesus would call himself the "Bread of Life". We are also introduced to the Herod, the Magi, and a peculiar backdrop from the book of Numbers.
This passage is one commonly used by our Protestant friends to say that Joseph had relations with Mary. Is that the case? Not really. In today's episode we take a deeper look.
In today's passage Matthew gives us the first of the Old Testament prophecies that are fulfilled in the incarnation. Jesus is coming to save the people from their sin.
