Led by Stars and Dreams

This is the study page for the Thursday Bible Study group meeting December 27, 2012.  We will be in Matthew 2 (possibly 1 as well).

Read both chapters, 1 and 2 for context.  Read them several times, and look for odd things that don't match either within the text or with what we studied last week (this past Thursday).  There are quite a few deviations from the account in Luke beyond the obvious ones.

I hope to have a video to share about the star the Astrologers saw.  If not, we'll just plod ahead like we usually do.  If we do, it will probably take the whole time.  It's interesting and deviates from a lot of what is accepted theory about the timing of Jesus' birth.  For that reason (and that it's astronomy), I really like it.

After you jot down observations of your own, read through the chapters and consider the questions below:

• What's with the number 14?
• How does God seem to work with Joseph throughout both chapters?  What might that tell us about Joseph?
• Why are they in Bethlehem?  When did they get there?
• Where do the Astrologers go when they get to Judea?  Why go there?
• What does their inquiry tell you about what they don't know?  So, what did they learn from the stars?
• Why does Herod ask the religious people?  Why would he ask them about "the King of Jews"?
• If the religious people know where, why do they remain in Jerusalem?  What does that tell us about their estimation of the Astrologers?
• What really guides the Astrologers, and what is their response to it?
• Where are Joseph and Mary living when the Astrologers arrive?
• What do the visitors do when they see Jesus and His mom?
• What other options for routes do the Astrologers have to return to the east?
• Where does God send the family?  Why there?
• What does Herod do once he realizes he's been duped?  Why those particular ages?  What does that tell us about the timing of the stellar event?
• Why would there be little to no reliable extra-biblical historical record of such a massacre?
• Why does the family finally return to Israel?  Why not Bethlehem?
• How familiar does Nazareth seem to this story?
• Why Nazareth?  What's the "prophetic reference"? 
• If this is a reference to a "Nazarite Vow" (Numbers 6:1-21), what is the problem?

We will either go over these passages or the video.

Have a wonderful Christmas!