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FRIDAY,
December
25th,
2020 –The
Nativity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
·
8:30 am
-Matins/Orthros
Click
this link to Orthros/Matins Gospel Reading
·
9:30 am -
Divine Liturgy.
Click
this link to Epistle Reading
Click this link to Holy Gospel Reading
Reading
MATTHEW 2:1-12 – GENTILES WORSHIP THE CHRIST
CHILD
The Gospel:
1Now after
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,
behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying,
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His
star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
3When Herod
the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he
had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together,
he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5So they said
to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6‘But you,
Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of
Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people
Israel.’ ” 7Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise
men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8And he sent
them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young
Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may
come and worship Him also.”
9When they
heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen
in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the
young Child was. 10When they saw the star, they
rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 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.
SOURCE: Bible, Crimson Publishing. The Orthodox
study bible (updated old and new testament) (Kindle Locations 67989-67996).
Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Life Application Narrative:
MT 2: 1
Bethlehem is a small town five miles south of Jerusalem. It sits
on a high ridge over 2,000 feet above sea level. It is mentioned in
more detail in the Gospel of Luke. Luke also explains why Joseph and
Mary were in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, rather than in Nazareth,
their hometown.
MT 2: 1
The land of Israel was divided into four political districts and
several lesser territories. Judea was to the south, Samaria in the
middle, Galilee to the north, and Idumea to
the southwest. Bethlehem of Judea (also called Judah, 2: 6) had been
prophesied as the Messiah’s birthplace (Micah 5: 2). Jerusalem was also
in Judea and was the seat of government for Herod the Great, king over
all four political districts. After Herod’s death, the districts were
divided among three separate rulers (see the note on 2: 19-22).
Although he was a ruthless, evil man who murdered many in his own
family, Herod the Great supervised the renovation of the temple, making
it much larger and more beautiful. This made him popular with many
Jews. Jesus would visit Jerusalem many times because the great Jewish
festivals were held there.
MT 2: 1-2
Not much is known about these Magi (traditionally called “wise
men”). “wise men.” We don’t know where they came from or how many there
were. Tradition says they were men of high position from Parthia, near
the site of ancient Babylon. How did they know that the star
represented the Messiah? (1) They could have been Jews who remained in
Babylon after the Exile and knew the Old Testament predictions of the
Messiah’s coming. (2) They may have been eastern astrologers who
studied ancient manuscripts from around the world. Because of the
Jewish exile centuries earlier, they would have had copies of the Old
Testament in their land. (3) They may have had a special message from
God directing them to the Messiah. Some scholars say these Magi were
each from a different land, representing the entire world bowing before
Jesus. These men from faraway lands recognized Jesus as the Messiah
when most of God’s chosen people in Israel did not. Matthew pictures
Jesus as King over the whole world, not just Judea.
MT 2: 1-2
The Magi traveled thousands of miles to see the king of the
Jews. When they finally found him, they responded with joy, worship,
and gifts. This is so different from the approach people often take
today. We expect God to come looking for us, to explain himself, prove
who he is, and give us gifts. But those who are wise still seek and
worship Jesus today, not for what they can get, but for who he is.
MT 2: 2 The
Magi said they saw Jesus’ star. Balaam referred to a coming “star. . . out of Jacob” (Numbers 24: 17).
Some say this star may have been a conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and
Mars in 6 B.C., and others offer other explanations. But couldn’t God,
who created the heavens, have created a special star to signal the
arrival of his Son? Whatever the nature of the star, these Magi
traveled thousands of miles searching for a king, and they found him.
MT 2: 3 Herod
the Great was quite disturbed when the Magi asked about a newborn king
of the Jews because (1) Herod was not the rightful heir to the throne
of David; therefore, many Jews hated him as a usurper. If Jesus really
was an heir, trouble would arise. (2) Herod was ruthless, and because of
his many enemies, he was suspicious that someone would try to overthrow
him. (3) Herod didn’t want the Jews, a religious people, to unite
around a religious figure. (4) If these Magi were of Jewish descent and
from Parthia (the most powerful region next to Rome), they would have
welcomed a Jewish king who could swing the balance of power away from
Rome. The land of Israel, far from Rome, would have been easy prey for
a nation trying to gain more control.
