March through Matthew in a Month

Matthew 2

During the season of Lent in March 2026 we are reading through the Gospel of Matthew.  Just one chapter a day--28 chapters. This faith journey with Jesus will provide points to ponder, additional information, and personal application. Pray God strengthens our faith on this spiritual journey through the sacred Good News of the Gospel of Matthew.

Additional Basic Background Info on the Gospel of Matthew:

1. Gospel is translated: “Good News.” The Gospel is the Good News of the perfect life, teachings, miracles, suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Gospel is sometimes translated as “Evangel.” An evangelist engages in evangelism to share the Evangel (or Gospel=the Good News of Jesus).

2. Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the 3 Synoptic Gospels. They each provide a synopsis or biography of the life of Jesus. John’s Gospel is written in a different style than the other three. John uses unique doctrinal and thematic teachings and provides the most details about the final Passion week of Jesus.

3. Matthew often makes specific connections between the birth and early life of Jesus with their Old Testament prophecies. For example, Matthew shows how Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophetic texts 7 times in just the first three chapters of the Gospel.

4. The Gospel of Matthew was primarily written for a Jewish audience. This explains why Matthew often highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies by Jesus and traces the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham, the father of Israel and the Jews. In contract, Luke’s Gospel was written with a Gentile audience in mind, which explains why Luke was inspired to list the genealogy of Jesus back to Adam (Genesis 1), the father of all humanity.

5. The many connections between Old Testament prophecies and their New Testament fulfillment are Divinely designed and amazing!

Here are the primary passages in Matthew 2 which specifically fulfill Old Testament prophecies:

A) Matthew 2:5-6 says Christ was born in Bethlehem fulfilling Micah 5:2.

B) Matthew 2:15 says, “…out of Egypt I have called my son” fulfilling Hosea 11:1.

C) After Herod’s slaughter of the baby boys two and under, Matthew 2:17-18 describes the reactions of sorrow and grief that were precicted hundreds of years earlier in Jeremiah 31:15.

D) The fact that Mary and Joseph returned from Egypt after Herod died to live and raise Jesus in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23) fulfills numerous prophets who said of the Messiah: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

6. Matthew is the only Gospel that includes the story of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12). Notice that God put a “star” in the sky to guide the Magi (likely from the area of Persia) after Christ’s birth first to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel where they had an audience with paranoid Herod. What then specifically led the Magi to Bethlehem? It was NOT just the star, but God’s Word from the ancient prophecy of Micah (Matthew 2:5-6). Ponder: How does God’s Word guide my life?

7. Matthew 2:16-18 tells how Herod was furious at being tricked by the Magi and then murdered the baby boys of Bethlehem two and under. These victims of Herod’s evil wrath are known as “The Holy Innocents” or first martyrs for Christ in the New Testament.

8. Famous Lutheran historian, Dr. Paul Maier, (who died in 2025) estimates that the town of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus would have had a population of about 2,000 people, indicating there were perhaps about 20 boys age two or under in and around Bethlehem (Paul Maier, In the Fullnes of TIme: The First Christmas. Kregel Publications, 1997, page 64).    

9. There are still many Christians today in many countries around the world who face danger, discrimination, persecution, imprisonment, or even death for being faithul to Jesus. An inspiring Christian ministry who highlights Christian persecution is called The Voice of the Martyrs. See their website: www.VOM.org or www.persecution.com   

10. Who is a non-Christian or even evil person from Biblical or secular history (other than Herod) who attempted to thwart God’s plans or oppose God but was nevertheless overpowered by or defeated by God?  (For one example, see Matthew 27-28:1-10).

Let’s read Matthew 2 (ESV):

The Visit of the Wise Men (or Magi)

2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

The Flight to Egypt

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Herod Kills the Children

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

    weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Return to Nazareth

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

+ PRAYER: Dear God, just as evil Herod tried to destroy Jesus, Your Gospel still faces negative reactions, opposition, and evil today. However difficult it may be, give us boldness to share the Good News of Jesus and support His Church. Help us to remain faithful to You and to trust in Your Word for Divine direction and protection. Guide us with Your Word in our lives as you did the Magi. In the saving Name of Jesus, Amen.

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Senior Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

115 S. Sixth Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.946.2656