the Gospel story

The Matthew Series, Chapter 1 Continued…

The rents

Imagine being an adolescent, engaged to a man (just as binding as marriage), in a culture where honor is so important, and being found pregnant could bring judgment, even death stones. And then this divine being asks you to carry the Son of God in your womb, the Messiah, who would save His people. Could you say no? I mean, you’re being asked to be placed in a very vulnerable situation, and yet this is God, all-knowing and all-mighty.

And think about how Joseph must of felt, a young man of honor and your bride-to-be is prego. He also would of endured shame and ridicule. But he, “being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” (Mat 1:19) And then an angel of the Lord appears to him and reassures him… “Your bride is alright, it’s just the Son of God that she’s carrying!” Could you imagine? “Honey I’m pregnant! And it’s the Saviour of the universe!” Talk about responsibility! But this Mary and Joseph, although they’re young and poor and simple people, they have what God is looking for. Good hearts, willing to trust in Him and accept this challenge.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ which means, God with us.” (Mat 1:22-23) Matthew quotes the prophet Isaiah who died more than 700 years earlier! Prophecy is a foretelling or forth-telling of God’s word about a truth, the present or the future. God uses such prophecies to bear witness to His authority, Kingship, faithfulness, and love. And he uses unlikely candidates, often an underdog, so we know where the glory goes. I think He knows we need confirmation, and I think He likes showing up and showing off when we seek Him. I think He loves us that much.

Isaiah 7:14

The Matthew Series, Chapter 1

The begats

The book of Matthew starts off with a genealogy of who begat who, the family tree of Jesus. This genealogy is evidence of a kept promise, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)  In other words, God promised a Hero from the line of Eve, and although He would suffer, He would defeat the deceiver.

It’s also a “royal blood line,” the heritage of the King. Interestingly, this blood line isn’t all noble. Look at the women who are listed: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, “the wife of Uriah” aka Bathsheba, and Mary. Widowed Tamar made it with her father-in-law to avoid being destitute, Rahab was a prostitute who helped save the Israelites in Canaan, Ruth was a foreigner who got Boaz drunk to sleep with her (to avoid destitution), Bathsheba was called upon by King David although she was married, and Mary was super young (maybe 13) and engaged… with someone Else’s baby. These women have a beautiful story, although they’re not “holier than thou,” and yet God cherished them and placed them in His royal blood line. Our God is able to see past the junk and chooses to redeem us from it.

The Matthew Series, Intro

Back ground info (from the Reformation Study Bible)

Whoever wrote the book of Matthew forgot to write their name on it (or didn’t think it necessary). However, tradition claims it was Matthew, the former tax collector who became one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. The book was written in both Hebrew and Greek, perhaps in Antioch where it was first quoted by Ignatius in A.D. 110, (his congregation was made up of both Jews and Gentiles). Most scholars believe it was written to Jews (the context focuses much on Old Testament fulfillment) around A.D. 60-70.

The book of Matthew is one of the four Gospels in today’s Bible. The Gospel message is about Jesus the Christ, His life, His teachings and His identity as the Messiah (the One who would bring ultimate reconciliation between God and His people.) The word Christ comes from the Greek Christos, which means “anointed,” as does the Hebrew word Messiah. In Hebrew culture, one was anointed with oil as a prophet, priest, or king. God promised “the coming of the righteous Servant of the Lord (Is 42:1-9), who will be a prophet like Moses (Deut.18:18-19), a priest like Melchizedek (Ps 110:4), and a king like David, the Lord’s anointed (Is 55:3-5; Jer 30:9; Ezek 34:24; Hos 3:5; Zech 12:8).” Jesus became all three and fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.