1. The Genealogy
Matthew’s account of the Christmas story begins with a detailed genealogy tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17). This genealogy emphasizes Jesus’ connection to the Davidic line, establishing His royal heritage and fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah coming from the line of David.
2. Joseph’s Dream
After discovering that Mary was pregnant, Joseph, being a righteous man, planned to divorce her quietly. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, reassuring him that the child conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit. The angel instructed Joseph to name the child Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-25).
3. Birth in Bethlehem
As prophesied in the Old Testament, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a small town in Judea (Matthew 2:1). This fulfilled the prophecy spoken by the prophet Micah, who foretold that a ruler would come from Bethlehem to shepherd the people of Israel (Micah 5:2).
4. Visit of the Magi (Wise Men)
After Jesus’ birth, wise men from the East, guided by a star, came to Jerusalem seeking the newborn King of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-2). They had seen His star rising and had come to worship Him, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
5. King Herod’s Concern
When King Herod heard about the wise men’s quest, he was deeply troubled, as were the people of Jerusalem (Matthew 2:3). Herod, feeling threatened by the prospect of a new king, secretly called the wise men to determine the exact time the star had appeared.
6. The Star’s Guidance
Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, instructing them to search for the child and report back to him. The star they had seen in the East went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where Jesus was (Matthew 2:9). The wise men were overjoyed when they saw the star.
7. The Flight to Egypt
After the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, warning him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt (Matthew 2:13-14). The angel revealed that Herod intended to search for the child and kill Him. Joseph obeyed, and the family remained in Egypt until Herod’s death.
8. Herod’s Massacre
When Herod realized that the wise men had not returned, he became furious. In an attempt to eliminate the perceived threat to his throne, Herod ordered the massacre of all boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding region who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16-18).
This tragic event fulfilled the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah concerning the weeping and lamentation in Ramah (Jeremiah 31:15).
9. Return from Egypt
After Herod’s death, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, instructing him to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:19-20). However, when Joseph learned that Herod’s son Archelaus was reigning over Judea, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, Joseph withdrew to the region of Galilee and settled in the town of Nazareth (Matthew 2:21-23).
10. Prophecies Fulfilled
Matthew’s account of the Christmas story emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. From Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to His return from Egypt and settlement in Nazareth, Matthew demonstrates how Jesus’ life and ministry were a direct fulfillment of the Scriptures (Matthew 2:5-6, 15, 17-18, 23). This reinforces the belief that Jesus was indeed the long-awaited Messiah.