Matthew 1:1
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
A. \\#Matt 1:1-2:23\\ The Offering of the King
1. \\#1:1-17\\ The King is Offered to the Reader
2. \\#1:18-25\\ The King Is Offered to Joseph
3. \\#2:1-11\\ The King Is Offered to the World
4. \\#2:12-23\\ The King Is Offered to Herod
As we begin this study, we should note that the gospels are historical in nature.
Naturally, historical sections are not abundant in theology. Of course, this is
Bible history and should be of interest to every Christian. However, whether you
enjoy historical narratives or not, things will be a lot more exciting once the
story reaches the ministry of Jesus.
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
A. \\#Matt 1:1-2:23\\ The Offering of the King
1. \\#1:1-17\\ The King is Offered to the Reader
a. The book starts off with Christ’s genealogy through his adopted
father, Joseph.
(1) This genealogy is different from others.
(a) It is different because the One whose genealogy it is,
selected those would be in it!
(b) Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the only One
could both be the genealogy’s Subject and Author!
(2) Matthew’s beginning makes it obvious that he was not
interested in providing his readers with a book to
entertain, for genealogical records certainly do not
entertain.
(3) Rather, the genealogy was to provide the reader with Jesus’
credentials as King of the Jews; hence Matthew not only
demonstrates that Jesus is a Son of Abraham but the Son of
David as well.
b. This genealogy record has caused problems in theological circles
for several reasons.
(1) The record that Matthew gives omits some of the names
given in the Old Testament.
(a) This is most often answered in that the term "begat"
generally means "to bring forth."
(b) That fact that is applied to men argues that it was
not intended to literally mean "birthed."
(c) Often in the genealogical records of Scripture, some
names are omitted for reasons not given.
(2) The record given in Matthew differs greatly from the one
given in Luke. Luke shows the Messianic line going
through David’s son, Nathan \\#Luke 3:31\\, while Matthew
shows it going through Solomon \\#Matthew 1:6\\. The two
lines merge with Luke telling us that Heli was Joseph’s
father \\#Luke 3:23\\ while Matthew tells us that Jacob
was Joseph’s father \\#Matt 1:16\\. Two possible
explanations are normally considered.
(a) The more traditional view is that Joseph had two
claims to David’s throne, one through Nathan and one
through Solomon. The view works like this:
i. Both Matthew and Luke state that Joseph’s
grandfather was Matthat \\#Luke 3:23\\, spelled
Matthan in \\#Matthew 1:15\\. (These are not
the exact same Greek word but pretty close.)
ii. It is supposed that Matthan had the two sons
listed as fathers of Joseph, Jacob and Heli.
iii. It is further supposed that Heli married Joseph’s
mother, but died leaving no children; so that
his brother, Jacob took on the role of kinsman
redeemer and married her, conceiving Joseph
who by law was the son of Heli.
iv. This would make the genealogy given in Luke
Joseph’s legal claim while Matthews record
would be his biological record.
(Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament @ Matthew 1:2, Electronic Edition STEP Files
Copyright © 1999, Findex.Com. All rights reserved.)
(b) A more recent proposal is that Matthew gives us
Joseph’s genealogy while Luke gives us Mary’s.
(3) \\#1:17\\ "fourteen generations" - Matthew categorizes the
record into 3 groups of 14 generation, which should mean
that there are 42 names; however, there are only 41.
(a) In listing the divisions, Matthew includes David’s
name twice.
(b) David’s name concludes the first fourteen generations and
then it begins the second.
(c) Hence the following is the way Matthew intended we
read the list.
1. Abraham
2. Isaac
3. Jacob
4. Judas - married Thamar, Tamar \\#Gen 38, Matt 1:3\\
5. Phares
6. Esrom
7. Aram
8. Aminadab
9. Naasson
10. Salmon - married Rachab, Rahab the harlot \\#Matt 1:5\\
11. Booz - Boaz, married Ruth the Moabitess \\Matt 1:5\\
12. Obed
13. Jesse
14. David - "begat Solomon of her that has been the wife or Urias," Bathsheba
\\#Matt 1:6\\
1. David - The same name repeated.
2. Solomon
3. Roboam
4. Abia
5. Asa
6. Josaphat
7. Joram
8. Ozias
9. Joatham
10. Achaz
11. Ezekias
12. Manasses
13. Amon
14. Josias
1. Jechonias
2. Salathiel
3. Zorobabel
4. Abiud
5. Eliakim
6. Azor
7. Sadoc
8. Achim
9. Eliud
10. Eleazar
11. Matthan
12. Jacob
13. Joseph - husband of Mary \\#Matt 1:16\\
14. Jesus
c. It is interesting to note that five women are named in Matthew’s
record.
(1) It is unusual to have women mentioned in such records. Of
course, Mary’s mention as the mother of our Lord is easily
understood, especially since Joseph was Jesus’ adoptive
father.
(2) The other four women are mentioned in the Old Testament.
