Whenever you are arguing a point, it adds power to your position if you can cite other sources that support your view. This is Matthew’s method as he presents his case for the birth of Jesus the Messiah.

Matthew’s first chapter was devoted to the “who” revealing the “who” of Jesus and providing the child’s human genealogy and the truth about his divine conception by the Holy Spirit. Matthew’s second chapter is devoted to the “where” tracing the “where” of this new Messiah’s early earthly life. At every stage of his infancy narrative, Matthew cites scriptural texts as supportive evidence of the divinely ordained nature and ordered experiences encountered by the baby born to be Messiah.

After the magi are warned in a dream to avoid returning to Herod, Matthew reveals that Joseph receiv…