lease begin by reading the Shema out loud and continue trying to memorize it.

“Hear, O Israel. The LORD is our God. The LORD alone. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Amen.”

In the next section of Matthew there is a picture that is easily missed by the Western reader. Read Matthew 2:1 (out loud) to find out where Jesus was born.

In our Day 4 study, we found out that names had meanings. This pertained to names of people as well as names of places. Sometimes the meaning was found in the definition of the word, as is the case with the word “Immanuel,” means “God with us.” Sometimes the name created a picture that contributed to the meaning.

In today’s reading, we don’t want to miss out on the “picture meaning” of the place where Jesus was born – Bethlehem. In Hebrew, “beth” means “house or place” and “lechem” means “bread.” What is a house or place of bread called? You’re right, a bakery.

Read John 6:35 (out loud). What does Jesus call Himself?

So we read in Matthew 2:1, that the “bread of life” was born in “a bakery.” That is not intended to be funny. It is meant to be a powerful teaching with pictures. The Western mind tries to find the city of Bethlehem on a map (which is okay), but we completely miss the picture of God’s perfect design.

Read Matthew 2:1-6 (out loud). We find out that Jesus’ birthplace was another sign from the prophets.

Read Micah 5:2 (out loud). This verse is where this prophecy is given. This is our fourth prophecy to be fulfilled.

Source:
Ray Vander Laan – That the World May Know