Matthew 2 & Daniel 2 – What’s the (possible) connection?
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2
Key x-References – The possible connection between the Magi and Daniel
Genesis 49:9-10 (NASB) *Identification of Messiah with tribe of Judah [~1500 B.C. ] “Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him up? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes…”
Numbers 24:17 (NASB) *Identification of Messiah with a star from Jacob (i.e. Israel) “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel…”
Micah 5:2 (NASB) *Identification of Messiah with a King from Bethlehem [~700 B.C.] “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”
Revelation 5:5 (NASB) *The long-awaited Messiah/King from Bethlehem [~A.D. 95] “…one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the
tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its
seven seals.’”
Key Background Quotes
Marco Polo claimed that he was shown the three tombs of the Magi at Saveh south of Tehran in the 1270s: “In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side…” (Book I).
The constellation of Leo—the Lion—was known to the Babylonian astrologers, possibly as early as 4000 B.C. The star Regulus in Leo was called the “King Star.” Ref: https://unifiedastrology.com › ancient-astrology-leo-great-carnivore and www.seasky.org › constellations › constellation-leo and https://www.constellation- guide.com › constellation-list › leo-constellation, etc.
Key Terms (most words have a ‘field of meaning’ —> various translations) “wisdom” (Exodus 31:3) Hebrew #2451 (145x), Strong’s chokmah; from Hebrew 2449 (chakam); wisdom (in a good sense) :- skilful, wisdom, wisely, wit.
NASB wisdom:— skill(5), skill*(1), wisdom(143), wisely(3), wits (1)
“wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30) Greek #4678 (49x), Strong’s sophia; from Greek 4680 (sophos); wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual) :- wisdom. NASB from Greek 4680; skill, wisdom:— cleverness(1), learning(1), wisdom(49)
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 2:16
The Wise Men From the East – Who were they and why did they come? 1st Sunday After Christmas 2021
“Wise Men Still Seek Him!”
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea…Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’”
Matthew 2:1-2 (NASB)
Outline
Introduction– Who were the Magi and why did they come seeking the newborn King? I. The visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-18)
A. The Magi in Jerusalem (vv.1-8)
B. The Magi make the 8 mile journey to Bethlehem (vv.9-12)
C. The Magi warned not to return to King Herod in Jerusalem (vv.13-15)
D. Herod kills all the infants in Bethlehem area 2 years old and younger (vv.16-18)
II. The possible connection to Daniel (Daniel 2:1-49)
A. The king’s dream and impossible order to the wise men of Babylon (vv.1-13) B. Daniel’s solution – God may give him the dream and interpretation (vv.14-18) C. God reveals the dream and interpretation to Daniel (vv.19-30)
D. The dream and interpretation (vv.31-45)
E. The response of the King (vv.46-49)
Key Verses (The possible Matthew 2—Daniel 2 connection)
Matthew 2:4-6 (NASB) *God’s plan included the place of Messiah’s birth [~A.D. 65] “Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem…out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” [cf. Micah 5:2 ~700 B.C.]
Matthew 2:11 (NASB) *Magi came to a house, not the manger (different location) “After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Matthew 2:16 (NASB) *Two years since they saw the star (different time)
“Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had deter- mined from the magi.”
Daniel 2:9 (NASB) *King Nebuchadnezzar was no dummy! Didn’t trust his wise men “…tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.”
Daniel 2:19-20 (NASB) *God enabled Daniel to save wise men of Babylon [~537 B.C.] “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; Daniel said, ‘Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.’”
“The king answered Daniel and said, ‘Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.’” Daniel 2: 47 (NASB)