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MATTHEW: AN OVERVIEW

(Part II)

Jim Laws

As has been mentioned before (Matthew: An Overview (Part I) Good News From Getwell, January 18, 1999) the book of Matthew presents five basic sections of material presenting to us the life of Christ. He begins with what might be term an introduction (chs. 1-2). Just as Genesis begins with the fact of God and His creative work in bringing the world into being so Matthew begins with the life of Christ in the flesh. It is a natural beginning point. To understand the rest of the Old Testament one would have to understand that God is and that we are His creation. To understand the life and work of Christ one would have to have a proper understanding of his fleshly beginning as well. So Matthew begins with a presentation of the legal genealogy of Jesus through Joseph (1:1-17). The material Matthew presents here is significant in that he proves to the Jew that Jesus of Nazareth is legal heir to the throne of David. He does not say that Christ was from the bloodline of David here that will be done by Luke (Luke 3:23-38). When he comes to Joseph in the listing he changes the wording from "begat" which he has used throughout the genealogy to, "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (Matt. 1:16). Jesus was born to Mary after her marriage to Joseph making Jesus lawful heir to the throne. This in and of itself does not prove the Messiahship of Christ but it is certainly a necessary element in that total proof.

Matthew then presents the facts regarding the birth of Jesus and the announcement of them to Joseph. The angel announces this to Joseph. When Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy, he thought of putting her away privately, that is, of breaking the engagement without causing unnecessary embarrassment and hardship to Mary. However, God explained to Joseph and for us all her true condition. The angel quotes from Isa. 7:14 about the virgin birth of the Christ and tells us that Jesus is its fulfillment. Joseph did as the angel instructed him. He took Mary for his wife and became the legal father of Jesus.

Matthew proves that Jesus was actually born the Son of God and that this too was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah. The prophecy had been given centuries ago and was a well-known fact among the Jews. By this time Matthew has accomplished two important matters. First, he has proven that Jesus is legal heir to the throne of David having inherited such from his stepfather Joseph. Second, he has proven that Jesus himself was born the Son of God by his being born of a virgin through the miraculous power of God.

By chapter two Matthew reveals that God directed the wise men to find Christ in Bethlehem and there they worshipped him. This shows that God himself was telling man that this one, Jesus, is indeed the Son of God. God protects Jesus from the wickedness of Herod as the wise men did not return to Herod, but went home by another route, being warned of God to do so. God protects him even further as he directly tells Joseph to take his family into Egypt. After the death of Herod God by way of the angel tells Joseph to return to Palestine. Upon arrival they learn that Archelaus, one of Herod’s sons, was ruling in Judea, they went into Galilee to their own city of Nazareth. Once again, all the matter of Herod efforts to murder Jesus, in his leaving for Egypt as well as his residence in Nazareth Matthew shows that God is protecting and guiding Jesus and his family. These matters are fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Events such as these prove to be a powerful introduction to the life of the Lord. They are convincing evidence to prove to the reader that Jesus is indeed who he claimed to be the Son of God.

MATTHEW continued

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