The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Chapter 2, Act 2: Escape and Massacre, Mt 2,13-23

Scene 1: Escape to Egypt, 2,13-15

Note how verse 13 connected with verse 12.
For the angel appearing to Joseph see 1,20.

Egypt was a traditional place of refuge, see 1 Kings 11,40 or Jeremiah 26,21.

There are though echoes of Israel's earlier sojourn in Egypt and the threat of destruction. See Exodus 1,8-11. For Herod and Jesus, see Exodus 2,15.

The evangelist several times refers to "the child and his mother", see 2,11. It is repeated in verses 13, 14, 20, 21.

In verse 14, we can note the time.

Verse 15 provides a first reference to the death of Herod.

Look up the quotation, Hosea 11,1. Who was orginally "my son"? What does this tell us about Jesus, see 1,23.

Scene 2: Massacre in Bethlehem, 2,16-18

Verse 16 refers back to verse 7. The children (NRSV) are boys, see Exodus 1,15-22.

Note how the quotation is introduced in verse 17. Why is it different to 1,22 or 2,15? For Jeremiah as a model for Jesus see 16,14; 27,9.

Look up the quotation, Jer 31,15 and take note of the context of the chapter.

Scene 3: From Egypt to Nazareth, 2,19-23

Notice the similarities between 2,19-21 and 2,13-14. It is all happening in reverse order. There is the emphasis on the death of Herod. The desinatation is in contrast with verses 1 and 5.

Who is taking the initiative in verse 22? Galilee was under Herod Antipas at this time.

Both Matthew and Luke agree on the Nazareth roots of Jesus but in quite different ways. Note that the reference to the prophets in verse 23 is quite vague.

Taking this chapter as a two act drama, what is the plot and what is its resolution? In other words, at the end of this story, who is dead (2,15.19.20) and who is alive?

Time now for my response.

At the end of this chapter, Jesus is growing to adulthood in Nazareth. In due course John the Baptist will appear and Jesus will come to him from Galilee. To hear about this, the story continues in the following chapter.