Matthew – where we’ve been . . .  Matthew 1

(We’ve had the holidays and some travel tales and now let’s get back to Matthew!)

The Gospel of Matthew was written by the Jewish tax collector turned disciple.  Throughout his writing, he cites Old Testament prophecies, which Jesus fulfillfed—intended to show Jewish people in particular, that Jesus was indeed their long-awaited Messiah.  He leads with the genealogy of Jesus Christ, establishing that Jesus came through the bloodline of Abraham the patriarch, and most especially David the King.1

Pause for a moment here~we remember what Peter wrote, ‘For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.’2 So though it was a genealogy, it was inspired by God [the Greek verb for ‘inspired’ or ‘moved’ means God-breathed].  Why would I take the trouble to point that out?  Because a number of those listed in Jesus’ bloodline would seem out-of-place for many, particularly those of the first century.

Included by Matthew ~

?King Manasseh who was very evil

?not Jews only, but Gentiles (including a Canaanite and Moabite, enemies of the Jewish people)

?women!  (How scandalous!  Women had no social standing whatsoever in the 

 first century; and two of the women mentioned are known because of the sins

 they committed.)

Why would God inspire Matthew to name these people in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ?  Because there is and always will be the desire in the heart of God to gather ALL to himself, despite gender, ethnicity, social mores, or even wicked deeds.     

Further, the genealogy is a picture of what Jesus’ earthly ministry would look like.  Why Jesus broke every social more of his day!  He made a regular habit of dining with tax collectors (dishonest, despised), and sinners.  Jesus engaged women in conversation; in fact, Mary and Martha were counted among his closest friends.  He touched the ‘unclean’ – lepers, the hemorrhaging woman, the dead to raise them to life.  Indeed the genealogy that Matthew recorded was a foreshadowing of those Jesus came to love.

Oh, don’t you just love the brilliant words of God?  (If you do not, stop right now, and pray that God will give you a love for his Word—it will irrevocably change your life, and set you on the path to great adventure!) 

Funny thing is, as a kid whenever I read Matthew, I skipped over these first 17 verses … boring; but they are so meaningful and applicable to us today.  They show us the heart of God, the love Jesus would teach and generously give away, and something of the way we ought love all, in spite of differences or whatever else we let come between us. 

The birth of Jesus was announced to Joseph in a dream, telling him Mary, his betrothed, was expecting a child conceived by the Holy Spirit, who would save his people from their sin.  He was to take Mary as his wife; Joseph obeyed and married young Mary.  And Jesus was born in Bethlehem—the only person who ever lived before he was born!

Paul wrote of him, "Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

Everything was created through him and for him.

     He existed before anything else,

          and he holds all creation together."3

A Jewish tax collector captures so much for us in this first chapter of Matthew.  Read Matthew chapter one for yourself—circle names you recognize in your Bible.  Underline anything that impresses itself upon your heart.  Thank God for his precious words.

(All Morning Briefings and much more are archived at www.pastorwoman.com)

Christine

1 – Matthew 1.1-17

2 – 2 Peter 1.21, NKJV

3 – Colossians 1.15,17, NLT