Jesus' Family Tree! - Matthew 1

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 1

Today we start our journey through the New Testament, beginning with the first gospel, the gospel of Matthew. Matthew, who is called Levi, was a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Some modern scholars suggest it is someone other than the apostle who wrote the book, but the earliest church fathers believe it was Matthew, Jesus' disciple. 

Most scholars conclude that Matthew was not the earliest gospel written. Mark's gospel is the earliest written between 60-70 A.D. Matthew and Luke drew on Mark's gospel, but also provided their own unique emphases. Therefore, it is assumed Matthew's gospel was probably written between 70-80 A.D., after the temple was destroyed. Matthew's gospel is most interested in linking the Old Testament to the New Testament through Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. 

Many times in Matthew you will see the words, 'As it was written ..." In this first chapter, Matthew provides Jesus' genealogy linking him back to the two major covenants God made with His people. God's covenant with Abraham, was marked by circumcision, and God's covenant with David was marked by a crown.  Jesus is the promised Messiah, the King of Kings, who has descended from the house and line of David. 

Matthew tells the birth story through Joseph's eyes, whereas Luke through Mary. Joseph was Jesus' legal father and a descendant of the house of David. Commentators call this Jesus' "legal lineage", whereas Luke focuses on Jesus' blood lineage through the Virgin Mary. 

The key verse in this regard is, 

"Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah." - Matthew 1:17

As I mentioned, Matthew's birth narrative focuses on Joseph, especially in regard to how as a loving husband he wanted to protect his young fiancee, Mary. I mean put yourself in Joseph's position. His young virgin wife is pregnant, and Joseph knows it is not due to any inappropriate behavior on his part.

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:19

 Like Mary, Joseph benefitted from an angelic visitor, who told him, 

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.” 

I don't about you but if an angel appeared to me and told me my fiance was pregnant because of the Holy Spirit, I still would have been pretty uneasy. But again we see the obedience of Joseph. 

"When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."  Matthew 1:24

I am looking forward to journeying with you through the New Testament. The Christian life is a journey. As we begin a new year we see the unwavering faith of Joseph, who took Mary home as his wife in complete obedience to God's instruction through his angel. 

Where is God calling you to trust in him and take a step of obedience today? Joseph trusted in God which resulted in him being a part of the birth of Our Savior!  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more