The text tells us that not only was
Herod disturbed, but so was everyone in Jerusalem. When Jesus was born
into the world, people immediately began to react. His presence did not
soothe and comfort most people; instead, it startled and disturbed
them. In some he awakened spiritual longings; in others, fear and
insecurity. Things have not changed that much. Jesus still disturbs
people. If it is true that God entered our world when Jesus was born,
we dare not sit idly by ignoring and rationalizing our inaction. We
must acknowledge Jesus as the rightful King of our lives.
MT 2: 4-6
The chief priests and teachers of the law were aware of Micah 5:
2 and other prophecies about the Messiah. Matthew repeatedly
highlighted their knowledge and unbelief. The Magi’s news troubled
Herod because he knew that the Jewish people expected the Messiah to
come soon (Luke 3: 15). Most Jews expected the Messiah to be a great
military and political deliverer, like Alexander the Great. Herod’s
counselors would have told Herod this. No wonder this ruthless man took
no chances and ordered all the baby boys in Bethlehem killed (2: 16)!
MT 2: 6
Most religious leaders believed in a literal fulfillment of all
Old Testament prophecy; therefore, they believed the Messiah would be
born in Bethlehem as foreseen by the prophet Micah seven centuries
earlier (Micah 5: 2). Ironically, when Jesus was born, these same
religious leaders became his greatest enemies. When the Messiah for
whom they had been waiting finally came, they didn’t recognize him.
MT 2: 8
Herod did not want to worship Christ— he was lying. This was a
trick to get the Magi to return to him and reveal the whereabouts of
the newborn king. Herod’s plan was to kill Jesus.
MT 2: 11
Jesus was probably one or two years old when the Magi found him.
By this time, Mary and Joseph were married, living in a house, and
intending to stay in Bethlehem for a while. For more on Joseph and
Mary’s stay there, see the note on Luke 2: 39.
MT 2: 11
The Magi gave these expensive gifts as worthy acknowledgment for
a future king. Bible students have seen in the gift’s symbols of
Christ’s identity and what he would accomplish. Gold was a gift for
royalty; frankincense was a gift for deity; and myrrh was a spice used
to anoint a body for burial. These gifts may have provided the
financial resources for the trip to Egypt and back.
MT 2: 11
The Magi brought gifts and worshiped Jesus for who he was. This
is the essence of true worship— honoring Christ for who he is and being
willing to give him what is valuable to you. Worship God because he is
the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the
best you have to give.
MT 2: 12
After finding Jesus and worshiping him, the Magi were warned by
God not to return through Jerusalem as they had intended. Finding Jesus
may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is
responsive and obedient to God’s Word. In what ways has Jesus affected
the direction of your life?
Source: Tyndale. NIV Life Application Study Bible, Second Edition (pp.
7235-7236). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Kindle Edition.
Apolytikion of Holy
Nativity
Fourth Tone.
Thy Nativity, O Christ
our God, hath shined the light of knowledge upon the world; for thereby
they that worshipped the stars were instructed by a star to worship
Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Dayspring from on
high. O Lord, glory be to Thee.
Ἀπολυτίκιον
Η ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣ
ΤΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ
Fourth Tone.
Ἡ γέννησίς σου Χριστὲ
ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, ἀνέτειλε
τῶ κόσμω,
τὸ φῶς
τὸ τῆς
γνώσεως, ἐν αὐτῇ
γὰρ οἱ
τοὶς ἄστροις
λατρεύοντες,
ὑπὸ ἀστέρος
ἐδιδάσκοντο,
σὲ προσκυνεῖν,
τὸν Ἥλιον
τῆς δικαιοσύνης,
καὶ σὲ γινώσκειν
ἐξ ὕψους
ἀνατολήν,
Κύριε δόξα σοί.
Kontakion of Holy
Nativity
Third Tone
Today, the Virgin bears
Him who is transcendent, and the earth presents the cave to Him who is
beyond reach. Angels, along with shepherds glorify Him. The Magi make
their way to Him by a star. For a new child has been born for us, the
God before all ages.
Κοντάκιον Η
ΓΕΝΝΗΣΙΣ ΤΟΥ
ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ
ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ
Third Tone
Ἡ Παρθένος σήμερον, τὸν ὑπερούσιον τίκτει, καὶ
ἡ γῆ τὸ
Σπήλαιον,
τῶ ἀπροσίτω προσάγει. Ἄγγελοι μετὰ Ποιμένων
δοξολογοῦσι.
Μάγοι δὲ μετὰ
ἀστέρος ὁδοιποροῦσι.
δι' ἡμᾶς
γὰρ ἐγεννήθη,
Παιδίον νέον, ὁ πρὸ αἰώνων
Θεός.
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