DOCSLIB.ORG

Sermon Notes

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

“NEXT: Temptaon - 2” Screen 1 Luke 4:1-13 Screen 2 October 9, 2016 Picture 3 Jesus’ Genealogy - God Uses Families In regard to Jesus’ genealogy, Luke places his just before Jesus’ tempta<on, at the beginning of his public ministry rather than at his birth. There is Old Testament precedent for this in Moses’ genealogy (Exodus 6:14-25), which is not recorded at the beginning of his life but just before he started his (Moses’) ministry. The genealogy contains 77 ancestors. Many of the names are obtained from Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-26 and 1 Chronicles 1 - 3. Yet 36 names are unknown. The exact arrangement of genera<ons, in contrast to MaRhew 1:1-17, is uncertain. Luke’s genealogy varies from MaJhew’s in several ways: Screen 4 1. MaJhew’s genealogy stopped at Abraham, whereas Luke’s went back to Adam, the son of God. MINOR 2. Luke listed 66 names not found in MaJhew. MAJOR The key issue involves the differences in names between David and Jesus in the two genealogies. 38 names are different, and most important is the difference is the name of Jesus’ grandfather. MaRhew 1:16 says he was Jacob, but Luke 3:23 says he was Heli. (Most scholars today think that the two lists cannot and should not be harmonized. This is a New Testament mystery!) !1 Some scholars believe that Luke followed the Davidic line through Nathan (Zechariah 12:12-13) whereas MaJhew followed the line through Solomon (1 Chronicles 1 - 3). Screen 5 Some have proposed: a. that Jacob and Heli were brothers and upon Jacob’s death Heli assumed responsibility of the husband (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) and fathered Joseph. Heli was thus Joseph’s natural father, whereas Jacob was his legal father. According to Eusebius, Julius A. Fricanus (ca 225) claims he knew this from informa<on that came rom the descendants of James the brother of Jesus. b. MaJhew’s genealogy was of Joseph, Luke’s was of Mary. [highly unlikely] Screen 6 See Luke 1:27. c. Heli was Mary’s father but due to a lack of male heir he adopted Joseph Screen 7 as his son in order to maintain the family line. Thus the MaJhewan genealogy was Jospeh’s actual lineage, whereas the Lukan genealogy was his adopted lineage. [no evidence for this at all]. My point in sharing about Jesus’ genealogy is that God uses families (Adam ➜ Noah ➜ Abraham ➜ Jesus = blood rela<ves too. Screen 8 • John the Bap<st was Jesus’ cousin/rela<ve. • James & John (apostles) MaRhew 27:56 Among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. • Salome or Mary - John 19:25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were Screen 9 his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. • James & Jude - books of the bible, were Jesus’ brothers. !2 John wrote - John, 1, 2, 3 John, Revelaon James wrote - James Jude wrote - Jude 7 total books of the New Testament wriJen by blood rela<ves of Jesus. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires Screen 10 of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. His humanity - It’s interes<ng to note that MaJhew and Luke, the gospel wriJen who pay the most aJen<on to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth are also the ones who give most aJen<on to Jesus’ tempta<ons. Israelites in the Old Testament: New Testament: Screen 11 crossing Sea of Reeds ∽ bap<sm wandering 40 years ∽ fas<ng 40 days and nights Luke 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was Screen 12 led by the Spirit in the wilderness “led by the Spirit” - MaJhew says “brought up”. Mark says the Spirit “impelled” him (or “drove” him) but here in Luke, the Spirit “led” him or “carried him about”. During the next 40 days and 40 nights (MaRhew 4:2) he is carried about, con<nuously sustained and supported by the Holy Spirit. “wilderness” - a place of desola<on; a sterile tract of country not able to support human life; a lonesome wasteland! He’s alone - one of the most trying places to NOT sin - I mean “Whose going to know?” !3 *No<ce that the Spirit led him there.* I dare say there are people here who are traveling through a barren/lonesome wasteland and you think God has leq you - perhaps he’s led you there and He’s carrying you - as He did Jesus! Vs. 