This coming Lord’s Day, the fourth Sunday of Advent, we are continuing our study of what was said about the birth of Jesus. And you will remember that up to this point we have considered what Mary said, what the heavenly host said, and then what Simeon said.

On Sunday morning, Christmas Eve, we will consider another passage from the Gospel of Mathew that will reveal what the “chief priests” and “scribes” of Israel had to say about the birth of Jesus our Lord and Savior—Matthew 2:1-6. Of course, as we have looked and listened to what was declared about the birth of Jesus by others, both human and angels, we have learned more about the kind of Savior that He is, and about the kind of people that He came to save. In other words, we have been learning much about the true meaning and glory of Christmas!

The words of these Biblical and theological experts of Israel, spoken in reply to Herod’s question about the exact whereabouts of the newborn Jesus, are recorded in Matthew 2:6. Their answer represents a combination and interpretation of three passages from the Old Testament that speak prophetically about our Savior and Lord—2 Samuel 5:2, Ezekiel 34:23, and Micah 5:2:

“In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel’” (2 Sam. 5:2).

And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd (Ezek. 34:23).

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days (Mic. 5:2).

What an amazing claim to make about the infant Jesus! And what a rich passage of Scripture to explore together on Christmas Eve morning!