Book Of Matthew
The Birth of the King
Text: Matthew 1,2
Our Focus: Matthew 1:1, 18-25; 2:1-6
About 30 years after Christ Jesus had ascended back to Heaven, Matthew was inspired, by the Holy Ghost to write this "Gospel", the "Good News" of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
The Bible says:
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
You can look but you will not find in any of the "Gospels" [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John] any words where it says Matthew spoke at any time.
Matthew states from the beginning that these are the words of Jesus Christ, Son of David, and Son of Abraham.
Matthew did not write to tell us about himself. Matthew wanted us to know about Jesus.
The Bible says:
Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
You see, we need to have our own copy of the Word of God.
We need to have access to what Jesus said and to what Jesus did. Jesus
Christ is our example to follow. If we know the truth of Him we will love Him. If we love Him we will be saved, because we will obey Him.
Jesus says:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The Holy Ghost used Matthew for three important things in this "Gospel".
1.) To introduce a New Testament,[a New Covenant]:
It had been over 400 years since God had spoken to his children through the prophets. We know God had still worked in the lives of all His creation but no one person stood out during this time.
Jesus said:
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
You see Matthew was a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The theme of the Old Testament is this:
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
The Old Testament gives us the "History" of the Family of Adam.
God created man in His own image. God is a spirit so this does not mean the way we look as individuals. It is the soul and spirit of man where sin defiles God's creation.
The Apostle Paul best describes man's image:
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [your whole spirit and soul and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When God said His image part of this means we have a:
a.) Soul
b.) Spirit
c.) Body
A tree cannot sin against God. An animal can be used of Satan but the animal itself is sin free but can be punished such as the serpent used of Satan in Genesis:
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
We are not sinners because we sin. [We sin because we are sinners!] The sin of Adam was passed down through all his generations:
Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and [begat a son in his own likeness, after his image]; and called his name Seth:
The New Testament is about the "Generations of Jesus":
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Jesus is the last Adam:
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; [the last Adam was made a quickening spirit].
Jesus Christ came to this Earth to save all the "generations of the first Adam".
We can be born (born again) into the generation of Jesus Christ and become the children of God.
When we read of the generations of Adam we see the phrase "and he died".
The Bible tells us:
Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But in the Gospel of Matthew we read and "he begat" [where birth] not death is the message.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; [but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord].
The Old Testament is a "Book of Promise". The New Testament is a "Book of Fulfillment"!
The Redeemer is "Promised" in the Old Testament.
Matthew uses the word "fulfilled" 16 times.
Matthew refers back to the Old Testament at least 129 times to show us that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah, to the Jews and to the Christians.
2.) Matthew introduced us to the New King.
a.) Matthew writes the Gospel of the King.
b.) Mark writes the Gospel of the Servant.
c.) Luke writes the Gospel of the Son of Man.
d.) John writes the Gospel of the Son of God.
3.) Matthew introduced the New People.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, [That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, [tell it unto (the church)]: [but if he neglect to hear (the church)], let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
The "Church", the ones called out: It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible church. The sum total every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior in any denomination.(The Body of Christ)
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Matthew had an experience with the Lord:
Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mat 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Mat 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
It changed him for the rest of his life:
Mar 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
His old name was Levi (joined to the world) his new name was Matthew (the gift of Jehovah).
Matthew opened his heart to Jesus and became a new person.
According to tradition, Matthew's ministry was in Palestine for many years and then he made mission journeys to anywhere the Jews had been dispersed. Possibly Persia, Ethiopia, Syria and Greece.
The New Testament may be silent about the life of Matthew but the Holy Ghost made sure the writings of Matthew were to be contained in the 66 books we call the Bible.
*****Our Text:
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew's audience was to the Jews. Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah and King of the Jew and it was important to show His lineage. It was important for the world to see that indeed Jesus was without doubt the legal heir to the throne of David. Anyone claiming to be "the Son of David" had to be able to prove it. David was a national hero then and he is still now.
In all the New Testament you will not find that anyone questioned this fact about Jesus!
The documents were easily available up to the time of 70AD for anyone to prove different and they could not but to agree.