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those Screen 13 days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. “for forty days, being tempted by the devil” 40 days - 40 is a highly significant number. There are parallels between this story and the 40 years that the children of Israel spent wandering in the wilderness. Now, both Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah fasted for 40 days (1 Kings 19:8). Vs. 2, s<ll “being tempted by the devil” (it’s no sin to be tempted) - the spirit of the living God has led God the Son into a period (of fas<ng) and tempta<on? No<ce that no one is around but Jesus and Satan ➜ Jesus had to relate this informa<on to the Gospel writers - they were not present to witness it! “and he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry” MaRhew 4:2 says “and aqer fas<ng 40 day and 40 nights he was hungry.” So evidently, Jesus was tempted throughout the 40 days and nights Screen 14 BUT - BUT - CATCH THIS His greatest moment of tempta<on is aqer the 40 days and therefore his greatest moment of tempta<on comes when he is at his WEAKEST! Tempta<on #1 - Jesus’ mouth Screen 15 Vs. 3 (It seems as if only now that Satan speaks to him - *SATAN GOES FOR THE MOUTH* Satan understands who he’s dealing with.) The devil (lit. verbal assaulter/ !4 accuser) said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Don’t be confused by the “if” - it can mean just as well “since”! Satan believes that Jesus is the Son of God - is he saved - NO - he is at enmity with him - What about you??? When we are at our weakest Satan lambasts us all - he did it with Jesus, he’ll do it with us! What was Jesus doing while fas-ng? (Probably praying, too, th___ some of the gospels state this specifically) Satan knows Jesus has the power to turn stones into bread! BUT is it a sin to turn stone into bread? NO is isn’t!!! in and of itself. So why does Jesus say: Vs. 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is wriJen, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Screen 16 Jesus says NO - but why? Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from he mouth of the Lord. Evidently, the Father had told him not to eat YET - fas<ng and hunger are the will of the Father right NOW (in this moment recorded)! I think also that this was not the appropriate <me for Jesus to express his messianic power. NONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN - NONE WAS PRESENT - WHAT WOULD IT HAVE MATTERED? IF JESUS HAD TURNED THOSE STONES INTO BREAD - you and I are doomed for hell. *It’s what we do in the secret place - those <mes we are alone that is the true text of our character!* Here, Satan offers Christ an easier way - You’re hungry - a God given appe<te “eat”. Jesus can exercise his power for HIS OWN ENDS IN A WAY THAT AVOIDS DIFFICULTY AND PAIN OR SHALL HE ACCEPT THE PATH OF SUFFERING THAT IS HIS FATHER’S WILL? John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. !5 JESUS PASSES THE TEST - Satan cannot have his mouth! (The tests/tempta<ons got progressively harder) Tempta<on #2- Jesus’ eyes - covetousness Screen 17 Vs. 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of <me, Then - all the gold of Egypt Screen 18 - all the power of Rome - all the intellect of China - all the glory of Africa (diamonds) Now - all the gold of Ft. Knox - NY, NY - all the power of the United States ($$$) - all the intellect of China - all the glory of Africa (diamonds) Vs. 6 (this is a powerful statement) and said to him, “To you I will give all this Screen 19 authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. “all this authority” - literally “all that this world has to offer” “for it has been delivered to me” Is this the truth or a lie? (Satan is the “father of lies” John 8:44). I prayed and mulled over this for about two hours Monday and I came to the conclusion that he’s telling the truth - the splendor of this domain ➜ the “system” of the world, if you will, is under his control. Satan is the: prince of the power of the air (lit.
Recommended publications
  • June Emphasis:Males in Spiritual Warfare