In fact, all four of these women might be considered
spiritually flawed in some manner.
i. \\#3\\ Tamar knew her father-in-law, Judah.
ii. \\#5\\ Rahab was a harlot and a Gentile.
iii. \\#5\\ Ruth was a Moabitess.
iv. \\#6\\ Bathsheba was an adulteress.
(3) We know that God accepted and blessed Rahab and Ruth, and
we might have supposed as much about Tamar and Bathsheba.
(4) However, Matthew gives us the rest of their story. They
were all placed into the Lord’s genealogical line, meaning
that were all used of God to bring forth Messiah.
(5) It is quite a blessing to see how God can use a spiritually
flawed person, isn’t it?!
d. Conclusion - The book of Matthew continues to offer Christ to the
Jews who will read and study it. Many generations of Jews have
chosen to reject the divine offer of a King; but it is hoped that
one day soon, they will accept.
2. \\#1:18-25\\ The King Is Offered to Joseph
a. It is interesting to consider that as the coming King selected His
ancestors, so He selected His parents.
(1) Here we have the record of God announcing His selection of
the father to the father.
(2) While it is difficult for us to imagine, both Mary and Joseph
were free-willed beings who could have chosen to reject
their role in Messiah’s coming. What would have happened
if they had, we will never know; for our Lord selected
parents for Himself who desired to serve.
(3) Notice that Matthew does not give us any record of the
angel’s contact with Mary just as Luke does not give us any
record of the angel speaking to Joseph. It is as if God
determined that these two books should not overlap on these
details but be companions to one another.
b. Several of the familiar elements of the Christmas story are seen
here.
(1) \\#18\\ "When… Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they
came together" - Mary was engaged and a virgin.
(2) \\#18\\ "…she was found with child of the Holy Ghost" and
\\#20\\ "…for that which is conceived in her is of the
Holy Ghost" - the immaculate conception
(3) \\#20\\ …the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
dream" - Angels are delivering God’s messages.
(4) \\#21\\ "…for he shall save his people from their sins" -
He is the Savior.
c. \\#19\\ Matthew does give us a new revelation; that is, Joseph did
not believe at first.
(1) "Then Joseph her husband" - Although still engaged, in many
ways, Mary was already his wife.
(a) Because she was promised to him, the law viewed Mary’s
pregnancy as adultery against him.
(b) The penalty was death \\#Deut 22:23-24\\.
(2) "being a just man"
(a) The word used here for "just" appears to place more
emphasis on the virtue of being righteous than it does
on being one who executes justice, although the word
could mean both.
(b) Had Joseph wanted to execute justice, he would have had
Mary stoned; but rather, Joseph desired to do what was
right. Those two are not always the same.
(c) Joseph determined that the right thing to do was to
divorce Mary privately.
(d) Joseph was obviously a merciful man.
(3) Joseph’s intention demonstrates that he did not believe Mary’s
pregnancy to be divine.
(a) It is possible that Mary had not explained her situation
to Joseph. After all, most would think, "What
explanation is necessary? A woman is with child. There
is only way that happens."
(b) But it would seem more likely that the two had some form
of communication between them. If they had, Joseph just
did not believe.
d. \\#20-21\\ So God stepped in. God sent an angel into Joseph’s
dreams to reveal to him that Mary was pure and that the Child
was Messiah.
e. \\#24-25\\ Conclusion - Joseph accepted the King.
(1) \\#24\\ Joseph "…did as the angel…had bidden him" - This
was a demonstration of love, obedience, and faith on Joseph’s
part.
(a) Joseph demonstrated both love for Mary and God.
i. There is no doubt this was not the way Joseph
envisioned his marriage or home starting out.
ii. Yet, like Mary, when he understood that God wanted
him and that Mary needed him, Joseph immediately
set about to do that which was right.
(b) Joseph demonstrated obedience.
i. "Then… being raised from sleep" - Joseph’s
obedience was instantaneous. The verse indicates that
Joseph’s began doing what the angel instructed as
soon as he awoke. He needed no more time to
consider his options, and he had no doubts of his
vision.
ii. \\#25\\ "And he knew her not til she had brought
forth her firstborn son" - Joseph’s obedience was
complete. To be sure that there was no question
about the Baby not being his, Joseph married but
did not "know" his wife until after Messiah was
born.
(c). Joseph demonstrated faith. Both Mary and Joseph
lived difficult lives. It is doubtful that anyone
believed their stories. Perhaps, for a time, they
even quit telling their stories; but whether others
knew what had happened or believed what happened,
Mary and Joseph knew. They would walk by faith
through stigma and accusations, but their faith
would be enough to sustain them.
(2) Some decisions are ours to make and some are made for us.
(a) Joseph did not get to decide whether his betrothed would
be with Child when he married her or not.
(b) But he did get to decide what role he would play in being
Jesus’ adopted father.
(c) Joseph chose to accept Jesus as King.
f. \\#22-23\\ Matthew quotes from:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
(1) More than any of the other gospel writers, Matthew will quote
the Old Testament.
(2) He does this because the role that Matthew is presenting is of
that Jesus as the Jewish King. To do that, he will have to
show that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.
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