There is no one else that could prove such a thing now in our day.
It is easy to skip over these long list of names when we read but we miss some important lessons when we do.
This long list of names connect Jesus with the true history of this world.
THAT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE WAS A REAL PERSON IS AN UNDENIABLE FACT!
It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritance came through the father but the Holy Ghost provides further proof of true history of the Jewish nation.
In this lesson we would miss the Doctrine of Salvation in typology and actual lessons in the Doctrine of Salvation.
Jesus Christ is not of an earthly nature but He was born of the "Virgin Mary" in the earthly fashion. Because of this there are some shady charactery in His family tree. We could find some of the same in our own family tree. Because of forgiveness God accepts the past as if it did not exist.
I.) Grandma Tamar:
[Mat 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar];
The story in the Book of Genesis:
Gen 38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
Gen 38:12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Gen 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Gen 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
Gen 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
Gen 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
Gen 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
Gen 38:19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
The Results:
Gen 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Gen 38:28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
Gen 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
Gen 38:30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
We can see just how wicked this woman was. A "daughter in law" changed into a deceitful "harlot". Judah said that even through all this that [he was the one more deceitful].
a.) Tamar represents the DOCTRINE OF SIN.(In Typology)
b.) She "seduced" and "blackmailed" Judah her father in law.
Lev 18:15 says Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
We know Judah was deceived though he was still wrong. Tamar knew that she was doing evil.
Lev 20:12 says And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
A sin worthy of death by God's own words. But before we pass judgement!
The Bible says:
c.) Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
d.) INSPITE OF THE FACT SHE WAS SO WICKED, SHE WAS STILL ALLOWED TO BE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.
BECAUSE GOD NEVER CHANGES!
Mal 3:6 says [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
NOW THEN (I) ALSO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF GOD'S FAMILY.(God never changes)
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
II.) Grandma Rahab:
Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
a.) Rahab represents the DOCTRINE OF FAITH.(In Typology)
Jos 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Jos 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
Jos 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Jos 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
Jos 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
Jos 2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Jos 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
Jos 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Jos 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
Jos 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
Jos 2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
Jos 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
Jos 2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
Jos 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
Jos 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt [bind this line of scarlet thread] in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
Jos 2:19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
Jos 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
Jos 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and [she bound the scarlet line in the window].
Rahab came straight from the "Red Light District" into the family tree of Jesus Christ.
(Through the blood of Jesus)=The Scarlet line.
b.) Rahab had hid the spies and because she obeyed and bound the red cord(scarlet thread), she and her family would be protected and saved. DOES THIS NOT SOUND LIKE THE RED BLOOD OF JESUS THAT WE ARE WASHED IN.
Act 20:28 says Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].
c.) Rahab was changed from a "Harlot" to a "Hero").
Eph 2:12 says That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, [having no hope], and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 [But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ].
d.) She was also allowed into the family of God BY FAITH.
Luk 7:50 says And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Eph 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Heb 11:31 says By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Jas 2:25 says Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (Rahab's works came after she believed just as every child of God) She did not work to get her faith.
III.) Grandma Ruth: (Book Of Ruth)
Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and [Booz begat Obed of Ruth]; and Obed begat Jesse;
a.) Ruth represents the DOCTRINE OF GRACE. (In Typology)
Rth 1:16 says And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
b.) She moved to Bethlehem(House of Bread) from Moab(The Trashcan).
Mic 5:2 says But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mic 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Joh 6:33 says For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
c.) Boaz(Type of God) gave her everything she could ever want.
Eph 2:7 says That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
d.) She went from poverty to riches because of God's amazing "Grace".
1Pe 2:3 says If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
{GRACE IS THE UNDESERVED FAVOR OF GOD}.
Eph 2:4 says But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
By that same "Grace" am I saved! By that same "Grace" are we all saved that call upon Jesus!
IV.) Grandma Bathsheba:
Mat 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king [begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;]
2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
a.) Bathsheba represents the DOCTRINE OF FORGIVENESS.(In Typology)
b.) She conceived with King David while her husband was in the war.
2Sa 11:4 says And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
c.) She became an honorable woman as her son Solomon wrote.