    June Emphasis:Males in Spiritual Warfare

    1 Week of March 30– April 5, 2020 KINGDOM CITIZENS ENGAGED IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE EQUIPPED FOR VICTORY APRIL EMPHASIS:CHURCH FAMILY WARFARE THOUGHT: Kingdom Citizens engaged in Church Family Warfare strive to build healthy relationships by following Jesus’ examples of surrendering His life so that others could live and for presence of peace in our world of chaos. WORDS: Cross, Grief, Victory, Blessings, Sacrifice LESSON FOURTEEN: THE WARFARE OF THE CROSS QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: 1. Are you a person who only thinks of yourself? 2. How important is family to you? (Church family?) 3. Do you know that the family was the first institution God created? TEXT: JOHN 19:25-27 THE HEART OF THE LESSON: A CONVERSATION ABOUT FAMILY FROM A “CROSS” PERSPECTIVE Introduction: John, the writer of this book, is giving us a detailed and informative account of Jesus’ final moments on the Cross. Although he seemed to have, through history, rejected the recordings of other evangelists’ passages, now he comes face to face with the sufferings and death of his Master’s chain and cross. John has a renewed perspective because of the Cross. In fact, what John rejected from other evangelists, he now is placing great interest and emphasis on what he is about to witness. There were seven important conversations or last sayings that Jesus had on the Cross. In this lesson, we will look at the third saying which was Jesus showing concern and care for His family. 1. KINGDOM CITIZENS SIMPLY MUST KNOW THIS: “CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY;” (V25 NIV) says, “Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Jesus was sending a powerful message that family matters! Family counts! Family means something! Jesus sees Mary standing there.
  • The Earliest Magdalene: Varied Portrayals in Early Gospel Narratives

    The Earliest Magdalene: Varied Portrayals in Early Gospel Narratives

    Chapter 1 The Earliest Magdalene: Varied Portrayals in Early Gospel Narratives Edmondo Lupieri In the early writings produced by the followers of Jesus, Mary Magdalene is connected with key events in the narrative regarding Jesus: his death on the cross, his burial, and his resurrection.1 At first sight, her figure seems to grow in importance through time. Her name and figure, indeed, are completely ab- sent from the oldest extant texts written by a follower of Jesus, the authentic letters of Paul.2 This is particularly striking, since 1 Cor 15:5–8 contains the ear- liest known series of witnesses to the resurrection, but only men are named specifically.3 1 All translations are the author’s. The Greek text of the New Testament is from Eberhard Nestle et al., eds., Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th ed. (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993). 2 This phenomenon seems to parallel the minimal importance of the mother of Jesus in Paul’s letters. He mentions her only once and indirectly, when stressing that Jesus was born “of a woman” and “under the Law” (Gal 4:4). Besides using her existence to reaffirm the humanity (and Jewishness) of Jesus (for a similar use of a similar expression to describe the humanity of John the Baptist, see Luke 7:28 / Matt 11:11), Paul does not seem to care about who that “woman” was. This does not mean that Paul is particularly uninterested in Mary Magdalene or in Jesus’s mother, but that generally in his letters Paul does not seem to be interested in any detail regarding the earthly life of Jesus or in the persons who were around him when he was in his human flesh (see further n.
  • Reflections Volume 65

    Reflections Volume 65

    1 Reflections Volume 65 International Catholic Family Newsletter JanuarySept 2021 Warning About the‘ Rise of World Evil Teaching Children Not To Hate Who Were The Women At The Cross of Jesus? Blessing to All: By: Richard Pickard This is a time of confusion within America and around the world. Great powers are at work, backed by those that follow the Prince of Darkness against those that follow the Prince of Peace. Boys can think they are girls and enter into girls’ bathrooms and vice versa. Gender is no longer about what sex organs you were born with… it is up to the child to decide. Parents, politicians, and the elite are abrogating the use of reason for false narratives. Church leaders of all denominations stay silent and the flock is looking for true Christian leaders. Some televangelists tell their followers that God wants you to be rich. That is great, but the Cross of Christ should also be preached. All people will experience disappointments in life, and if you keep praying to get rich then you miss the point of the Gospel. And if it doesn’t happen, then you might lose your hope in Christ and His promise to us. Whenever you can, teach your children about real life challenges and that you don’t always get what you pray for. Children will watch and learn from the parents, no matter where we live on this earth. If you shout and curse, your children will think it is okay. If you teach them to pray and to bless others, they will.
  • The Fate of the Apostles What Happened to the 12 Disciples and Other Key Leaders of the Early Church? PETER (Aka SIMON Or CEPHAS)

    The Fate of the Apostles What Happened to the 12 Disciples and Other Key Leaders of the Early Church? PETER (Aka SIMON Or CEPHAS)

