of Joseph's family, S. W. of Bethlehem, and yet it was out of Herod's jurisdiction, and many Jews were living there. Besides, it was the land where Abraham and Sarah had been saved from Pharaoh (Gen. 13. 1); where Jacob had taken refuge from famine, and Joseph had saved the holy seed (Gen. ch. 45); where Israel had been oppressed by Pharaoh, and whence they had set out under Moses for the promised land (Exod. 5. 6, and 12. 41). 15. Until the death of Herod. Herod died a most remarkable and loathsome death (Josephus' Antiq. 17. 10), in evident visitation of God, and about the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not probable that the family of Joseph remained more than a year in Egypt. The child was clearly under two years when Herod sought his life. He waited a sufficient time for the return of the wise men, and died soon after the brutal massacre of the infants. The whole occurred likely within about two years. "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness." Prov. 14. 32. His church and defeating its oppressors. And Israel's departure out of Egypt foreshadowed the subsequent departure of Christ, so that in the mind of the Spirit dictating the record, they could both be couched under the same prophecy. How marvellously God's plans are fulfilled, while those of his enemies are frustrated. 16. Mocked. Foiled-baffled in this plot. He now devised another method, prompted by his rage at this vexatious disappointment. He determined now to make sure of destroying Christ, by putting to death all the male children in all the region, or coasts, from two years old and under, as he understood this child to be within two years of age. ¶ According to the time. So he had calculated from all that he could ascertain of the wise men. He took the time of the star's appearing, and reckoned the interval since. Bethlehem had about two thousand inhabitants in and around the village, and Townsend calculates that about fifty infants were slain. 17. Then was fulfilled, &c. This That it might be fulfilled. Though event was in fulfilment of the prothis prophecy, in Hosea 11. 1, was phecy in Jer. 31. 15, and 40. 1. It is applicable originally to the Exodus not a mere accommodation of the lanof Israel from Egypt, yet it had also guage. The first and immediate refa reference to this event, viz., the Ex- erence was, indeed, to another event. odus of Christ from Egypt. The But this more remote occurrence was events are to be regarded as one in included also. Like lights far off and in the plan of Jehovah, for preserving | a row, the distant objects could be re heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ferred to as one. At Rama, a small town six miles north of Jerusalem, the Jewish captives were gathered in chains after the conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuzar-adan. The town was in Benjamin-and Rachel, the mother of Benjamin, is depicted by Jeremiah-himself a chained captive among them-as rising from her grave, which was between Bethel and Bethlehem (Gen. 35. 16), and weeping for her children or descendants refusing consolation because of their death. The prophet is made to use language which should contain also a reference to this sad event. Both calamities were full of wo for the Jewish people, and the Holy Ghost referred to both in one. How comprehensive is God's foreknowledge, "who declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead a which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Ar q Ex.4.19. things that are not yet done" (Isa. 46. 10). Are not these slaughtered innocents the first martyrs for Christ? 19. See note, v. 15. Herod had died, and it was now safe for the family to return. Joseph is so instructed by an angel. All his path is under direction of God, and under guardianship of angels (Psalm 91). It seems likely that Herod's son, Antipater, had shared in the father's malicious designs, but Herod had put him to death a few days before his own decease. How the families of the wicked are swept away! "The name of the wicked shall rot." See cuts below. 20. God had promised him word (v. 13). Joseph accordingly returned to the holy land, or land of Israel, but not to Judea. chelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee : T c.3.13. Lu.2.39. his surviving sons heirs to his kingdom. They were called Herod also, and are so known in Scripture. To Herod Antipas fell Galilee and Perea. | To Herod Archelaus fell Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. Joseph heard of this Archelaus, upon the throne in Judea, resembling his father in cruelty-having slaughtered three thousand persons at the first passover after Herod's death--and he was afraid to go within his jurisdiction. While in this perplexity he was specially directed by God, and turned aside into the parts or country of Galilee, where Herod Antipas reigned, who was a milder prince, and under whom Joseph could feel more secure. Galilee was the northern section of Palestine, Samaria being the middle, and Judea the south. See Map, and Bible Dictionary. - Nazareth was the place of Mary's former residence Luke 1. 26). This naturally influenced Joseph's course, and thither he would naturally have gone. Yet for this he had a higher direction, and a reason that had needs be stated here, to show the constant perils and persecutions of the holy child. Nazareth 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. s Jno. 1.45. t Nu.6.13. Ju.13.5. 1 Sa.1.11. Am.2 10-12, Ac.24.5. was a town in the lower part of Galilee, about sixty miles N. from Bethlehem. It was an obscure and despised place, which led Nathanael to ask, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" John 1. 46. And hence, Christ being a Nazarene, it is noted by way of reproach, as fulfilling not any one prophecy, but the substance of them all" A reproach of men, and despised of the people." Psalm 22. 6. Isa. 53. 2, 3, 4. "Jesus of Nazareth" was used as a title of contempt; and Matthew, writing for the Jews, brings out the Old Testament points, and the ample fulfilment of their prophetic Scriptures. Here, at Nazareth, our Lord remained till he was about twenty-nine years old, in comparative obscurity; and then, at thirty, entered upon His public ministry. months previously, John the Baptist appeared as His herald and forerunner, to which our evangelist now passes, in chapter 3. Meanwhile, Luke records an intermediate event. Six | | 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken remission of sins. Mark 1. 4. Paul distinguishes the two offices, 1 Cor. 1. 17, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." Baptism had been familiarly practised among the Jews, and known as the initiatory rite, and John came to introduce men to the gospel dispensation. (See Malachi 3. 1, and Mark 1. 2.) Baptism formerly admitted proselytes to the Jewish religion-now it admitted Jews to the gospel religion.-¶ In the wilderness of Judea. A rough, mountainous, and thinly populated district, along the Jordan. Luke says, "He came into all the country around Jordan." 1. In those days. This phrase hints to the reader, that a long interval of time is passed over in the history, as unimportant to be noticed. This covers the period of Christ's minority, 2. John's message was, Repent ye. which He spent at Nazareth, follow- Malachi, the last prophet of the Jews, ing His father Joseph's trade of car- had pointed him out, as acting in just penter (compare Matt. 13. 55 with such a capacity, as Christ's messenMark 6. 3), and attracting no special ger (3. 1)-as the Elias (4. 5)— public notice, save in the visit to Jeru- preaching repentance" turning the salem and the temple, at twelve years hearts of the fathers to the children, of age. (§ 13.) This was the period and of the children to the fathers" fixed, by common consent, as the age (4. 6). His business was to call for of discretion with males, when Jew- à general reformation among the Jews, ish youth became "sons of command- who had become degraded and corment,” and were bound to the observ- rupt. His exhortation was based ances of the ceremonial law. The upon doctrine-" Repent ye, for the object of the evangelists was to record kingdom of heaven is at hand." (See Christ's public ministry. Hence they also Mark 1. 4). He heralded the repass over a period of some seventeen mission of sins in Christ who was to years altogether-from his twelfth to come; the approach of Christ's prohis twenty-ninth. And Matthew here phesied kingdom-not earthly and skips a space of over twenty-five carnal, as the Jews had thought, but years-from the return from Egypt un- spiritual and heavenly; and on this til the public appearance of John the ground, and in keeping with this new Baptist. Luke gives the time from state of things, he charged them to the national data (ch. 3. 1). These alter their views, their hopes, and their events are connected with civil his- conduct. This is to repent. The Jews tory. John was six months older than held that the Messiah would expect Jesus. For an account of his parent-"a repenting generation. And in age and birth, see Luke, ch. 1. His one of their books they have this senparents were Zacharias and Eliza- timent, timent, "If Israel repent but one day, beth. He was called "the Baptist," presently the Messias cometh." There because this was his office, as distinct are two senses of the term, repentfrom Christ's-baptizing and preach-ance. The one is this thorough ing the baptism of repentance for the change of mind-of the hopes, pur of▾ by the prophet Esaias, say-ing, The voice of one crying in v Is. 40.3. poses, and course of life. The other is remorse. Judas repented in the last sense. It was "the sorrow of the world that worketh death." No anguish of feeling is anything, save as leading to Christ and to a change of life. And a hearty change implies substantial sorrow for past impenitence and depravity. Every one should repent because he has a wicked nature because he has lived wickedly; and because forgiveness is pro- | claimed to sinners in Christ; while Christ himself, the Saviour and Judge, is at hand. And there is no valuable sign of true repentance apart from a thorough reform of character and conduct. Repentance is not the ground of forgiveness. Yet sinners should repent of their sins if they would obtain forgiveness, because this is most fit and requisite, that the renunciation and confession of sin should go before the assurance of forgiveness, even as John the Baptist's work goes before Christ's. Though the forgiveness is proclaimed freely, and the goodness of God is urged as an incentive to repentance, yet only they who repent of sin can enjoy a sense of pardon, or know the meaning of forgiveness for themselves; and only they are actually forgiven. So, wise parents require of their children repentance. Yet often the parent's willingness to forgive freely, is that which provokes the heartiest repentance in the child. There is nothing in a sinner's repentance which obligates God to forgive. It does not take away sin. Neither is it because he repents, but because Christ has died, that he is forgiven. Hence, the message is, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John preached the baptism of repentance, (for) in reference to the remission of sins by Christ, who was at hand. Mark 1. 4. The coming of Christ is so spoken of, because this was what the prophets had pointed to. (Dan. 7. 13, 14.) David the king was to have a son and successor greater than Solomon, to sit forever on his throne. 1 Kings 2. 4; 8. 25. Jer. 33. 17. By the kingdom of heaven, is meant the gospel dispensation as the kingdom of Christ upon earth. It was now no longer distant, as it had been to prophets, but at hand, and very near. It was to be established in the death and resurrection of Christ. John was its immediate forerunner, to announce its coming; and so it was to be immediately expected. That kingdom is now set up. Since John's time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man (of all nations) presseth into it (Luke 16. 16). "For from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11. 12). They who urgently press into it, and earnestly lay hold of its benefits, are true Christians, and only they belong to it. "The word is nigh thee." Rom. 10. 8. The gospel of the kingdom is now preached. This kingdom, though set up, and proclaimed, and already come in its plans and offers, has not yet fully come in its results. So we are to pray, "Thy kingdom come," "that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened."-Shorter Catechism. 3. This is he. Esaias (called Isaiah in the Old Testament or Hebrew tongue, this being the Greek) had spoken of John distinctly, though not by name. It was more than seven hundred years before John's time that Isaiah prophesied. Here is another instance of a prophecy, referring just as truly to an event far subsequent as to the one nearer at hand. Though the passage in Isaiah (40. 3) referred more immediately to the deliverance and return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, yet the fuller application was to this greater event. And the subjects of the prophecy were kindred in themselves. The chosen people coming out of that captivity which so represented the bondage of sin; and the same covenant people |