The book of Matthew begins the Gospel chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We have, each of us, different appetites for the Bible. Said appetite naturally instructs us on how deeply to delve into the Bible while still remaining comfortable, aware and understanding of it. Matthew was the first piece of scripture which ignited my own appetite. Upon reading for the first time, I found it simple, common-sense oriented, uplifting and instructive. When asked, I recommend it as a place to begin one's study rather than Genesis (which I've only now covered in-depth many years later) because I do not think it is as understandable and tangible, nor as simply instructive as Matthew is to a first time reader. That said, each chapter in the Bible reiterates the same core messages in diverse ways with varying complexities. Therefore, one could theoretically begin in any place and extract the same meaning. I, however, on this blog-study with you, begin here:
READ ALONG WITH YOUR KJV, NKJV Bible.
Matthew 1:1-25
Here we are given the genealogy of Jesus Christ's mother Mary (of which he technically has no part). The particulars of Jesus' genealogy highlights, for the intensive-student that Jesus was born directly from many generations of the same family (which you can follow all-throughout the Bible). Jesus was born from a family blessed by God from the beginning, a family which tended toward producing pure and honest men and women who, when approached by God, were faithful and courageous in believing in and acting as instruments to bringing into fruition God's ultimate plan.
God uses a literal countless number of metaphors in the Bible. Whether or not you believe the Bible to be fact-based or metaphorical, each chapter in the Bible contains a message. Jesus Christ, factually, was born of one, protected and guided bloodline. Metaphorically, Jesus Christ was born through the purest family on the Earth, a family which at no time lacked at least one faithful believer.
"Why was this family so beloved, protected and guided?" It is because of their faith and their work. God is impartial, He claims each and every person along with their soul as his own. He remained with this family not because they were special or talented or beautiful in any exclusive way but because they remained with Him.
When you choose to live in accordance with the word, which exudes patience, forgiveness, and love those things are returned to you. Those things were returned to those members of this, Jesus', genealogy.
Christ is born through Mary.
(1:18) Mary, though engaged to Joseph, becomes pregnant with the child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew mentions a key fact: Joseph and Mary have not been married yet, they have not come together, it would be impossible for the child to be Joseph's. This child is through Mary alone, and of God alone. It is highlighted that Jesus' conception is from God, that he is not a product of man and woman.
Metaphorically we are to understand that Jesus is of God. God created science so undoubtedly he can manipulate it -- but if Jesus' conception is difficult for you to understand, just keep in mind that Jesus was created specially by God and sent here with a purpose. Mary was the vessel who accepted and raised Him until He became able to do His work.
(1:19) Joseph is kind and humble. His fiance becomes pregnant and the only concrete knowledge he has is that the child could not possibly be his. This concept is not difficult for us to imagine in 2015. We can each predict our own reaction if such a situation were to happen to us. We would be incredulous, hurt maybe or angry and we would respond according to those emotions. Joseph chooses to respect Mary and to help her. (In my opinion, what a great figure to be a sort of step-dad to the Child Mary was carrying!) Choosing to go against a hurt ego, Joseph helps Mary to conceal her pregnancy. An unmarried, pregnant woman would have been unfavorable news to the community. Although Mary had done nothing wrong, the actual circumstances of her conception would be inconceivable (no pun intended) to those around her.
(1:20) Joseph proved himself worthy, as I'm sure God knew he would. God allowed Joseph to act justly on his own, that his actions be of his own will, before He interceded. God lets Joseph in on Mary's secret. She has not wronged Joseph or been unfaithful but has indeed been chosen as a vessel for the world's mightiest teacher to ever live.
(1:21) "He will save His people from their sins" How does Jesus save His people? Many people misinterpret this sentence. Jesus saves us not because he DIED. True, Jesus died on a cross but his blood was not our redemption alone. Our redemption lives in what He did while he was ALIVE in the flesh. His TEACHINGS bring us to light and to life. Our work in service of what He taught is what delivers us from darkness. It's an important distinction. (James 2) Our faith in God is evidenced by our workings: our kindness, our forgiveness, our patience, etc. Christ dying does not automatically print out a ticket to heaven with your name on - but it does give you a seat on the train (so to speak) should you earn it now having been taught the way how to.
(1:23) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son..." Here scripture is fulfilled. The New Testament is intimately woven with the Old Testament. Isaiah (of the old) is quoted here in the New signifying that God's plan was developed well before Mary or Joseph were even in the picture. Although Jesus does not appear in the Old Testament as profoundly as he does in the New, mention of Him is riddled throughout the book.
(1:24) God does not speak to most of us the direct and commanding way He spoke to many in the Bible as He does to Joseph in his dream in this chapter. God is more subtle now. He is tangible but only if you are vigilant and reaching out for Him. There is reason for it - If God were readily visible to you, you would probably act a lot differently than you do when you're not 100% sure that His lens is focused on your actions. The truth is, we behave a lot better when we know our superiors are watching us than we do when all evidence suggests that they are not. God wants us to behave honestly. He conceals Himself so that we are free to roam and react to circumstance as we naturally would (independent of roaming and reacting in the ways we think we SHOULD). The book of Matthew gives the best examples of this and we will get to them!
