The Gospel According to Matthew
Copyright© 2006, Darroll Evans

 

Chapter 1

 

As we begin this study, I must point out that while Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were written during the Church age, they were written about the end of the age of the Law.  The Gentile Church age does not begin until well into the book of Acts.  Acts is the first true New Testament letter.

 

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

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

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

7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;

9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;

10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;

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;

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

 

Let’s highlight a few names in Joseph’s family history.

 

Abraham is the one God chose to be the progenitor of the Israelites.  However, Abraham began life as Abram, a Gentile. Jews and Muslims claim Abraham as the progenitor of their nations and religions.  Christians claim Abraham as a spiritual father figure.

 

Gen 12:2-3
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

That promise was not made to Abraham.  Instead, it was made to a Gentile, Abram.  Christians are children of that promise.  God has made us a nation within other physical nations.  We are set apart, called out.

 

That promise is mistakenly assumed to be part of the Abrahamic covenant when it is actually a promise, not a covenant.  Again, Christians are children of that promise.  The covenant was enacted many years after the promise was given.

 

Isaac was Abraham’s son of promise as Jesus is God’s Son of promise.

 

After an encounter with God, Jacob became the father of the Israelite tribes.  Jacob’s name was changed to Israel.

 

Judas (or Judah) was Jacob’s fourth son.  Judah means “Praise Yahweh.”  Many times, the tribe of Judah led the way in uncertain times and travels.

 

Phares and Zarah are illegitimate twins born to Judah by his daughter-in-law, Tamar. 

 

In verse 5, Salmon’s wife was the Gentile harlot who helped the Israelites at Jericho, Rachab.  Their son, Boaz married another Gentile woman, Ruth. 

 

The book of Ruth depicts Boaz as a Christ-type kinsman redeemer.  That book also contains a beautiful response from Ruth as her mother-in-law, Naomi, tells her to return to her own people following the death of Naomi’s son, Ruth’s first husband.

 

Ruth 1:16 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:

 

Later Ruth married Boaz and their son Obed was the father of Jesse who was, in turn, the father of King David.

 

At least two Gentile women are in the lineage of Christ, Rachab (Rahab) and Ruth.

 

King David was the father of Solomon. His mother was Bathseba, who had been Uriah’s wife.

 

The list of Kings includes men such as Manasses (Manasseh) who was an idolater.  It also contains the name of Joisah who found the Book of the Law and restored the worship of Yahweh to Israel.

 

Some listed here were good administrators some were poor administrators.  Some were righteous some were idolatrous.

 

The lineage of Christ contains human, flawed men and women, Israelites and Gentiles.

 

Matt 1:17-25
17 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.

Verse 17 tells us of the generational separation between important historical landmarks in Israeli history, which bring us to the birth of Christ Jesus.

 

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.
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.
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.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
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.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

 

Notice that within this narrative, we are never given a date fro His birth.  Many Church historians agree that the December 25th date is inaccurate.  That date was decided on in later Christianity in order to placate the worshippers of Mithras

And make them “Christians.”  The most important date in the religion of Mithras was the winter solstice. Christ’s actual birth date was probably during the fall holy days.  Many believe it was on Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets.

 

Mary was espoused to Joseph, but they were not yet formally married, and they had not engaged in sexual intercourse when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

 

Both Mary and Joseph were considered righteous before God!

 

Joseph could have publicly broken the engagement, and in that case Mary could have been stoned to death. Instead, he showed his love by considering a private “divorce.”

 

At that time an angel appeared to him telling him of this blessing that God had entrusted to him.  The angel even gave him a name for the child---Jesus.  Jesus (Heb. Yahshua/Gr. Iesous-IesouV) means “Yahweh’s salvation.”

 

Verse 22 begins with a profound statement, “Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled.”  The statement points to what was said by the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14). It also highlights God’s plan for the ages.  No matter what our opinions, all things are done fulfill God’s plan.

 

Matthew wrote that a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son.  That has caused much controversy. 

 

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.

 

Many have supposed that both Isaiah and Matthew meant a young woman.  And that is nice but misses the point.  The title “the virgin” (Heb. Haa-almaah) means a damsel or young girl of marriageable age.  However, once a damsel has engaged in sexual intercourse, that description is no longer valid.  The Greek word, parthenos-parqenoV is accurate and means a virgin!  The debate over the word “virgin” is continued by ignorant men who do not accept Jesus as the Christ, nor the Bible as God’s Holy Word!

 

God promised a sign. A young woman becoming pregnant is not much of a sign.  It happens every day in every country in every race of people. That falls far short of being a sign!

 

The title/name Immanuel, God with us is also held in contempt by many supposed Christians who do not accept Christ Jesus as God the Son. 

 

In this chapter, many people miss the marriage of Joseph and Mary (verse 24).  They were married just prior to Jesus’ birth, but they did not consummate the marriage until after His birth (Verse 25).  Contrary to Roman Catholic theology, Mary was not a lifelong virgin.

 

Jesus birth is also spoken of in Luke.

 

Luke 1:26-35
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

Today, as Christians face the onslaught, once again God issues the admonishment, “Fear not!”

 

Chapter 2
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