Pro 31:10 says Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
d.) She is the perfect picture of forgiveness.
Act 5:30 says The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:14 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Eph 1:7 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Mic 7:18 says Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
**********WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BLIND TO NOT SEE THAT EVEN IN THE "BEGATS" GOD HAS REVEALED TO US HIS MESSAGE OF SALVATION.
1.) We are all sinners! [Tamar]
2.) We must all have faith! [Rahab]
3.) Only through God's "Grace" can we be saved! [Ruth]
4.) When we repent, we will be forgiven! [Bathsheba]
Matthew clearly omitted some of the male names in his list. We can see it was intentional and not because of his ignorance.
*****Our Text:
Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1:16-18 make it very clear that the birth of Jesus was different than that of any other Jewish boy that had ever lived. Matthew points out that Joseph did not begat Jesus but that he was only the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born.
Here Matthew adds, "who is called Christ".
Christ is the Greek word for "The Anointed" which in Hebrew would be intended the "Jewish Messiah".
The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth states that Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father.
The Bible says:
Isa 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.
and:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and [between thy seed and her seed]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
and:
Jer 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? [for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man].
It is in Jesus that these things were fulfilled.
Every child that is born into the world is a new creature but Jesus being the eternal God existed before Mary and Joseph or any other of His ancestors:
The Apostle John added these words:
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
*****Our Text:
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
The Days of Herod:
This was Herod the Great. Herod was not a Jew at least not a full blooded Jew. Herod was an Idumaean a descendant of Esau.
The Bible says:
Gen 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
Gen 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and [shalt serve thy brother]; and [it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck].
Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
I believe we can see that the prophesy of Isaac was fulfilled in this time of the Herods. Herod was a cruel and crafty man. He did not permit anyone, even his own family, to interfere with his rule. We can be sure he was influenced by Satan and nothing would permit him in the satisfying of his evil desires. He was a ruthless murderer who had slain a wife and two brothers because he suspected them of treason. He truly broke the rule of the Jews over Edom during his rule. He hated the Jews, the very people he ruled. It is no surprise for him to try to kill Jesus.
These wise men, Magi, were pagan astrologers from far to the East. We get our word "Magic" from this word "Magi". We must remember why these men had come to Israel and Jerusalem. "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"
It is probable that there were more than just three of them.
They came to Worship the Christ Child!
It is assumed by most people that there were only three of these men because of the three gifts that are mentioned. The Bible does not say. We can be sure of one thing, when this caravan arrived in Jerusalem it did cause a great commotion. We should believe that it would take more than three wise men to cause such a commotion in Israel. Herod was troubled and all of Jerusalem. Herod would not be so troubled by a small group of foreigners.
These men were Gentiles. From the beginning Jesus came to be savior to all the world!
The Bible says:
Joh 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: [for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world].
It seems that most Jew have never agreed with that.
If you follow the light of God, God's Creation, you will find yourself at the feet of Jesus either being a volunteer or against your own will, but all knees will bow to Christ Jesus in time!
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because it is in Christ Jesus that:
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
and:
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
That's Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
1.) These wise men were seeking a King.
2.) Herod was opposing the King.
3.) The children of Israel were ignoring the King.
We can see from verse 3 and 4 that these chief priests and scribes were well aware of the prophesies of the Messiah. They did not have to research for the answers. They had them memorized.
The Bible says:
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The wise men did not know this and God sent a star to guide them to the very home of Jesus.
The High Priests and Scholars of Israel were five miles or less from the Messiah and would not even go and see Him.
We can see that Herod took notice immediately at the mention of another King..
By now Joseph had moved Mary from the stable where Jesus was born to a house:
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Baby Jesus was at least one year old at this time but no more than two.
Bethlehem means "House of Bread". At this very place we are witness to the "Bread of Life".
The Bible says:
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
This Herod died in 4BC according to history. That would make baby Jesus to be born sometime between 6BC and 5BC.
As we begin our study into the Book of Matthew we will see that the fulness of time had come and the Savior of the World was born that He might die for all our sin.
Let's Pray!
