Matthew 1

Introduction:

I am starting a series of inductive Bible study posts. I hope to publish one per day, Monday through Saturday. I hope you get as much out of reading them as I do out of writing them. 

Scripture:

Matthew 1

Observation:

vv1-17: Jesus' genealogy

vv18-25: Joseph's betrothal and marriage to Mary

v18: Mary betrothed to Joseph, found to be pregnant

v19: Because of his righteousness (ESV justice), Joseph wants to divorce her quietly

v20: Angel of the Lord visits Joseph in a dream. Tells Joseph that Mary is pregnant by the Holy Spirit and not to be afraid to take her as his wife.

v21: Son to be named Jesus. He will save people from their sins

vv22, 23: Fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14

vv24, 25: Joseph marries Mary in obedience to the Lord, but does not consummate their union until after Jesus is born

Interpretation:

Jesus is descended in direct line from Abraham through King David to Joseph, his adoptive father. There were 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile, and 14 from the exile to Joseph. Notable women are included in Jesus' genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (not by name). With the exception of Ruth, all of these women we notable for their sin: Tamar committed adultery with Judah, Rahab was a prostitute, and Bathsheba committed adultery with David. All of them had endured significant difficulties: Ruth was widowed and destitute until she was redeemed by Boaz.

The focus in Matthew seems to be Jesus' lineage  through His earthly father, probably because Matthew was writing this gospel primarily to the Jews of first century Palestine. Even in Jesus' parents generation, the focus is on Joseph as a just man obeying God rather than on His mother who is his only blood relative; Mary's encounter with Gabriel is absent, but Joseph's encounter with the angel is present. In keeping with the other women named in Jesus' genealogy, Mary is undergoing a significant difficulty--her pregnancy out of wedlock. 

It is notable that, even before his dream, Joseph wants to treat Mary with kindness because of his righteousness, not to punish her to the extent allowable under the Law. In his dream, Joseph is told by an angel that Mary has not sinned, but instead she is with child by the Holy Spirit. Further, that this child will be the promised Messiah who would be born to a virgin.  He would be God with us (Immanuel) and would save His people from their sins (Jesus). Incredibly, Joseph believes all of this and  obeys the Lord. He takes Mary as his wife, in spite of what other people will inevitably think (Mark 6:3). 

Application:

The Lord is less concerned with our past than He is with our future. He knows all of the sin and trouble in our lives, and in spite of that, he wants to include us in His great plan. This is not to say that He doesn't care about sin--Rahab, presumably, did not go on being a prostitute. Bathsheba did not continue to commit adultery. His desire is for us to repent (turn away from) our sins and to move on with Him. 

To be righteous does not simply mean to follow a set of rules. Just as God's kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4), our repentance should lead us to be kind to sinners. 

Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah. He is the living God become man, literally Immanuel. He came to live a perfect life and to save His people from sin through his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead! 

When the Word of the Lord comes to us, we should all believe and obey as Joseph did, regardless of what anyone else may say or do.