Matthew 1
Christ’s Genealogy and Back-story
The first half of Matthew 1 (1:1-16) concerns the linage of Christ, so that the prophecy about Abraham’s Line producing the Savior of the world would be proved true. Other Jewish “fathers” and notables are seen here; Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Boaz, Ruth, Jessie, David, Solomon, etc. Jesus’ linage almost reads as a who’s who of the bible.
St. Matthew makes note in v.17 that there are 14 generations between Abraham to David, 14 from David until the Babylonian Exile, and 14 from the Exile to Christ birth. I don’t have much interest in numerology, but there is a logic and timing to God’s plan for his people.
In verse 18 we are told the nature of Jesus’ conception. Before coming together with her husband, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Only God himself could make such a miraculous thing happen.
Now we get a glimpse at the character of Joseph, husband of Mary. How would one feel if they discovered the woman that they were to marry was pregnant? Most would probably go off in and rage and tell everyone what kind of promiscuous woman she was. What was Joseph’s reaction? He was calm, and to still wished to honor Mary with a quiet divorce (v19). Here we see that Joseph was a caring and kind man, who was slow to anger and not one to be spiteful. Obviously this kind of strong, manly leadership was where God wanted his son to be raised.
Joseph gets filled in on what was really happening, and the glorious news of whose child Mary was carrying in verse 20 and 21. Joseph was still thinking about what to do with Mary, not being hasty, and probably praying to the Lord about what to do. God directed him as to what to name the child, which Joseph followed obediently.
Here we have the first direction connection between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. Verse 23 quotes Isaiah 7:14, and is one verse, out of many, identifying Jesus as the promised Christ.
Joseph doesn’t wait to mull over what he’s told, he rises up from sleep and does what the Lord says. He probably informs Mary that he will marry her and what he was told by the angel.
Chapter 1 ends with information concerning Joseph and Mary’s sex life. Of course, according to Jewish tradition (and ours today) one wouldn’t consider a non-sexual relationship to be marriage, so it wasn’t until Jesus was born could Joseph and Mary actually consummate their marriage.
The first half of Matthew 1 (1:1-16) concerns the linage of Christ, so that the prophecy about Abraham’s Line producing the Savior of the world would be proved true. Other Jewish “fathers” and notables are seen here; Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Boaz, Ruth, Jessie, David, Solomon, etc. Jesus’ linage almost reads as a who’s who of the bible.
St. Matthew makes note in v.17 that there are 14 generations between Abraham to David, 14 from David until the Babylonian Exile, and 14 from the Exile to Christ birth. I don’t have much interest in numerology, but there is a logic and timing to God’s plan for his people.
In verse 18 we are told the nature of Jesus’ conception. Before coming together with her husband, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Only God himself could make such a miraculous thing happen.
Now we get a glimpse at the character of Joseph, husband of Mary. How would one feel if they discovered the woman that they were to marry was pregnant? Most would probably go off in and rage and tell everyone what kind of promiscuous woman she was. What was Joseph’s reaction? He was calm, and to still wished to honor Mary with a quiet divorce (v19). Here we see that Joseph was a caring and kind man, who was slow to anger and not one to be spiteful. Obviously this kind of strong, manly leadership was where God wanted his son to be raised.
Joseph gets filled in on what was really happening, and the glorious news of whose child Mary was carrying in verse 20 and 21. Joseph was still thinking about what to do with Mary, not being hasty, and probably praying to the Lord about what to do. God directed him as to what to name the child, which Joseph followed obediently.
Here we have the first direction connection between Old Testament prophecy and New Testament fulfillment. Verse 23 quotes Isaiah 7:14, and is one verse, out of many, identifying Jesus as the promised Christ.
Joseph doesn’t wait to mull over what he’s told, he rises up from sleep and does what the Lord says. He probably informs Mary that he will marry her and what he was told by the angel.
Chapter 1 ends with information concerning Joseph and Mary’s sex life. Of course, according to Jewish tradition (and ours today) one wouldn’t consider a non-sexual relationship to be marriage, so it wasn’t until Jesus was born could Joseph and Mary actually consummate their marriage.
posted by Ayric Andy | 11:42 PM
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