The Birth of the King
Text: Matthew 1,2
Our Focus: Matthew 1:1, 18-25; 2:1-6
About 30 years after Christ Jesus had ascended back to Heaven, Matthew was inspired, by the Holy Ghost to write this "Gospel", the "Good News" of Jesus Christ Our Lord.
The Bible says:
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
You can look but you will not find in any of the "Gospels" [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John] any words where it says Matthew spoke at any time.
Matthew states from the beginning that these are the words of Jesus Christ, Son of David, and Son of Abraham.
Matthew did not write to tell us about himself. Matthew wanted us to know about Jesus.
The Bible says:
Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
You see, we need to have our own copy of the Word of God.
We need to have access to what Jesus said and to what Jesus did. Jesus
Christ is our example to follow. If we know the truth of Him we will love Him. If we love Him we will be saved, because we will obey Him.
Jesus says:
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The Holy Ghost used Matthew for three important things in this "Gospel".
1.) To introduce a New Testament,[a New Covenant]:
It had been over 400 years since God had spoken to his children through the prophets. We know God had still worked in the lives of all His creation but no one person stood out during this time.
Jesus said:
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
You see Matthew was a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The theme of the Old Testament is this:
Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
The Old Testament gives us the "History" of the Family of Adam.
God created man in His own image. God is a spirit so this does not mean the way we look as individuals. It is the soul and spirit of man where sin defiles God's creation.
The Apostle Paul best describes man's image:
1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [your whole spirit and soul and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
When God said His image part of this means we have a:
a.) Soul
b.) Spirit
c.) Body
A tree cannot sin against God. An animal can be used of Satan but the animal itself is sin free but can be punished such as the serpent used of Satan in Genesis:
Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
We are not sinners because we sin. [We sin because we are sinners!] The sin of Adam was passed down through all his generations:
Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and [begat a son in his own likeness, after his image]; and called his name Seth:
The New Testament is about the "Generations of Jesus":
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Jesus is the last Adam:
1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; [the last Adam was made a quickening spirit].
Jesus Christ came to this Earth to save all the "generations of the first Adam".
We can be born (born again) into the generation of Jesus Christ and become the children of God.
When we read of the generations of Adam we see the phrase "and he died".
The Bible tells us:
Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But in the Gospel of Matthew we read and "he begat" [where birth] not death is the message.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; [but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord].
The Old Testament is a "Book of Promise". The New Testament is a "Book of Fulfillment"!
The Redeemer is "Promised" in the Old Testament.
Matthew uses the word "fulfilled" 16 times.
Matthew refers back to the Old Testament at least 129 times to show us that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah, to the Jews and to the Christians.
2.) Matthew introduced us to the New King.
a.) Matthew writes the Gospel of the King.
b.) Mark writes the Gospel of the Servant.
c.) Luke writes the Gospel of the Son of Man.
d.) John writes the Gospel of the Son of God.
3.) Matthew introduced the New People.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, [That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, [tell it unto (the church)]: [but if he neglect to hear (the church)], let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
The "Church", the ones called out: It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible church. The sum total every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior in any denomination.(The Body of Christ)
Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Matthew had an experience with the Lord:
Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mat 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Mat 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
It changed him for the rest of his life:
Mar 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
His old name was Levi (joined to the world) his new name was Matthew (the gift of Jehovah).
Matthew opened his heart to Jesus and became a new person.
According to tradition, Matthew's ministry was in Palestine for many years and then he made mission journeys to anywhere the Jews had been dispersed. Possibly Persia, Ethiopia, Syria and Greece.
The New Testament may be silent about the life of Matthew but the Holy Ghost made sure the writings of Matthew were to be contained in the 66 books we call the Bible.
*****Our Text:
Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew's audience was to the Jews. Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah and King of the Jew and it was important to show His lineage. It was important for the world to see that indeed Jesus was without doubt the legal heir to the throne of David. Anyone claiming to be "the Son of David" had to be able to prove it. David was a national hero then and he is still now.
In all the New Testament you will not find that anyone questioned this fact about Jesus!
The documents were easily available up to the time of 70AD for anyone to prove different and they could not but to agree.
There is no one else that could prove such a thing now in our day.
