One striking feature of Matthew’s presentation of the birth and early childhood of Jesus in the first two chapters of his Gospel is the way he views each step as the fulfillment of Old Testament Scripture. Continue reading ““Out of Egypt””
“Essential Oils”
Matthew continually presents Christ as the King, and In Matthew’s Gospel we see the King of the Jews, the King of kings, appropriately being presented with royal gifts of gold, as well as two essential oils. Continue reading ““Essential Oils””
“What Makes One Wise?”
Burial masks like King Tutankhamen’s were designed in the image of the pharaoh. It was believed that this would help identify them in the afterlife so the soul recognized the right body. The mask weighs twenty-five pounds, is two-feet tall, and is made of a variety of gemstones and two shades of gold (18k and 22k). Ancient Egyptians associated gold with the sun god Ra.
“Not many Wise”
In the first of his letters to the Christians at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote that “not many … wise [men] by human standards, not many [who] were influential, not many … of noble birth” have been chosen by God to know Christ (1 Corinthians 1:26). That is a true observation. Continue reading ““Not many Wise””
“Silent Night! Holy Night”
In the early decades of the 20th century, the virgin birth was a focal point for liberalism’s many denials of Christian truth. Those who believed the Bible recognized that the virgin birth is indeed biblical and rose to the doctrine’s defense, answering the liberal objections. Continue reading ““Silent Night! Holy Night””
“Just A Bunch of Names”
What an extraordinary book Matthew is! It is the first of the Gospels, the longest, the most Jewish, the most evangelistic, and, in many ways, the most compelling. For the first three or four centuries, it was the most highly regarded and most often quoted Gospel of the four. To some people, now as well as then, Matthew is the most important book ever written. Continue reading ““Just A Bunch of Names””