Matthew 1:17-2:2

Brother Jonathan continues going verse by verse through the book of Matthew.

 

Remnant Bible Fellowship

S3EP13

Bible Study through Matthew

 

“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” (Mat 1:17) The number of generations is only meaning those included by Matthew in the genealogy. It was common for genealogies to skip generations as long as there was a connection (grandfather to grandson, etc.). Matthew has emphasized Abraham and David as key points in the genealogy because of the covenants promised through them: Abrahamic covenant – “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.” (Gal. 3:13-16) Davidic covenant – “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” (2Sa 7:12-16) Both of these titles for Jesus were pointing to Him as the Messiah. The “anointed one” of God who was going to be the King of the Jews. “carrying away into Babylon” – This had happened around 586 b.c. during the time of the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel. God had warned the Israelites for hundreds of years about what would happen if they didn’t serve Him. He sent prophets to warn them, He sent plagues and enemies to chastise them, and they refused to listen as a nation. “And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.” (Deu 28:63-64) “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.” (Jer 25:11-12) “In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” (Dan 9:2) “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 1:18) “espoused” – Jewish espousal custom was different than what we think of as an “engagement” in western culture. If you were espoused to someone and they died you were considered a widow. Espousal was a legally binding procedure with witnesses, documentation, and a prenuptial agreement. It could only be broken by divorce proceedings. “she was found with child” – At this point she was about 3 or 4 months pregnant having spent three months with her cousin Elizabeth as we read in Luke 1:35, 56. “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 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 1:19-20) “her husband” – Notice that Joseph, though the wedding ceremony hasn’t happened yet, is already referred to as her husband. “a public example” – Joseph, as well as others for sure, believed that Mary had committed adultery. The punishment under the law for this was very serious. “If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.” (Deu 22:23-24) At this time, public stonings for adultery were not actually being carried out. Possibly because of Roman control. The religious leaders had to ask Pontius Pilate for permission to have Christ executed. There were certain things that happened though: She could be divorced and forfeit her dowry and any bride price must be paid back to the groom. She would almost certainly never be married again. This was a very serious matter that made sure that she would live in poverty the rest of her life. Her family would be greatly shamed and the groom’s family would be greatly dishonored. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Mat 1:21) “JESUS” – This was a common Hebrew name. It’s the same name as the “Joshua” who succeeded Moses after his death. The Hebrew form is “Yeshua”. When it is translated over into Greek it becomes “Iesous”. When this is translated into our English language it becomes “Jesus”. The name means “Yahweh/Jehovah saves”. This is understood to be prophetic about the child. It was showing what He would accomplish. He was going to save His people from their sins. Notice the pronoun use by Matthew. His name will be Yeshua (Jehovah saves) for HE shall save his people from their sins. Jehovah is the one who saves Matthew applies this to Jesus saying it is HE who will save. Matthew is pointing out that Jesus is God. The OT prophets point out that there is only one Savior. “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” (Isa 43:11) “Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” (Isa 45:21) “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.” (Zec 12:10) “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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 1:22-23) Oftentimes, an OT passage or prophecy had a direct historical application and then a future ultimate fulfillment. This was how Hebrew prophecy worked. There would be a pattern or “type” given in a true historical setting, and then this pattern would occur once or multiple times until a true ultimate fulfillment happened. Because of this there is a long line of pictures that prophetically pointed to what Christ would do and accomplish throughout the OT. This enabled the Jews, and us also now, to be able to look back and identify God’s hand in these things. Matthew consistently points out when something about Jesus life or ministry is fulfilling an OT prophecy or passage. His point in writing his gospel is to show that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Here he references Isaiah 7:14 and applies it to Jesus being born of a virgin. There is debate—especially by Jewish rabbis—about how Matthew applies this verse from Isaiah. (Read Isaiah 7:1-14) “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14) The immediate historical fulfillment was probably Isaiah’s own son cf. Isa 8:1-4. But we are told that Isaiah’s children were for “signs”: “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” (Isa 8:18) Even in the context Isaiah again uses the name Immanuel: “And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.” (Isa 8:8) Next, Isaiah uses a phrase that is directly applied to Christ elsewhere by other apostles: “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” (Isa 8:13-14) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isa 28:16) “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1Pe 2:6-8) Isaiah continues the prophecy into chapter 9 where he states this about this child: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isa 9:6-7) “Emmanuel” – This title shows us that not all aspects of prophecy were meant to be fulfilled literally. The Messiah’s name was named literally called “Emmanuel”. It was Yeshua, or Jesus. This is a title describing an aspect of the character or accomplishment of the coming Messiah. He was to be “God with us”, God manifest in the flesh. This is reinforced consistently throughout the scriptures. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col 2:9) “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1Ti 3:16) “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Col 1:13-15) “Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Mat 1:24-25) “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, 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 2:1-2) Luke’s gospel gives a more detailed account of Joseph and Mary and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. (Luke 1) “Bethlehem of Judaea” – Bethlehem was a small town about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. It was the hometown of King David, because Joseph was descended from David he had to travel back to Bethlehem on account of a Roman decree made by Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be taxed. This forced Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem while Mary was right on the cusp of time to give birth. Judaea is the NT form the Hebrew Judah. Bethlehem is in the area of the tribe of Judah. This also was prophesied in the OT that the King of the Jews would come from Judah. “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Gen 49:10) “in the days of Herod the king” – This is not the same Herod as the one who killed John the Baptist, nor is it the same Herod who Paul testified before in the book of Acts. This was Herod the Great who ruled from around 37 BC to 4 BC. He was a very wicked man who bribed his way to the throne by getting favor with the Romans who were currently over the Jews. He had his wife murdered, several of his kids murdered, and he would even try to kill the baby Messiah. “wise men” – This is translated from the Greek word “magos”. It is where we get the word “magic” from. These were oriental scholars, who were wealthy, and had a great deal of respect abroad. They occasionally would be called upon to choose who would be king of a kingdom, and they even had their own army. The arrival of these men to Jerusalem would have cause quite a stir. This is especially true given what they asked Herod. “from the east” – It is generally believed that the magi came from the region of Persia, possibly even Babylon. “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 2:2) The magi show an understanding of Jewish OT prophecy. There may be a good reason for this. The prophet Daniel at one time was made ruler of the “wise men” of Babylon: “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.” (Dan 2:48) Daniel was possibly the only prophet in the OT who was given a very specific prophecy about the timeframe when the Messiah would arrive. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Dan 9:25-27) This prophecy gives a clear timeline for when the Messiah shall be “cut off”. This supposes that the Messiah is already present at that time. The magi quite possibly were aware of this prophecy by Daniel and had understood enough to get an idea for when the Messiah should arrive.