    The Fate of the Apostles What happened to the 12 Disciples and other key leaders of the early church? PETER (aka SIMON or CEPHAS) • A fisherman from Galilee before meeting Jesus • Lived in Capernaum • Bold and Brash • Walked on water with Jesus • Denied knowing Jesus 3 times after his arrest • Went on to preach the Gospel boldly, winning 3000 converts in a day (Acts 2:40-41) PETER’S DEATH • Early church tradition says that Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero around 64 AD • The 2 nd Century apocryphal book Acts of Peter says Peter was crucified upside-down • The altar of the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome is said to be directly over the spot of Peter’s crucifixion Andrew, Brother of Peter • A disciple of John the Baptist who later followed Jesus (John 1:35-42) • Origen wrote that Andrew went on to preach the Gospel in Scythia (Central Eurasia) • The Chronicle of Nestor adds that he preached along the Black Sea and as far north as Kiev • By tradition, he established the See of Byzantium, installing Stachys as its first Bishop • Crucified in the City of Patras in Greece • Tied to a Latin Cross, but later sources claim it was an X-shaped “St. Andrew’s Cross” Matthew (a/k/a Levi) • Tax collector from Capernaum in Galilee • After Jesus’ ascension, Matthew preached to the Jews in Judea, then went on to other countries • Early Muslim sources say he preached in “Aethiopia” (at the Southern end of the Caspian Sea) • Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches hold to the tradition that Matthew died a martyr’s death.
  • Meet the Disciples Here’S a Synopsis of the Information the Bible Gives Us About the 12 Disciples

    Meet the Disciples Here’S a Synopsis of the Information the Bible Gives Us About the 12 Disciples

    In a scene from the television series “The Chosen,” Jesus (left) meets brothers Andrew (center) and Simon. Meet the disciples Here’s a synopsis of the information the Bible gives us about the 12 disciples. The more you know about them, the more you can relate to their experiences as they followed Jesus. If you’re interested in an extremely creative (and yet biblical) look at the disciples, discover The Chosen television series. The first season is available on YouTube, with more information available at studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen. Simon, called Peter. The only married disciple, at least esus went up on a mountainside according to what we know from the Gospels. His mother-in-law and called to him those he wanted, was healed by Jesus (Mark 1:30). At Caesarea Philippi (Matthew J 16:13ff), Jesus gave Simon the name Peter, which means “Rock.” and they came to him. He appointed It was here that Jesus also referred to Simon as a “son of Jonah,” twelve that they might be with him and in a less complimentary moment, as “Satan!” See Matthew and that he might send them out to 16:23 for the context. The Gospel of Mark is generally thought preach and to have authority to drive to be Mark’s written record of the eye-witness account of Simon out demons. These are the twelve Peter. Simon’s betrayal of Jesus was second only to that of Judas Iscariot. Unlike Judas, Simon lived through the weekend and he appointed: Simon (to whom he was eventually restored into full fellowship (John 21).
  • Mary's Story from the Jame's Gospel from the Apochryphal Book, The

    Mary's Story from the Jame's Gospel from the Apochryphal Book, The

    Mary’s Story from the Jame’s Gospel From the apochryphal book, the Infancy Gospel of James, written early in the second century. Mary’s parents: Anne, Joachin (prob. not authentic, taken from the Protoevangelicum [Infancy Gospel of James] ) Brothers: James, Joseph, Simon, Judas (Jude) (Matt 13:55) Sisters: not named but later Christian literature gives names Mary and Salome Full sibs or not? Helvidian view: yes, born of Mary after Jesus -- named for a 4th century Roman. Epiphanian view: no, born to Joseph and previous wife (named after 4th century bishop Epiphanius in Salamis, Cyprus). Supported by Infancy Gospel of James, Infancy Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Peter. Hieronymian view: first cousins of Jesus (Jerome). Clopas (Cleopas), brother of Joseph, so Jesus’s uncle -- according to Hegesippus, quoted by Eusebius. And in John 19:25, Mary, Clopas’s wife, stood at the cross with Mother Mary and Mary Magdalene. And in Luke 24:18, Jesus appeared to Cleopas and another (perhaps his wife Mary) on the road to Emmaus. Cousin Simon (son of Clopas) succeeded James in leading Jerusalem Chruch in 62 when James was martyred (stoned), and was in turn martyred (crucified) by Trajan circa 98 (according to Hegesippus). From the Infancy Gospel of James Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anna, a wealthy and prominent Jewish couple in Jerusalem. When God answered her prayers for a child, she named her Mary and dedicated her to God (James 4:2). For three years she remained at home, then was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem where she lived until she was twelve, being fed “like a dove, receiving her food from the hand of a heavenly messenger” (James 8;2).
  • Davidic Descent and the Virgin Birth

