Intro to matthewsession2

Intro to the Gospel of Matthew
Session Two
Person of Jesus
Matthew 1:1-2:23

Jesus’ Genealogy Matt 1: 1-17
• The first two chapters of Matthew stand apart from
the rest of the gospel in terms of both content and
style
• Chapter 1 consists of two sections: verses 1-17
contain the genealogy of Jesus; verses 18-25 speak
of Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit and
acceptance by Joseph.
• Chapter 2 also has two sections: verses 1-12
describe the Magi’s search for the King of the Jews;
verses 13-23 contain the report of the early childhood
journeys of Jesus as his parents sought safety.

• "The book of the genesis," comes from the Greek
translation of the Old Testament (called the
Septuagint) in Genesis 2:4 and 5:1.
• A comparison of this genealogy with that found in
Luke 3:23-38 reveals a number of differences
• First, Matthew states that his genealogy is
constructed so there will be fourteen generations in
the three major intervals of Israelite history

• Second, it is clear that David and Abraham
are the most important figures mentioned in
this genealogy
• Both were recipients of significant promises
that shaped Jewish identity
• To Abraham God had promised the land of
Palestine, innumerable descendants, and that
they would become a blessing to all nations
(Genesis 12:2-3; 13:14-17 give the first
statements of these promises).

• To David God had promised that his
descendants would rule as kings forever in
Israelite history (2 Samuel 7:12-16).
• The Babylonian Exile had called these
promises of God into serious question.
• There are four points at which Matthew’s
genealogy breaks away from the normal
pattern of Old Testament genealogies.

• There are four points at which Matthew’s
genealogy breaks away from the normal
pattern of Old Testament genealogies.
1. Matthew mentions Jesus first
2. mention of Judah and his brothers in verse
2 and Jechoniah and his brothers in verse
11 is unusual

3. The third unusual feature is the mention of
four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the
wife of Uriah (Bathsheba)
4. The final break from the typical pattern of
Jewish genealogies is the introduction of
Joseph as the husband of Mary

The Miracle of Jesus: Matt 1: 18-25
• This section of Matthew is often called the
birth of Jesus
• However, it is not about Christ’s birth but
rather is about his conception and the
survival of his parent’s marriage
• Verse 18 also describes Mary as engaged or
betrothed to Joseph. In the Jewish culture of
that time, the process of engagement and
marriage was quite different from that
practiced in modern Western society

• It has been widely claimed in sermons and
Bible classes that Joseph could have had
Mary stoned on the basis of Old Testament
Law
• Matthew describes Joseph as a "just" or
"righteous man.
• Though Matthew had named the Holy Spirit
as the agent of conception in verse 18, this
fact was not revealed to Joseph until verse 20

• It is the virgin conception [not birth]of Jesus
that both Matthew and Luke affirm.
• Matthew’s concern in this passage is to
explain to us how Jesus came to have
Joseph’s lineage for his genealogy
• Joseph’s thinking regarding the divorce was
interrupted by an angel of the Lord who
appeared to him in a dream

• The message from God had five points.
1. Joseph was not to be afraid
2. pregnancy was the product of the Holy
Spirit
3. unborn child would be a son
4. Joseph was to name him Jesus
5. the child would save his people from their
sins.

• "Jesus" is the English form of a Greek name
Yeshua
• Hebrew roots meant "Yahweh will save
• Verse 23 introduces the name Emmanuel
God is with us

The Visit of the Magi:Matt 2:1-12
• Matthew 2:1 dates Jesus’ birth during the
reign of Herod the Great
• Matthew 2 implies that the magi arrived in
Bethlehem some while after Jesus was born.
• The term "Magi" referred to magicians and
astrologers
• The message that the king of the Jews had
been born led the magi to logically travel to
Jerusalem

The Visit of the Magi: Matt 2:1-12
• when a tyrannical king is upset, even his subjects
who hate him have reason to be worried.
• That Herod would have consulted with the chief
priests and scribes is also surprising
• Matthew paraphrases the quotation from Micah 5:2
fairly freely. The Hebrew text of Micah 5:2
depreciates Bethlehem. Matthew turns it around to
heighten respect for Bethlehem by his phrase, "by no
means the least."