It is easy to skip over these long list of names when we read but we miss some important lessons when we do.
This long list of names connect Jesus with the true history of this world.
THAT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE WAS A REAL PERSON IS AN UNDENIABLE FACT!
It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritance came through the father but the Holy Ghost provides further proof of true history of the Jewish nation.
In this lesson we would miss the Doctrine of Salvation in typology and actual lessons in the Doctrine of Salvation.
Jesus Christ is not of an earthly nature but He was born of the "Virgin Mary" in the earthly fashion. Because of this there are some shady charactery in His family tree. We could find some of the same in our own family tree. Because of forgiveness God accepts the past as if it did not exist.
I.) Grandma Tamar:
[Mat 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar];
The story in the Book of Genesis:
Gen 38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
Gen 38:12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Gen 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Gen 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
Gen 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
Gen 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
Gen 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
Gen 38:19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
The Results:
Gen 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
Gen 38:28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
Gen 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
Gen 38:30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
We can see just how wicked this woman was. A "daughter in law" changed into a deceitful "harlot". Judah said that even through all this that [he was the one more deceitful].
a.) Tamar represents the DOCTRINE OF SIN.(In Typology)
b.) She "seduced" and "blackmailed" Judah her father in law.
Lev 18:15 says Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
We know Judah was deceived though he was still wrong. Tamar knew that she was doing evil.
Lev 20:12 says And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
A sin worthy of death by God's own words. But before we pass judgement!
The Bible says:
c.) Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
d.) INSPITE OF THE FACT SHE WAS SO WICKED, SHE WAS STILL ALLOWED TO BE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.
BECAUSE GOD NEVER CHANGES!
Mal 3:6 says [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
NOW THEN (I) ALSO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF GOD'S FAMILY.(God never changes)
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
II.) Grandma Rahab:
Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
a.) Rahab represents the DOCTRINE OF FAITH.(In Typology)
Jos 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Jos 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
Jos 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Jos 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
Jos 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
Jos 2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
Jos 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
Jos 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Jos 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:
Jos 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
Jos 2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
Jos 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
Jos 2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
Jos 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
Jos 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt [bind this line of scarlet thread] in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
Jos 2:19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
Jos 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
Jos 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and [she bound the scarlet line in the window].
Rahab came straight from the "Red Light District" into the family tree of Jesus Christ.
(Through the blood of Jesus)=The Scarlet line.
b.) Rahab had hid the spies and because she obeyed and bound the red cord(scarlet thread), she and her family would be protected and saved. DOES THIS NOT SOUND LIKE THE RED BLOOD OF JESUS THAT WE ARE WASHED IN.
Act 20:28 says Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].
c.) Rahab was changed from a "Harlot" to a "Hero").
Eph 2:12 says That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, [having no hope], and without God in the world:
Eph 2:13 [But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ].
d.) She was also allowed into the family of God BY FAITH.
Luk 7:50 says And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Eph 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Heb 11:31 says By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Jas 2:25 says Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (Rahab's works came after she believed just as every child of God) She did not work to get her faith.
III.) Grandma Ruth: (Book Of Ruth)
Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and [Booz begat Obed of Ruth]; and Obed begat Jesse;
a.) Ruth represents the DOCTRINE OF GRACE. (In Typology)
Rth 1:16 says And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
b.) She moved to Bethlehem(House of Bread) from Moab(The Trashcan).
Mic 5:2 says But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mic 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Joh 6:33 says For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
c.) Boaz(Type of God) gave her everything she could ever want.
Eph 2:7 says That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
d.) She went from poverty to riches because of God's amazing "Grace".
1Pe 2:3 says If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
{GRACE IS THE UNDESERVED FAVOR OF GOD}.
Eph 2:4 says But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
By that same "Grace" am I saved! By that same "Grace" are we all saved that call upon Jesus!
IV.) Grandma Bathsheba:
Mat 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king [begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;]
2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
a.) Bathsheba represents the DOCTRINE OF FORGIVENESS.(In Typology)
b.) She conceived with King David while her husband was in the war.
2Sa 11:4 says And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.