    Davidic Descent and the Virgin Birth

    Davidic Descent and the Virgin Birth M. BLANCHARD Bishop Hollis' s question : ' How can Jesus be both born of the Virgin Mary and Son of David ? ' reminds one of that puzzling question with which Jesus confounded the Rulers of the Jews on that last day of controversy, the last Tuesday before His crucifixion: 'How can David's Lord be David's Son?' Both questions deal essentially with the same issue, and the same answer will be found fitted to both questions. If it be accepted that Mary was a descendant of David, the same as Joseph, immediately the problem is solved. But, that answer is rejected in the article which appeared in the April-June, 1959, issue of The Indian Journal of Theology. The evidence then for Mary's Davidic descent must be con­ sidered. No one questions the fact that Joseph's ancestry is traced back through David to Abraham in the first chapter of Matthew's Gospel. All agree likewise that Lukes list is radically different from Matthew's, and in inverse order. Matthew begins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus; Luke begins with Jesus and traces the ancestry backward to Adam. On the face of it, their purposes seem to be different ; their methods, different ; and, we may suppose, the persons whose ancestries are traced, different. Basing their interpretation on the custom of Levirate marri­ age, attempts have been made along two lines to support the theory that both Matthew and Luke give the descljlnt of Joseph. First, some have suggested that the two men referred to, Jacob in Matthew and Heli in Luke, were step-brothers.
  • The Authority of Scripture: the Puzzle of the Genealogies of Jesus Mako A

    The Authority of Scripture: the Puzzle of the Genealogies of Jesus Mako A

    The Authority of Scripture: The Puzzle of the Genealogies of Jesus Mako A. Nagasawa, June 2005 Four Main Differences in the Genealogies Provided by Matthew and Luke 1. Is Jesus descended through the line of Solomon (Mt) or the line of Nathan (Lk)? Or both? 2. Are there 27 people from David to Jesus (Mt) or 42 (Lk)? 3. Who was Joseph’s father? Jacob (Mt) or Heli (Lk)? 4. What is the lineage of Shealtiel and Zerubbabel? a. Are they the same father-son pair in Mt as in Lk? (Apparently popular father-son names were repeated across families – as with Jacob and Joseph in Matthew’s genealogy) If not, then no problem. I will, for purposes of this discussion, assume that they are not the same father-son pair. b. If so, then there is another problem: i. Who was Shealtiel’s father? Jeconiah (Mt) or Neri (Lk)? ii. Who was Zerubbabel’s son? Abihud (Mt) or Rhesa (Lk)? And where are these two in the list of 1 Chronicles 3:19-20 ( 19b the sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister; 20 and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-hesed, five)? Cultural Factors 1. Simple remarriage. It is likely that in most marriages, men were older and women were younger (e.g. Joseph and Mary). So it is also likely that when husbands died, many women remarried. This was true in ancient times: Boaz married the widow Ruth, David married the widow Bathsheba after Uriah was killed. It also seems likely to have been true in classical, 1 st century times: Paul (in Rom.7:1-3) suggests that this is at least somewhat common in the Jewish community (‘I speak to those under the Law’ he says) in the 1 st century.
  • The Genealogies in the Bible: Are They Complete?

    The Genealogies in the Bible: Are They Complete?

    Last updated: 16-May-2020 at 13:15 Bible chronology main page (See History.) Español © Richard P. Aschmann The Genealogies in the Bible: Are they Complete? Rick Aschmann 1. Problems in the Genealogies from Jacob’s Sons to David 1 2. Missing Generations in Old Testament Genealogies 3 3. From David to the Babylonian Captivity 3 4. From the Babylonian Captivity to Jesus 4 5. Before Abraham 4 6. The Genesis 10 Table of Nations and Y-Chromosomal DNA 5 7. Appendix 1: An Alternative Timeframe for the Sojourn in Egypt 6 8. Appendix 2: High Priestly Lines Synchronized with Old-Testament Rulers 7 (Aschmann.net/BibleChronology/BibleGenealogies.pdf) 1. Problems in the Genealogies from Jacob’s Sons to David Exodus 12:40-41 (ESV) says: “40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.” However, some have said that the Israelites could not have been in Egypt for 430 years, because the number of generations given in some of the more prominent genealogies seems to be far too few for that time period, as can be seen in the table below. (See section 7 for more on this question.) The genealogies in the table are listed in order by years per generation, from least to greatest.1 There are not very many genealogies in which the birth years at both ends can be determined. I have tried to list all of these that I have found in this table.
  • Reformation Christology: Some Luther Starting Points

