The Life and Ministry of Jesus
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 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.” Matthew 2:13–15
Matthew introduced here the theme of hostility, which he focused on throughout his book. Satan is a liar and a murderer, as was King Herod. He lied to the magi and he murdered the babies.
But even this horrendous crime of murder was the fulfillment of prophecy found in Jeremiah 31:15. Jeremiah’s prophecy was given about 600 years before Christ was born. It grew out of the captivity of Jerusalem. 1
Personal Encouragement
Whenever you sow discord about a pastor or ministry leader, you are doing the work of Satan, and you cause great injury to the Body of Christ.
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44
The difference between a lie & the truth, is that only one is a work of God.
A Prayer
Lord, please purge the spreaders of lies and discord from Your Body.
1. Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