2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.
c.) She became an honorable woman as her son Solomon wrote.
Pro 31:10 says Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
d.) She is the perfect picture of forgiveness.
Act 5:30 says The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Col 1:14 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Eph 1:7 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Mic 7:18 says Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
**********WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BLIND TO NOT SEE THAT EVEN IN THE "BEGATS" GOD HAS REVEALED TO US HIS MESSAGE OF SALVATION.
1.) We are all sinners! [Tamar]
2.) We must all have faith! [Rahab]
3.) Only through God's "Grace" can we be saved! [Ruth]
4.) When we repent, we will be forgiven! [Bathsheba]
Matthew clearly omitted some of the male names in his list. We can see it was intentional and not because of his ignorance.
*****Our Text:
Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Matthew 1:16-18 make it very clear that the birth of Jesus was different than that of any other Jewish boy that had ever lived. Matthew points out that Joseph did not begat Jesus but that he was only the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born.
Here Matthew adds, "who is called Christ".
Christ is the Greek word for "The Anointed" which in Hebrew would be intended the "Jewish Messiah".
The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth states that Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father.
The Bible says:
Isa 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.
and:
Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and [between thy seed and her seed]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
and:
Jer 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? [for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man].
It is in Jesus that these things were fulfilled.
Every child that is born into the world is a new creature but Jesus being the eternal God existed before Mary and Joseph or any other of His ancestors:
The Apostle John added these words:
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
*****Our Text:
Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
The Days of Herod:
This was Herod the Great. Herod was not a Jew at least not a full blooded Jew. Herod was an Idumaean a descendant of Esau.
The Bible says:
Gen 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
Gen 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and [shalt serve thy brother]; and [it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck].
Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
I believe we can see that the prophesy of Isaac was fulfilled in this time of the Herods. Herod was a cruel and crafty man. He did not permit anyone, even his own family, to interfere with his rule. We can be sure he was influenced by Satan and nothing would permit him in the satisfying of his evil desires. He was a ruthless murderer who had slain a wife and two brothers because he suspected them of treason. He truly broke the rule of the Jews over Edom during his rule. He hated the Jews, the very people he ruled. It is no surprise for him to try to kill Jesus.
These wise men, Magi, were pagan astrologers from far to the East. We get our word "Magic" from this word "Magi". We must remember why these men had come to Israel and Jerusalem. "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"
It is probable that there were more than just three of them.
They came to Worship the Christ Child!
It is assumed by most people that there were only three of these men because of the three gifts that are mentioned. The Bible does not say. We can be sure of one thing, when this caravan arrived in Jerusalem it did cause a great commotion. We should believe that it would take more than three wise men to cause such a commotion in Israel. Herod was troubled and all of Jerusalem. Herod would not be so troubled by a small group of foreigners.
These men were Gentiles. From the beginning Jesus came to be savior to all the world!
The Bible says:
Joh 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: [for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world].
It seems that most Jew have never agreed with that.
If you follow the light of God, God's Creation, you will find yourself at the feet of Jesus either being a volunteer or against your own will, but all knees will bow to Christ Jesus in time!
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because it is in Christ Jesus that:
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
and:
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
That's Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
1.) These wise men were seeking a King.
2.) Herod was opposing the King.
3.) The children of Israel were ignoring the King.
We can see from verse 3 and 4 that these chief priests and scribes were well aware of the prophesies of the Messiah. They did not have to research for the answers. They had them memorized.
The Bible says:
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The wise men did not know this and God sent a star to guide them to the very home of Jesus.
The High Priests and Scholars of Israel were five miles or less from the Messiah and would not even go and see Him.
We can see that Herod took notice immediately at the mention of another King..
By now Joseph had moved Mary from the stable where Jesus was born to a house:
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
Baby Jesus was at least one year old at this time but no more than two.
Bethlehem means "House of Bread". At this very place we are witness to the "Bread of Life".
The Bible says:
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.
This Herod died in 4BC according to history. That would make baby Jesus to be born sometime between 6BC and 5BC.
As we begin our study into the Book of Matthew we will see that the fulness of time had come and the Savior of the World was born that He might die for all our sin.
Let's Pray!
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