    Reformation Christology: Some Luther Starting Points

    Volume 7l:2 April 2007 Table of Contents -- - - - - - - Talking about the Son of God: An Introduction ............................. 98 Recent Archaeology of Galilee and the Interpretation of Texts from the Galilean Ministry of Jesus Mark T. Schuler .......................................................................... 99 Response by Daniel E. Paavola ..............................................117 Jesus and the Gnostic Gospels Jeffrey Kloha .............................................................................121 Response by Charles R. Schulz ........................................144 Reformatia Christology: Some Luther Starting Points Robert Rosin ........................................................................... 147 Response by Naomichi Masaki ..............................................168 American Christianity and Its Jesuses Lawrence R. Rast Jr ...... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 175 Response by Rod Rosenbladt ................................................. 194 Theological Observer The Lost Tomb of Jesus? ........................................................ 199 CTQ 71 (2007):147-168 Reformation Christology: Some Luther Starting Points Robert Rosin "Reformation Christology" is an impossible topic in the space allotted. A narrower topic, relatively speaking, is Martin Luther's Christology, which leaves only about one hundred and twenty heavyweight volumes, each the proverbial blunt instrument that could do in the person foolish enough to think that Luther can be managed in this space. Nor
  • THE GENEALOGY of CHRIST a CLOUD of WITNESSES Sunday Before Christmas December 24, 2017 Revision B Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 Epistle: Hebrews 11:9-40

    THE GENEALOGY of CHRIST a CLOUD of WITNESSES Sunday Before Christmas December 24, 2017 Revision B Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 Epistle: Hebrews 11:9-40

    THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST A CLOUD OF WITNESSES Sunday before Christmas December 24, 2017 Revision B Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 Epistle: Hebrews 11:9-40 The genealogy of Christ from either Matthew 1 or Luke 3 is not used at all in the West and is largely scoffed at as being very dull reading. Similarly, the Epistle reading consists of a long list of people who might be referred to as God’s Hall of Fame. This is also omitted in the Western lectionaries. Table of Contents Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 ............................................................................................................................................ 371 Differences in Genealogies ................................................................................................................................... 371 Genealogies: Why Bother? ................................................................................................................................... 373 Genealogy Traced Through Joseph....................................................................................................................... 373 The Virgin Birth Was Concealed .......................................................................................................................... 374 Christ Came as Physician, Not Judge ................................................................................................................... 376 The Fullness of Time ...........................................................................................................................................
  • Difficulties of New Testament Genealogies

    Difficulties of New Testament Genealogies

    DIFFICULTIES OF NEW TESTAMENT GENEALOGIES R. LARRY OVERSTREET The genealogies in Matthew and Luke are integral parts of those Gospels. They are remarkably precise documents, each accomplishing the aim of testifying to God's design in the birth of Jesus Christ. This article presents the purposes and peculiarities of each genealogy, and also examines the difficulties of interpretation attendant to them. Special attention is focused on the difficulties found when Matthew is compared to the OT. and on the difficulties found when Matthew is compared to Luke. Both genealogies are reckoned as accurate in even the smallest details. * * * HE NT opens with an arresting prefatory record of names. T Many readers probably pass over them as being of no practical value. However, this genealogy which opens the NT is, in many respects, one of the most important documents in the Scriptures. Much of the Bible stands or falls with its accuracy. If the Word of God contains mistakes in this section, how is any of it to be trusted, for this is the connecting link between the OT and NT? Evidently, genealogies were available to the ancient public, and it could be established easily if a person had a legitimate claim to any particular line. For example, Ezra 2:62 states, "These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood." This demonstrates how it was then possible to check the register of the tribe of Levi and remove those that made a false claim.