Jesus Christ, the Law Giver
Study:
Ever noticed all the references to Israel in the opening chapters of the Gospel according to Matthew?References to their entrance into Egypt and the Exodus? Why are they there? What is the point of them? ... Because there is a point!
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream,..." Matthew 1:18-20
"And when they [the wise men] were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. ... And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." Matthew 2:11-13
"But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt," Matthew 2:19
So, first notice that Matthew paints Joseph as a dreamer... Furthermore, he connects his narrative with Rachel.
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." Matthew 2:16-19
Of course, Joseph obeys the angels instructions and takes his family into Egypt...
"When he [Joseph] arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:" Matthew 2:14
So our gospel, thus far mentions...
- Joseph, a dreamer,
- Rachel, and
- Joseph bringing his family into Egypt.
All designed with purpose to draw the mind back to Genesis...
"And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son." Genesis 30:22-24
"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. ... And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more;..." Genesis 37:5,9
"And Joseph said unto his brethren, ... Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: ... and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither." Genesis 45:3,9-13
And God finishes it by telling us what we are supposed to get out of this.
"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." Matthew 2:14,15
Which is a quote from Hosea...
"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt." Hosea 11:1
So God wants us to see Jesus as another Israel. Why do I say that? What do I mean? Read on and see!
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:..." Matthew 3:16
"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." Exodus 14:21,22
"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;" 1 Corinthians 10:1,2
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness..." Matthew 4:1
"So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water." Exodus 15:22
"And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt." Exodus 16:1
"And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Matthew 4:3
"Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no." Exodus 16:4
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: " Matthew 5:1
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-19
"In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount." Exodus 19:1,2
"And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ..." Exodus 20:1-17
Summarizing everything:
Joseph takes his family into Egypt (Mat. 2:14)
"...Rachel weeping for her children..." (Mat. 2:18) Jesus leaves Egypt (Mat. 2:21)
Joseph dreams (Gen. 37:5,9)
Joseph brings his family into Egypt (Gen. 45:9)
Israel leaves Egypt (Ex. 12:31-33,37)
(Mat. 3:16)
(Ex. 14:21,22; 1 Cor. 10:1,2)
(Ex. 19:1,2; 20:1-17)
So not only is Jesus the true Israel, the true son of God, but he is also God, the Lawgiver of Sinai. But there is more here. Notice that Israel's exodus from Egypt to Sinai is a traversal of the Sanctuary.
the giving of
the 10 Commandments
containing
the 10 Commandments
According to this parallel, the Sermon on the Mount has Christ speaking from the most Holy place, the location of the Ark of the Covenant. But Christ is our High Priest and according to Old Testament Ceremonial Law, the High Priest only enters the most Holy place once a year on the Day of Atonement. Furthermore, the Day of Atonement is symbolic of the end-time Judgment. Thus, the Sermon on the Mount symbolically has Christ speaking his sermon from the Judgment. This should be a red flag to God's end-time people. Not only does it signal the importance of the ten commandments in the end-time Judgment but also the contents of the Sermon on the Mount.
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