Matthew 2:13-23
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Reflection
Jesus did not enjoy the social status of a typical king. After fleeing threats from King Herod and his son Archelaus, Joseph eventually settled his family in Nazareth, raising the Son of God in a small Galilean village with a negative reputation (see John 1:46). As predicted by the Old Testament, Jesus would be called a Nazarene—his entire life would be marked with insults and rejection (see Ps. 22:6; Isa. 49:7; 53:3). From the standards of the world, therefore, Jesus seemed unimpressive and even foolish (cf. 1 Cor. 1:22). However, in this modest disguise there was “secret and hidden” wisdom (1 Cor. 2:7). Jesus had gladly embraced this humble calling because he knew that his rejection was ultimately for the sake of our acceptance.
Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Reflection
The gospel message is urgent in the light of God’s verdict on humanity. Our transgression deserves God’s wrath (Rom. 1:18). Verses 21–27 include a wide range of transgressions, all of which are dreadful in God’s sight (vv. 26–27). We are all guilty of multiple sins described in this passage (see vv. 28–31). Even if we do not practice every sinful deed found here, we may secretly approve and even envy when others cross God’s moral boundaries. Because of this, we fail to love God (because we break his commandments) and to love our neighbor (because we support our neighbors in their sin). The outcome is God’s rightful judgment.
Behind the good news of the gospel lies the tough news that all people are guilty of acts and attitudes that God has promised to punish unless we embrace his grace. The gospel is the antidote to our sin, because it tells us that God is willing to forgive us. When we believe God’s promise, our lives grow in the richness of knowing and being known by Christ.
Psalm 86:4-5
4 Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Because of the forgiveness that Christ has purchased, Christians can be open with God about our sin without the fear of being rejected by him. Be honest with God, confessing to him any known sin in your life, and believe in his promise to graciously forgive you (1 John 1:9).