The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 43

EXPOSITION. list's mind, the typical character of the treat- CHAPTER IL ment received cannot but have forced itself JESUS THE CHllll$T BY ms EARLY HISTORY upon him, writing 11s he <.lid at a time when answering to the word of God by the pro• the contrast between the Lo,d's rejection by phets. Thi.a is shown by four pnrticulars, Jews and his rer.:eption by Gen tiles was for cnch of which 11. corresponding prophecy becoming daily more markecl. It is, further, i.a adduced. not impossible that the spread of the gospel (1) 'rhe place of his birth; wlrnre, further, to other lands may in itself have proved ll he receives homage of Gentiles, though stumbling-block to the Jews, who made so neglected by bis own people (vers. 1-12). much of the superior sanctity of Pulestine, (2) His stay in Egypt (\"Ors. 13-15). and that thero m,,y he in lhi., chapter some- (3) The slaughter of the innocents (vcrs. thing of the same thought that moved St. 16-18). Stephen to insist on the fact that God's :: (4) His dwelling at Nazareth, and con- presence i:l not tied to one spot or country eeque!l.t appellation (vers. 19-23). (Acts vii). Of theso natunilly the first is tho most Vera. 1--12.-Born at Bethlehem, accord- important, o.nd it may indeed be that the ing to p-ropliecy, he receives there the homaga chief object of the evangelist was to show of representatives of the heathen tcorld. that Jesus satisfied the conclilions of pro- Ver. 1.-Now when Jesus; who has just phery with respect to his birth. Ho woe been identified with Chri,t. Ilut in this only driven from Detl.tlohem to Egypt nnd chapter the narrative employH ouly those subsequently to Nazareth blr tho je11lousy terms ("Jesus,'' "young C!Jild ") w hicb by- of tht1 ruler of the Jews. stauclers might have used. They arc purely annulistic, 11ot interpretative. Contrast Whilo, however, tho fulfilment of pro- eh. i. 18 and Herod's statement of n theo- phecy hy Jesus the Christ wns doubtless logical problem (vcr. 4). Was bom in the mo6t prominent thought in the evongc- Bothlohem. 'l'ho First G ospcl, if taken alone  30 'l'llE GOSPEL ACCORDING '1'0 ST. MATTHEW. [ea. n. 1-23.