Want to partner with us and help make more content like this possible? Donate Here: https://secure.ncfgiving.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0UVx000009MGYoMAO Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit Crossway.org/learnaboutcriticaltheory to learn how to get thirty percent off with a free Crossway plus account. In this episode, Sam and Will continue their series through the Gospel of Matthew by walking through Matthew chapter 2. They explain who the wise men (Magi) were, why they were watching the sky, and what it meant to come worship the newborn King. You will also hear about Herod’s paranoia, the prophecy of Bethlehem (Micah), and how God guided events through dreams and the flight to Egypt. The conversation explores the meaning of the gifts (gold, frankincense, and myrrh) and shows how Matthew connects Jesus to the story of Israel and Moses. Take a moment to ask yourself which response you are living out, worship like the Magi, religious indifference like the scribes, or control like Herod, and bring that honestly to Jesus. If this helped you understand the Christmas story in a deeper way, share it with a friend who is new to the Bible. Like, comment, and subscribe for more. Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro and Matthew 2 setup 00:00:30 - Genealogy pattern and the “seventh” fulfilled in Jesus 00:03:35 - Matthew 2:1-2, Magi ask for the King of the Jews 00:05:27 - Who the Magi were and why Daniel matters (theory) 00:08:43 - Signs in the stars, Psalm 19 and “the heavens speak” 00:13:00 - Did they follow the star to Jerusalem? 00:16:21 - Star of Bethlehem theories (Jupiter and Regulus) 00:20:10 - Judah and the lion, Genesis 49 connection 00:24:54 - Herod’s paranoia and why Jerusalem is troubled 00:28:44 - Sponsor: Crossway, “What is Critical Theory?” 00:29:37 - Bethlehem prophecy, Micah and the coming ruler 00:36:45 - Three responses to Jesus: Magi, religious leaders, and Herod 00:46:27 - Worship and gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh 00:49:16 - Dreams, flight to Egypt, “Out of Egypt I called my son” 00:59:04 - Herod kills infants, Jeremiah 31 and the new covenant hope 01:07:14 - Return to Israel, Nazareth, and Jesus’ ordinary years 01:14:31 - Prayer and closing encouragement Links SunlitStudios.com @TheBibleShowPodcast @UnderTheHoodFL Hashtags #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #GospelOfMatthew #Matthew2 #WiseMen #Magi #StarOfBethlehem #Herod #Bethlehem #ProphecyFulfilled #NewChristian #BibleExplained #FlightToEgypt #Jeremiah31 #Micah5