The Visit of the Magi: Matt 2:1-12
• The key concept in verses 9-12 is worship.
The picture of the magi worshipping Jesus
came to be seen as fulfillment of such
scriptures as Psalm 72:10ff and Isaiah 60:1ff.
• Gold and frankincense are mentioned in
Psalm 72:15 and Isaiah 60:6
• Psalm 45:8 and Song of Solomon 3:6 show
that myrrh was also seen as a gift fit for a
king

To Egypt and Home: Matt 2:13-23
• The final section of the birth narrative in
Matthew consists of a series of three brief
vignettes taking Jesus to Egypt and then to
Nazareth. Each is anchored by a quotation
from the Old Testament.
• The first narrative describes the angelic
revelation that the new family should flee to
Egypt.

To Egypt and Home: Matt 2:13-23
• The second vignette, verses 16-18, confirms
the wisdom of the flight to Egypt
• Finally, Matthew 2:19-23 narrates the return
of Jesus to Judea and then the move to
Nazareth in Galilee
• Perhaps this vagueness is because we can
find no scripture that describes the Messiah
as coming from Nazareth.

Study Questions for Reflection
• First Day: Read the notes on Matthew 1:1-
2:23. Look up the Scripture references given.
• Identify one or two new insights that seemed
important to you. Why are they important?
• Is there a spiritual truth in Matthew 1-2 that is
especially significant for you? Jot it down and
explain why it is important for you.
• Write a brief prayer asking God to help you
worship Christ as truly as the Magi did.

• Second Day: Read Matthew 3:1-17. Now focus on
Matthew 3:1-12.
• Summarize the message of John the Baptist in your
own words. What two or three things does he want
his listeners to do?
• Verse 3 quotes from Isaiah 40:3. Read Isaiah 40:1-
11. What themes that seem to apply to Jesus do you
find in this passage from Isaiah?
• Verses 11-12 speak of purification and the judgment
of God. What areas of your life need to be purified
before you would like to face God's judgment? Ask
the Lord to transform you in these areas

• Third Day: Read Matthew 3:1-17. Focus in on Matthew 3:13-
17.
• Why do you think John was reluctant to baptize Jesus? How do
2 Corinthians 5:21 and Hebrews 4:15 contribute to an answer to
this question?
• Do you think John should have baptized Jesus" Why? Or why
not? What do you think Jesus means when he speaks of
fulfilling "all righteousness" by means of being baptized? Does
Jesus' baptism have any significance for the question of
believers being baptized? If so, how?
• The voice form heaven seems to use the words of Psalm 2:7
and Isaiah 41:1. read Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42:1-9. What other
phrases in those passages remind you of Jesus? Why?

• Fourth Day: Read Matthew 3:13-4:17. Focus your attention on
Matthew 4:1-11.
• Why do you think Matthew narrated the story of Jesus' baptism
and the story of his temptation back to back? What title for
Jesus unites these stories? How does that title suggest an
application for us?
• Verse 4 quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3. Read Deuteronomy 8.
What instructions does that passage have that would help you
in the midst of temptation?
• Verses 7 and 10 quote form Deuteronomy 6:16 and 13. All of
Jesus' responses to Satan came in the words of Scripture
quotations. Write a brief statements about how you believe
Scripture can help us become victorious over temptation.

• Fifth Day: Read Matthew 4:1-25. Now focus in on Matthew
4:12-17.
• Matthew explains Jesus' ministry in Galilee by quoting Isaiah
9:1-2. Read Isaiah 9:1-7. What other references that describe
Jesus or his ministry do you find there.
• What is the event that seemed to trigger Jesus' movement to
Galilee and the beginning of his ministry? Are you aware of
other times when bad news or a crisis led to God beginning a
new work? Why do you think this might be a pattern for God?
• How does Jesus' message in Matthew 4:17 compare with the
message of John the Baptist mentioned in Matthew 3:2? What is
different about Jesus from John? Why is that important?

• Sixth Day: Read Matthew 4:1-25. Now focus on
Matthew 4:18-25.
• What is the call of Jesus upon Peter and Andrew? To
what degree do you think their call is also our calling?
Why?
• What is the three-part picture of Jesus’ ministry that
Matthew gives in verse 23? In what ways does the
church continue these three ministries? Do we need
to do more than these three? Why or why not?
• What is the response to Jesus that these focus
verses describe? How do you respond to Christ and
to his call upon your life? Write a brief prayer telling
him how you respond to him and to his call.

Intro to matthewsession2

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