Matthew 2:13-23

1. Observe in this passage, how true it is that the rulers of this world are rarely friendly to the cause of God.
2. Observe how the Lord Jesus was "a man of sorrows" even from His infancy.
3. Observe how death can remove the kings of this world like other men.
4. Observe, in the last place, what a lesson of humility is taught us by the dwelling place of the Son of God, when He was on earth.

"Do you envy the rich and great? Does your heart say, "Oh that I had their place, and rank, and substance?" Beware of giving way to the feeling. The very wealth which you admire may be gradually sinking its possessor down into hell. A little more money might be your ruin."

"The Lord Jesus is just the Savior that the suffering and sorrowful need. He knows well what we mean, when we tell Him in prayer of our troubles. He can sympathize with us, when we cry to Him under cruel persecution. Let us keep nothing back from Him."

"True Christians should never be greatly moved by the persecution of man. Their enemies may be strong, and they may be weak; but still they ought not to be afraid. They should remember that "the triumphing of the wicked is but short."

"Pride is the oldest and commonest of sins. Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces. For humility let us labor. For humility let us pray."

Questions:

1. Of all the kings of earth, Herod should have been the one who should have known about and welcomed this new-born king, and yet he is the most eager to destroy him. Ryle draws from this that the rulers of the earth are rarely friendly to the cause of God and warns us against the desire to find help for God's kingdom amongst the rulers of earth. Do we envy the rich and powerful? Do we have thoughts that if only the governing authorities would be Christian then all things would be well? How does that compare with the exhortation, "Put not your trust in princes?" (Psalm 146:3)
2. We read that Jesus, the man of sorrows, experienced sorrow even from his infancy. Hardly born, Joseph and Mary have to flee to Egypt. From this Ryle encourages us that Jesus is just the Savior that the suffering and sorrowful need. He knows well what we mean when we tell him in prayer of our troubles. To whom or what do we run to in times of trouble, and how quickly? Do our lives show that we believe that Jesus can sympathize with our troubles?
3. We read of Jesus being born in Bethlehem and growing up in Nazareth. This might not mean much to our 21st century ears, but as Ryle highlights, of all the places mentioned in the OT, Nazareth isn't even mentioned once. We are meant to see in this just another layer of the humility of our Savior. In this we are exhorted to daily stive to copy our Savior's humility. Pride is the oldest and commonest of sins. Humility is the rarest and most beautiful of graces. Do we, as Ryle says, strive and labor for humility? Talk about what that could look like. Also, if you are interested, one good and very practical book you might consider taking up and reading is called Humility: The Joy of Self-Forgetfulness by Gavin Ortlund.