Joseph marries Mary. God told him to do it, he trusts God, so he does it and without hesitation. Joseph is faithful and obedient (obedient because he trusts that God's instruction is his BEST option).
(1:25) Mary and Joseph wait for Jesus to be born before consummating their relationship. Jesus is born and named... well, Jesus but He is also known as Christ, Emmanuel, Yeshua and really a myriad of other things. Pick your favorite: they're all the same entity.
READ ALONG WITH YOUR KJV, NKJV Bible.
Matthew 1:1-25
Here we are given the genealogy of Jesus Christ's mother Mary (of which he technically has no part). The particulars of Jesus' genealogy highlights, for the intensive-student that Jesus was born directly from many generations of the same family (which you can follow all-throughout the Bible). Jesus was born from a family blessed by God from the beginning, a family which tended toward producing pure and honest men and women who, when approached by God, were faithful and courageous in believing in and acting as instruments to bringing into fruition God's ultimate plan.
God uses a literal countless number of metaphors in the Bible. Whether or not you believe the Bible to be fact-based or metaphorical, each chapter in the Bible contains a message. Jesus Christ, factually, was born of one, protected and guided bloodline. Metaphorically, Jesus Christ was born through the purest family on the Earth, a family which at no time lacked at least one faithful believer.
"Why was this family so beloved, protected and guided?" It is because of their faith and their work. God is impartial, He claims each and every person along with their soul as his own. He remained with this family not because they were special or talented or beautiful in any exclusive way but because they remained with Him.
When you choose to live in accordance with the word, which exudes patience, forgiveness, and love those things are returned to you. Those things were returned to those members of this, Jesus', genealogy.
Christ is born through Mary.
(1:18) Mary, though engaged to Joseph, becomes pregnant with the child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew mentions a key fact: Joseph and Mary have not been married yet, they have not come together, it would be impossible for the child to be Joseph's. This child is through Mary alone, and of God alone. It is highlighted that Jesus' conception is from God, that he is not a product of man and woman.
Metaphorically we are to understand that Jesus is of God. God created science so undoubtedly he can manipulate it -- but if Jesus' conception is difficult for you to understand, just keep in mind that Jesus was created specially by God and sent here with a purpose. Mary was the vessel who accepted and raised Him until He became able to do His work.
(1:19) Joseph is kind and humble. His fiance becomes pregnant and the only concrete knowledge he has is that the child could not possibly be his. This concept is not difficult for us to imagine in 2015. We can each predict our own reaction if such a situation were to happen to us. We would be incredulous, hurt maybe or angry and we would respond according to those emotions. Joseph chooses to respect Mary and to help her. (In my opinion, what a great figure to be a sort of step-dad to the Child Mary was carrying!) Choosing to go against a hurt ego, Joseph helps Mary to conceal her pregnancy. An unmarried, pregnant woman would have been unfavorable news to the community. Although Mary had done nothing wrong, the actual circumstances of her conception would be inconceivable (no pun intended) to those around her.
(1:20) Joseph proved himself worthy, as I'm sure God knew he would. God allowed Joseph to act justly on his own, that his actions be of his own will, before He interceded. God lets Joseph in on Mary's secret. She has not wronged Joseph or been unfaithful but has indeed been chosen as a vessel for the world's mightiest teacher to ever live.
(1:21) "He will save His people from their sins" How does Jesus save His people? Many people misinterpret this sentence. Jesus saves us not because he DIED. True, Jesus died on a cross but his blood was not our redemption alone. Our redemption lives in what He did while he was ALIVE in the flesh. His TEACHINGS bring us to light and to life. Our work in service of what He taught is what delivers us from darkness. It's an important distinction. (James 2) Our faith in God is evidenced by our workings: our kindness, our forgiveness, our patience, etc. Christ dying does not automatically print out a ticket to heaven with your name on - but it does give you a seat on the train (so to speak) should you earn it now having been taught the way how to.
(1:23) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son..." Here scripture is fulfilled. The New Testament is intimately woven with the Old Testament. Isaiah (of the old) is quoted here in the New signifying that God's plan was developed well before Mary or Joseph were even in the picture. Although Jesus does not appear in the Old Testament as profoundly as he does in the New, mention of Him is riddled throughout the book.
(1:24) God does not speak to most of us the direct and commanding way He spoke to many in the Bible as He does to Joseph in his dream in this chapter. God is more subtle now. He is tangible but only if you are vigilant and reaching out for Him. There is reason for it - If God were readily visible to you, you would probably act a lot differently than you do when you're not 100% sure that His lens is focused on your actions. The truth is, we behave a lot better when we know our superiors are watching us than we do when all evidence suggests that they are not. God wants us to behave honestly. He conceals Himself so that we are free to roam and react to circumstance as we naturally would (independent of roaming and reacting in the ways we think we SHOULD). The book of Matthew gives the best examples of this and we will get to them!
Joseph marries Mary. God told him to do it, he trusts God, so he does it and without hesitation. Joseph is faithful and obedient (obedient because he trusts that God's instruction is his BEST option).
(1:25) Mary and Joseph wait for Jesus to be born before consummating their relationship. Jesus is born and named... well, Jesus but He is also known as Christ, Emmanuel, Yeshua and really a myriad of other things. Pick your favorite: they're all the same entity.
