©2003 Pastor Tom Miles
The Great Commission
Chapter 1
Matthew 1:1-16 This is the genealogy of Jesus as recorded by Matthew. The book of generation means a recording of a genealogy and this one is of Jesus Christ, the son of David (2 Samuel 7:16 and John 7:42) Also the son of Abraham (Genesis 22:18 and Galatians 3:16) These records were carefully kept by the Jews and they show that Jesus Christ was the seed of Abraham from the tribe of Judah and family of David according to the prophets of the Old Testament letting us know that HE is Messiah, the one and only true Messiah and Lord and Savior of all mankind!
Matthew 1:17 Matthew is writing this Gospel to the Jews and they truly liked the manipulation or workings of numbers and divisions of numbers. It seems this would help one with memory to have like groups of numbers or items to deal with. Although it seems they have all been broken neatly into three groups of fourteen generations an actual count would show that some names are omitted from this record in Matthew. It has been proposed that king Ahaziah, Amaziah, and Joash have been left from the count because of their connection with the house of Ahab, which had been cursed by God. (2 Kings 9:8-9; 2 Chronicles 22:7-8)
Matthew 1:18-20 After this manner, a peculiar manner of birth according to the Greek translation of the phrase "On this wise" meaning 'that is' in other words in this manner a child was born and it was not in an ordinary birth. Joseph was engaged to Mary who was now pregnant with Child by the conception of the Holy Ghost. It was not Joseph's child and Joseph by rights could have done something about it thus causing the child to not be born. This though brings out the peculiar manner in that it was a miraculous birth ordained and carried out by the power of God! Joseph accepted Mary and accepted that which she said to be true and leaned not on his own understanding but trusted in his understanding and faith in God! When the angel came to Joseph he had no other options than to believe and realize that God was master over this situation and this birth and child were to be!
Matthew 1:21 In this verse we see that the Angel of the Lord says that she shall bring forth a son meaning that the conception was coming from another not Joseph. And His name shall be called Jesus, that is the same as Joshua or Jeshua, means 'the salvation of Jehovah,' 'Jehovah is the Savior,' or 'the Lord saves.' Since Joseph was told to name the child it meant that he would become the legal father of Jesus. The verse goes on to say that "it is He that shall save His people from their sins." The path of Christ was set from the beginning. Jesus came for one reason to save God's people from sin. To do this though He would have to shed His own blood. Once this was done He would go to the grave and rise from the grave alive and well. He would then ascend to heaven and send the Holy Spirit to comfort, strengthen and refresh the Believers.
Matthew 1:22 All this it says took place so that the prophet's words from Isaiah 7:14 would be fulfilled.
Matthew 1:23 Jesus was to be called Immanuel, which means 'God with us.' This is what the prophet Isaiah said, "Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." This title is fitting for Christ because He was both man and Spirit. He had the Spirit of His Father within and walked and lived as a man of flesh so we could have an example and know that God truly was the one and only God caring enough about us to send HIS only Son!
Matthew 1:24-25 Here we see that Joseph awakes from his sleep knowing that Mary had not been unfaithful makes plans to marry her as God ordered to be. Joseph chose to obey God-others might have felt him wrong for making this decision but God touched Joseph's life and He bowed to HIS authority taking Mary as his wife keeping her a virgin until after the child was born and then named Him Jesus and took Him as his own son.
Father, how wonderful it is to know that You love us so much that You willingly gave Your Son for us! Thank You for loving us and fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can continue on with boldness and power delivering the Gospel of Christ!
Where Jesus is Lord!
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Pastor Thomas Miles
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