Matthew 1

I know it’s too early for Christmas But today we are going to begin a study in the book of Matthew on the life of Christ. I believe that one of the things that we must do in church, is keep our focus on Christ. I think about Hebrews 12 where it says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. If I go 5 years without preaching through a gospel. That is a problem, so we are going to look at Matthew now.

For 400 years God had been silent to Israel. The prophets had completed there work. The Jews were waiting for there Messiah and they were under the thumb of the Romans and wanted their Messiah to come and set up His kingdom on earth. Similar to the way we say Maranatha every Sunday and some people are glued to their computers to study Prophecy.

And finally a Tax Collector of all people named Messiah writes a book to prove his point that Jesus is the King of the Jews the Lion of Judah. This is not a biography of Jesus it is the Suffering King. The one who is both the Lion and Lamb!

The next two weeks we are going to be looking at the Christmas Story. And here is my Theme for the next two weeks (Prophesied by Unexpected.)

Genealogy - The most interesting boring part of the Bible.

If you talk to a young growing Christian or an old stubborn Christian, they will say I try to reach the Bible, and I was doing ok until I get to those silly Genealogies and thats it. Now I will admit Chronicles is a tough genealogy to get through, it is long and difficult to make it through. But often if you are looking you will find treasures in Genealogies and I always say. If you are reading Genealogies it is ok to do some speed reading.

This is the genealogy of a Jewish King.

Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

I am not going to look at every verse but some that stand out and you must realize that this is different than Luke’s similar list. This list has a focus on two men. David and Abraham. Abraham speaks to Jesus Jewishness actually Judah will also do that, but also David speaks to Jesus Kingly authority.

Luke focuses on Adam. That isn’t important to Matthew and I get it. That isn’t Matthews point.

Sovereignty - For some reason, Tamar makes the list.

Matthew 1:2–3 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.

Tamar is one of three non Jews who make the list and one of five women in the list all of the non Jews are women, but this one is interesting most people know the other 4 Tamor is a mystery to most

Tamar preserved the line of Judah.

Genesis 38:26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

I don’t get Genesis 38, I don’t like the story, I kind of never want to preach on the story of Tamar, but as I read it, this is what I get out of it. I believe that the devil was actively trying to taint the line of Christ coming through Judah. Tamar preserved it, I don’t condone what she did to Judah, but God used her.

Rahab and Ruth make the list.

Matthew 1:5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Both women weren’t Jewish but unlike Tamar, when you read there stories you see an element of grace and those whose lives were clearly changed by encountering the LORD.

Grace - Rahab’s faith effected this genealogy.

Joshua 2:15–16 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

I called this message prophesied but unexpected. I believe that Joshua 2 is a hidden prophecy of Christ. The Scarlet chord and hiding three days. Come on. If that isn’t about Christ. But as we go on we are going to see clear prophecies that no one saw coming/

Redemption - Ruth entire story is one of redemption.

Ruth 4:10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.

do you see how God is just dropping hints, he protects the line. He hints at the gospel. He gives us reason for these women to be here.

Mercy - Bathsheba isn’t mentioned by name.

Matthew 1:6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.

Every list I read of women in this story included Bathsheba, but if you read the genealogy, Bathsheba is there but by golly she isn’t named. I think that is significant. I believe that with each of these 4 women we see another characteristic of what Christ would do to humanity. In Bathsheba’s case, I don’t think she deserves to be in this list. As a matter of fact I don’t think David deserves to be on this list. I think Uriah does, but not those two. But our merciful heavenly father is eager to forgive, pardon, and restore even the vilest of offenders who truly believes.

Purity - Mary is different from all the rest.

Matthew 1:16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

A couple of things. First, It does not say Joseph begot Jesus by Mary does it. No because Jesus did not get half his DNA from Joseph. This is important. Also the other 4 women all had reasons why they didn’t belong on this list. Mary is different in that she belongs. She is exactly the woman for the job at had. It had to be that way. I don’t think if you or I were writing this story we would have put the other 4 women in the story but God did. I don’t think I would put me in God’s story, the same would be said of you. But God placed us in the story.

Jesus was the product of a divine union with Mary and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

How the genetics of all this works only God can tell you. But Jesus was concieved of the Holy Spirit. I believe that the sin nature is passed by the Father and that Mary’s pure heart was the perfect vessel for Jesus. Mary wasn’t perfect. We shouldn’t worship her, and she had other children. But she was chosen for this job and that is amazing. Jesus was planted in the womb of Mary Invetro vertilization style, it was a miracle that allowed Jesus to be fully God and fully man. This is one of our core beliefs as Christians in FBCPC

Joseph was the right man for the job.

Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

Matthew 1 tells us the majority of what we know about Joseph. In the gospel Joseph’s story doesn’t play a prominent role. I don’t know why… Did he die, maybe? I don’t know.,

I just know that Joseph was a man of Godly character.

Joseph could have made a public example of her.

Leviticus 20:10 The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.

Imagine if Joseph had gone through with that the dream he had he credited to bad tacos.

He believed in doing the right thing, but apparently he also believed in mercy. He was probably floored by Mary telling him that she was pregnant. But he struggled with how to handle what would happen next.

Joseph had to be a man of faith.

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

He had to believe that angel that came to him with this message. He wasn’t looking to have Mary carry the Messiah. I don’t think any pure engaged couple was. The virgin birth came out of left field.

Jesus, there is just something about that name.

Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

The name Jesus litteraly means Yahweh Saves, very fitting for who He is and what He does.

Mary already knew the name.

Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.

I wonder how they discussed the name. Just picture this. This is the way my little brain works and I may be wrong. But Mary says to Joseph. I am pregnant HE IS FUMING MAD!!!! But Joseph I did nothing wrong I am a virgin. I don’t want to hear it Mary. That’s Impossible. Joseph has the dream. He comes back to Mary calm and says ok Mary tell me your story. She begins to tell it and gets to this part you shall call His name and they both say it together. The name that changed my life. The name that can change your life. The name that brings hope to this lost world. CAN YOU hear them saying it together. Say it with me JESUS!!!!!!

There is power in that name.

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Jesus, the Messiah was prophesied, but unexpected.

Matthew 1:22–23 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

A major part of Jesus birth is that Mary was a virgin. but the title of my sermon is that Jesus was

The virgin birth was subtly prophesied.

Isaiah 7:14–15 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.

I know what you are thinking. Pastor there is nothing subtle about that verse. I disagree. In the Hebrew that word virgin is vague. It just means young woman as a matter of fact in that verse the sign Isaiah is talking about refers to a prophecy that was much more contemporary to the events Isaiah was talking to Ahaz about and probably was fulfilled first in a young woman who bore an ordinary son. Now the fact that Mary is a pure chaste virgin is clear in Matthew. The greek makes it abundantly clear. But my point is through Matthew. I think the Jews were waiting for the prophecies of the Messiah. But when He arrived. What happened smacked everyone in the face with surprise. There is a ton of prophetic material about Jesus first coming. A number of which caught people off guard.

People will be caught off guard at His second coming.

Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

We are going to see this again next week. Remember this. You can’t fit God into your box. I have tried, it doesn’t work. At eleven I was convinced that Jesus was coming back in 1993 and the new millenium was going to start in the year 2000. I learned two good lessons. God doesn’t use my calendar, and it is impossible to pigeon hole God into my paradigm. Just read prophecy. Trust God that it is going to happen and it will all make sense. Don’t create an algarithm to find out when, where, how, and who. Trust God for the details.

Joseph was obedient.

Matthew 1:24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife,

Joseph had faith and showed his faith by obedience. The book of James says You say that you believe in God great, so do the demons and they tremble. You show your faith by acting on it. Let me put it this way. God says that you can not earn your salvation that is true. But you have to come to God in faith! Faith is that you believe in God. If you really believe in God, it changes your life.

God wants you to obey Him.

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

That should be our goal in this life. God said it, that settles it. How about you are you being obedient to God’s command. He said love God and love others are you doing that. If you have heard this message today you need to respond.

Joseph did the right thing.

Matthew 1:25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Matthew heard from God about this baby Jesus and it changed his life. He didn’t touch his wife. And when he was born he named him a name from a dream that he and his wife both had. Matthew responded to God’s message and did the right thing, what about you?

We have heard the same message of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:4–5 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

It doesn’t matter if you are irrelevant like Tamar

It doesn’t matter if you are the purest girl like Mary

It doesn’t matter if you are a prostitute like Rahab or an outsider like Ruth

It doesn’t matter if you are a good just man like Matthew

Or if you are a sinner like Bathsheba. The truth is we are sinners like Bathsheba

Christ came for all of you. If you respond to jesus in prayer you can be his child today. Maybe you need to be saved maybe you need to step out and let your faith grow. Respond to the gospel. I am giving an altar call. Maybe you haven’t ever responded to those the devil sits on your lap. You have to act in faith! Do the right thing call out to God and find the meaning of the word JESUS - YAHWEH SAVES!