Day 283: Matthew 1-3

(The New Testament began with four accounts of Jesus' time on earth. The first of these Gospel Accounts was written by St. Matthew. Matthew was also called Levi. He was a disciple and wrote a firsthand account. It was believed this account was written within five years of Christ's death. Many scholars believed Matthew preached among the Jews for fifteen years and was not a martyr. His account was focused on the Jews and understanding specifics of the Jewish culture which helps many passages take on deeper meaning.)

Matthew 1

(Verses 1-17: the genealogy of Jesus Christ through Joseph.)

¹ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

(Jesus was called the son of David and the son of Abraham. This book was written to the Jews.)

² Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;
³ and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;

(Judah begat Perez (a bastard) of Tamar who was Judah's daughter-in-law: Genesis 38. Judah having sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law would have been against the Law: Leviticus 20:12. This showed that sin was not the actual act (what), but according to the how/why. The act was an effect of the sin (how/why). Tamar was the first woman referenced in the lineage of Christ.)

⁴ and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon;
⁵ and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

(Rahab was a prostitute from Canaan: Joshua 2-6. Ruth was a widow from Moab: Ruth 1-4. Rahab was the second woman referenced in the lineage of Christ and Ruth was the third.)

⁶ and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah;

("Her that had been the wife of Uriah"…that was Bathsheba who was an adulteress: 2 Samuel 11. Although her name was not mentioned, she was the fourth woman referenced in the lineage of Christ.)

⁷ and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa;
⁸ and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah;
⁹ and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah;

(Ahaz passed on the opportunity to ask God for a sign: Isaiah 7. The sign was the prophecy concerning the virgin birth that was documented in the New Testament: Isaiah 7:13-15.)

¹⁰ and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;

(Manasseh was the reason God put Judah into captivity: Jeremiah 15:3-6. Notice, Christ's lineage came through the kings of Judah.)

¹¹ and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.
¹² And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;

(Zerubbabel led the rebuilding of the temple after the captivity.)

¹³ and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

(Verse 13 covered the time period that was written about in the minor prophet section of the Old Testament from Hosea through Malachi.)

¹⁴ and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
¹⁵ and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;

(Verses 14-15 covered "the silent period.")

¹⁶ and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

(Mary was a virgin and it was blatantly stated that Joseph was the husband of Mary. Mary was the fifth woman referenced in the lineage of Christ. The women, in order, referenced in the lineage of Christ were: a daughter-in-law who would have violated Leviticus 20:12 by having intercourse with her father-in-law, a prostitute, a widower, an adulteress, and a virgin.)

¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.
¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

(Joseph and Mary were "betrothed" which was Strong's #3423 mnesteuo - "to give a souvenir," this would be considered an exchange of tokens. Throughout the Old Testament the Marriage Covenant was initiated in one of three ways:
1) exchange of vows,
2) exchange of tokens, or
3) sexual intercourse.
The Marriage Covenant was completed with sexual intercourse. Mary was pregnant of the Holy Spirit. Joseph was holding God's office as Mary's husband because they exchanged tokens.)

¹⁹ And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

(Since Mary was pregnant, Joseph would have thought she was actually married to someone else because she must have had sexual intercourse. Since Joseph was righteous and just, he could not marry her unless she had a bill of divorcement. He also knew he could not have sexual intercourse because that would be committing adultery. Joseph could not divorce Mary because he would have thought she was married to someone else and only that man could divorce Mary. However, Joseph could "put away" Mary.

**Divorce and Putting Away are not the same thing.**

In the Old Testament, "putting away" was an ending of a Marriage Covenant and the removal of one spouse from the greater community because of fornication/unbelief. Joseph was able to put away Mary. He could testify she had committed fornication and must be removed from the greater community. The fact that Joseph did not want to make her a public example was the reason why Joseph would put her away privately. If anything, people tended to be put away publicly so that others in the greater community did not form a Marriage Covenant with this unbeliever. Many sources attempt to say that Joseph was going to do this privately because that was how people were put away, or divorced. The KJV and the ASV correctly translated this passage as "put her away." Many newer translations wrongly used the word "divorce." As we have seen, Joseph could not have divorced Mary, not only because he would not have considered himself her actual husband, but also because he would not have wanted to give her a bill of divorcement so she could marry someone in the greater community.)

²⁰ But when he thought on these things, behold, an 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 Spirit.

(While Joseph thought about the complicated situation presented in verse 19, an angel appeared to Joseph and told him that the child was of the Holy Spirit. This caused Joseph to realize that Mary had not been previously married. This also caused him to continue with the Marriage Covenant he and Mary had begun because he would have realized her pregnancy was not the result of Mary having had sexual intercourse with another man.)

²¹ And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.

(They were told to call His name "JESUS" because He will save His people from their sins. Jesus meant "savior." Notice, Jesus was the only person God caused to be born. The rest of humanity that was and will be born exist because their parents caused them to be born. Throughout the Bible, God caused people not to be able to conceive. God "closed up the womb" or "opened the womb" but did not cause conception. If God caused anyone else to be born, God would be responsible for their eternal destination. God provided us the ability to be saved, however it is our responsibility to accept Jesus as savior.)

²² Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
²³ Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.

(The angel quoted the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14.)

²⁴ And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife;
²⁵ and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.

(Joseph did not put away Mary and he did not consummate (complete) the Marriage Covenant before Mary gave birth to Jesus. Joseph was obedient and named the child "JESUS.")




Matthew 2
¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,
² Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

(See Isaiah 60:1-6. Also, the star in the previous verse may have been an angel like what was mentioned in Revelation 9:1.)

³ And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
⁴ And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.

(Some references claimed Magi were learned kings leading armed warriors to implement Justice. If this was the case, Herod may have been troubled just as much by a Magi army as he was by wanting to know where this rival king would be born.)

⁵ And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,
⁶ And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.

(The chief priests and scribes referenced Micah 5:2.)

⁷ Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.
⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.

(Herod told the Wise-men to search for Jesus and to bring back word once they found Him.)

⁹ And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
¹⁰ And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
¹¹ And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

(The Wise-men found Jesus and brought Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah 60:6 with the addition of myrrh which was used for burial.)

¹² And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

(God spoke to the Wise-men in a dream to not return to Herod.)

¹³ Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

(Again, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt. Notice, Joseph had two angelic dreams and the Wise-men had a dream from God.)

¹⁴ And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;
¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son.

(Joseph obeyed the angelic dream and the prophecy from Hosea 11:1 was fulfilled.)

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.
¹⁷ Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
¹⁸ A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.

(Herod became aware the Wise-men intentionally did not return to him. This made Herod exceeding wroth (angry) and children were murdered. Jeremiah 31:15 was quoted in verse 18. Also, remember Daniel 2:12 when none of the wise men could interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream? - "For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.")

¹⁹ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,
²⁰ Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life.

(A third angelic dream caused Joseph to return to Israel from Egypt. Joseph had a dream while in Egypt that eventually led to the king of the Jews returning to Israel.)

²¹ And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee,
²³ and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.

(Nazareth meant "branch." The closest passage that resembled this verse was Isaiah 11:1. Notice, God spoke to Joseph through a dream for the fourth time.)




Matthew 3
¹ And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,
² Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness. This means in order to hear his message, people would have had to intentionally go out to see/hear him.)

³ For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

(This verse referenced Isaiah 40:3.)

⁴ Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.

(See 2 Kings 1:8 for a similar description of Elijah.)

⁵ Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;

(The people "went out" to meet with John.)

⁶ and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(They were baptized by John. Nowhere in the New Testament did a representative of God initiate their will on others by demanding confession. John was in the wilderness, not the city. People going out and intentionally choosing to see John the Baptist was an act of confession. John did not make people confess their sins.)

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
⁸ Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:

(The Pharisees and Sadducees were not there for repentance. John preached repentance to people who chose to confess.)

⁹ and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
¹⁰ And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(John warned them not to think that because they were Jews they were automatically free from being "cast into the fire." These people chose to come out to see John, so John could initiate any confronting message he desired. The people had the right to leave if they didn't like what John the Baptist was preaching.)

¹¹ I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:

(John's ministry was to baptize in water unto repentance. Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire.)

¹² whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.

(Jesus will "burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." This will be uncomfortable but it will cause us to produce more. The Old Testament prophet sections repeatedly stated that precious metals were refined/purified by fire. The Old Testament consistently stated this purifying fire would come at the end of the Tribulation, at the completion of the Dispensation of the Law.)

¹³ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
¹⁴ But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
¹⁵ But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.

(There were two types of Rabbi's (Teachers) of that time:
1) Scribes were Torah Teachers. They would teach the first five books of the Old Testament to boys ages five to thirteen. Torah Teachers could only teach what was written.
2) The other type of Rabbi was a Semikah Rabbi. This Rabbi could widen Doctrine. A Semikah Rabbi had the authority to declare previously unknown Doctrine as divine. There were very few Semikah Rabbi's. Also, a Rabbi could only become a Semikah if two other Semikah laid their hands on him and declared him as Semikah.

John the Baptist was seen as a Semikah Rabbi. In verse 15, Jesus was stating that John, as Semikah, needed to lay his hands on Jesus.)

¹⁶ And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;
¹⁷ and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(God immediately laid His Hands on Jesus through the Holy Spirit. God (the Ultimate Semikah Rabbi) and John the Baptist declared Jesus to be a Semikah Rabbi. Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist was the official beginning of Jesus' Ministry. Remember, a leader facilitates the purpose and progress of others. Jesus could not have facilitated His own purpose and progress. There had to be another human who had authority and then facilitated Jesus' purpose and progress. John's mission was to facilitate Jesus' purpose and progress.

Notice, all three Persons of the Trinity were mentioned in verses 16 and 17. The Holy Spirit alighting on Jesus was the baptism of the Holy Spirit to fulness and was emblematic of the baptism of the earth by the Flood. The baptism of the earth was completed when the dove alighted on the earth in Genesis 8:11. Likewise, Jesus' baptism was completed when the Holy Spirit alighted upon Jesus.)

(This post covered the events of Jesus' life prior to the beginning of His Ministry.)

Day 284