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TITLE: Fact Or Fiction
TEXT
: Matthew 2:11-16
PROPOSITION
: Fact needs to be separated from fiction regarding the birth of Christ.
QUESTION
: What?
KEY
WORD: Facts
READING
: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Tomorrow is a day called "Christmas".

  2. More in Bible on birth than any other event in Jesus' life except his death.

  3. More study needs to be done here.

Facts

  1. Jesus was born

    1. In Bethlehem

    2. In a stable

    3. At night

    4. Of a virgin named Mary

  2. Shepherds came

    1. Angels announced his birth

    2. They worshiped him

  3. Wise men visited Jesus

    1. From the east (Persia)

    2. Brought gifts

Fiction

  1. Born December 25

    1. Date set in 325 A.D.

    2. Matched pagan Sun worship

    3. More likely in late spring (April or May) - Shepherds do not keep sheep out all night in winter.

  2. Religious Holy Day

    1. Galatians 4:9-10 9But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? 10You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

    2. Romans 14:5-6 5One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

  3. Three wise men

    1. Three gifts! – The number of men is plural

    2. Generally traveled in large groups because it was a long trip

  4. Wise men at the stable - 11And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

    1. House Matthew 2:11

    2. Young child vs. "babe" (Luke 2:12)

    3. At least 40 days old (Luke 2:22; Leviticus 12)

    4. Two years old Matthew 2:16

Conclusion:

  1. More study needed here.

  2. Believe the facts - Obey the commands - Accept the promises

 


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