Bookmark Daily Bible Reading Calendar By: Ehimwenma E. Aimiuwu – Please LIKE us on Facebook
Matthew 2:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea (just 5 miles south of Jerusalem) in Judah (not Israel). Jesus was a citizen of Judah. The people of Judah were called Jews and those from Israel were called Samaritans (their capital Samaria). This was the major conflict between Jews and Samaritans. The Jews (Judah and Benjamin) had God’s temple, God’s Ark of the covenant, the palace of David, and Jerusalem as capital, while Israel (the other 10 tribes) had only Abraham and Moses, so they always contended with Judah. The 3 wise men came from the east to Jerusalem to seek the king of the Jews by following the star in the east (Africa is the west of Israel. The 3 wise men where Africans, not Europeans or Arabs, following the east star to Israel). They found Jesus and worshipped him, but took another route back to Africa to avoid King Herod (74BCE-4BCE), who was trying to kill Jesus. So an angel warned Joseph to take baby Jesus to African Egypt until it was safe to return. When Herod realized that the wise men returned to Africa without informing him about the location of Jesus, he ordered that all boys below two years of age to be killed in Bethlehem. After Herod died, Joseph was informed in a dream that Jesus could return, but he went to live in Nazareth in Galilee, Israel because Herod’s son was still king in Judea.
Matthew 3:
John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea asking people to repent because God’s kingdom was near. John’s clothes were cheap and ate only locust and honey, yet, masses went to him to give their life to God at the River Jordan. John would say to the Pharisees and Sadducees (Jewish ruling class) to change their ways and not use their blood with Abraham as excuse for being saved because God can make Abraham’s children from stones (God promise of land (Abraham) is different from the promise of seed (Jesus) and the later is more important). John was to baptize with water for repentance, but Jesus was to baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit. Jesus came from Galilee in Israel to be baptized in Judea in Judah, but John wanted to be baptized by Jesus, to which Jesus refused for the sake of fulfilling all righteousness. Jesus was baptized and God acknowledged Jesus in the Spirit of a dove (peace) as the Son of God.
Matthew 4:
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days to be tempted by Satan the Devil. Satan asked Jesus to turn stones into bread if he was the Son of God and Jesus replied that it was written that man cannot live on food alone but through the word (Jesus himself) that proceeds from the mouth of God. Satan took Jesus to top of the temple in Jerusalem and asked Jesus to throw himself down because it was written (Satan quoting the scriptures) that angels will protect Jesus (this shows that Satan controlled God’s temple). Jesus then replied that is was written not to test your God (Satan’s God as well). Satan then took Jesus to a high mountain to show him the glory and riches of the world and promised to give it all to Jesus if Jesus would bow down to worship him (This shows Satan as the ruler of the world). Then Jesus sent Satan away saying that it was written that only God should be worshipped and served. After the arrest of John, Jesus left Judah and returned to Israel. Jesus started choosing his disciples, preaching God’s word, and healing the people.