Dr Tom Hover
January 12, 2025
Matthew 1:1-25 / Matthew 2:1-23
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS / THE WISE WILL
IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS! Matthew 1:1-25
INTRODUCTION: Matthew presents Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, Mark focuses on Jesus as the suffering servant, Luke highlights Jesus as the savior for all people, and John portrays Jesus as the divine Son of God. These perspectives collectively provide a comprehensive understanding of Jesus's identity and mission. The Gospel of Matthew is a vital connector of the Old Testament to the New Testament. In fact, no book in the New Testament makes a better book to start the New Testament and connect it to the Old Testament than Matthew. And the first chapter of Matthew is especially vital in connecting the Old Testament to the New Testament. The Old Testament saw Christ in the future; the New Testament sees Christ in fulfillment and begins with the fulfillment of Christ right in the very first chapter of Matthew: Matthew 1:22-23 Matthew 1 can be divided into two major parts let’s look at them:
I. JESUS’ ANCESTORS Matthew 1:1-17
A. The Preface of the Ancestry “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ” Matthew 1:1
B. The Purpose of the Ancestry “The son of David”
Matt. 1:1, Gen. 12:3, 22:18, II Samuel 7:12, Psalm 132:11
C. The Prince in the Ancestry Matthew 1:6 “David the king” Matt. 1:6. There are a number of kings (at least 15) in the genealogy listed here in Matthew, but only one is called “king,” and that is David. He is called “king” twice in Matthew 1:6.
D. The Paternity of the Ancestry Matthew 1:16. And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. There is a distinct change in the language when the ancestry gets to Joseph, the husband of Mary. The word “begat” occurs some 39 times in the genealogy found in our Matthew text. However, at the end of the genealogy it is not “Joseph begat Jesus,” but “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus.” This distinct change emphasizes the fact of the virgin birth of Christ. Joseph was not the human father of Jesus. Joseph did not “begat” Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ had no human father.
E. The People in the Ancestry Matthew 1:1–16
1. The family in the people. “Abraham” (Matthew 1:2).
2. The females in the people. Four significant women are listed in this genealogy besides Mary. They are Tamar (“Thamar” Matthew 1:3), Rahab (“Rachab” Matthew 1:5), Ruth (“Obed of Ruth” Matthew 1:5), and Bathsheba (“wife of Urias” Matthew 1:6). The first three women (Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba) all were defiled morally (as well as some of the men in the genealogy); and the other woman Ruth, who had good character, was a Gentile. The mention of these women in the genealogy emphasizes that the Gospel is for all people. Four were Gentiles, one a Jew. Three of these women were openly sinful, the other two practiced a religious lifestyle.
All five came from different nationalities. With all these differences, they all shared two things in common.
ONE: They are mentioned as ancestors of Jesus.
TWO: They were all sinners and in need of a Savior!
Romans 3:23, 5:12F. The Parts of the Ancestry Matthew 1:17
II. JESUS’ ARRIVAL Matthew 1:18–25
A. The Pregnancy for the Arrival Matthew 1:18
There was not a human man involved. It was a Divine miracle.
B. The Problem About the Arrival Matthew 1:18-21
C. The Prophecy About the Arrival Matthew 1:22-23
D. The Partner for the Arrival Matthew 1:24
E. The Protection for the Arrival Matthew 1:25
F. The Proclamation in the Arrival Matthew 1:21, 25
The meaning of the name “Jesus” carries an important evangelical message. The name “Jesus” means Savior. Thus, the naming of Mary’s baby proclaimed the message that the new babe was to be the Savior of people from sin. This name of “Jesus” condemns people, for it says they are sinful and need saving.
PM SERVICE TONIGHT 6 PM
THE WISE WILL Matthew 2:1-23
