The Christmas War: Matthew 2 and The Birth of Christ

In this episode, Rev. Chris Gordon is joined by Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan to delve into the historical and theological depths of Matthew chapter 2. They examine the character of King Herod—a paranoid and fraudulent leader—illustrating how his earthly power stands in stark opposition to the humble yet sovereign birth of the Messiah. The discussion emphasizes that while the religious establishment in Jerusalem remained indifferent, foreign wise men from the East were led by a star to worship the newborn King.

The conversation further explores the rich Old Testament typologies present in the narrative, identifying Christ as the "New Exodus" who delivers His people from the bondage of sin and death. By looking at the parallels between the first and second coming of Christ, Gordon and Borvan remind listeners that the birth of Jesus was not merely a sentimental event but a divine invasion of a world held captive, signaling the ultimate victory of God's grace over the powers of darkness.

Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
3:25 - Cultural vs. Scriptural Celebration
7:25 - Herod: The Fraudulent King
8:10 - The Wisemen and the Star
12:10 - Historical Context: Antiquities of the Jews
14:20 - Herod as an Antichrist Figure
18:30 - Christ’s Birth: A Divine Invasion
19:40 - The Indictment of Religious Leaders
22:30 - Parallels of the First and Second Coming
24:20 - Following the Star
25:00 - What the Magi Teach Us About Salvation
29:00 - Christ as the New Exodus
31:10 - The Flight to Egypt
34:00 - Old Testament Themes and Types

Guest Information:
Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is the pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. He earned his Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Historical Theology from Westminster Seminary California, with a thesis focused on Faustus Socinus.
Links: Christ Reformed Church - christreformed.org

Mentions:
Works: Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus
People: Faustus Socinus, King Herod
Verses: Matthew 2:1, Matthew 2:4, Matthew 2:9, Matthew 2:13

Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. Daniel earned his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary California in 2011. As a student at Westminster Seminary he learned that all study of Scripture, theology, and church history is put into practice in the worship and work of the church. The goal is to glorify Christ by serving His church. At Westminster Seminary he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology. His thesis paper was on Faustus Socinus.

Daniel is chairman of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. Some of his published articles are on the Heidelblog website. Daniel was installed as pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church, September 29, 2023. Daniel is married to Marcy and they have two daughters and a son.

x: danborvan