1st Coming - Understand Prophecy - Yamartino
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Chapter 36 of  60

As with some other prophecies, in considering what one may have been able to predict from Jeremiah's words, the first question we have to ask is "How could someone have known that this verse could have been used to see into the future?" (36:5)

However, for those who may have thought that these words referred to the future (outwardly they speak in the past) it seems to refer to the suffering of a mother - specifically Rachel - for her children, who may have perished following some kind of tragedy (36:6)

Fulfillment (36:7)

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men (36:8)

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, (36:9)

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.(mat 2:16-18) (36:10) see

Commentary (36:11)

This prophecy refers not to Christ Himself, but rather to circumstances associated with His Coming. For Matthew it is a divine testimony to events in the life of his Lord (36:12)

The mysterious nature of prophecy is again demonstrated in this verse from Jeremiah. One wonders whether Jeremiah himself knew the significance of the words he had written, or whether it was left to Matthew to unfold their meaning. Whatever the case, the heart is moved at his description of the suffering which the slaying of the children of Bethlehem and the surrounding area must have caused (36:13)

Although both meaningful, and highly significant, this could not have led one to the Christ (36:14)

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