Introduc)on To The Gospel of Mahew • Star%ng Date: June 5, 2019 • Author: Unknown. “The name Mahew is linked with this Gospel late in the 2nd century CE, about 100 years aer it was wri5en.” The name Mahew means “the giI of God.” • Date: 80-85 C.E. • Locaon: most likely An)och in Syria • Audience: Jewish Chris)ans. Dr. Michael Joseph Brown writes “Mahew has a strong Jewish orientaon– stronger than found in most of the other Gospels. Mahew emphasizes that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, sent by the Jewish God, in fulfillment of the Jewish scriptures, who advocates adherence to the Jewish law.” Map of An)och in Syria Mahew 1 THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH & THE BIRTH OF JESUS THE MESSIAH Mahew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 1-17- God’s purpose in the world is wrapped up in the story of Israel and God’s covenant relaonship with her– shown through 42 generaons. • Vs 1- The author gives us the or family tree of “Jesus the Messiah.” Messiah (Hebrew)/Christ (Greek) means anointed or commissioned. In the OT the term is used of kings (Psalm 2:2), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and priests (Levi)cus 4:5). The Messiah is sent by God to represent God and do God’s will. Jesus us also connected to David (Ps. 72) and Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)– establishing his Jewish iden)ty. He is the fulfillment of the promise. Mahew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 2-6- The first of the genealogy’s three divisions of 14 generaons. These names are also found in 1 Chronicles 1-2. No)ce that some are major characters, and some are minor, and some are unknown in the Bible, but none are perfect. Also, even though Mahew emphasizes the Jewish iden)ty of Jesus, God’s purposes includes all of humanity (Jews/David & Gen)les/ Abraham.) We also cannot miss the fact that Jesus was birthed through a lineage of dysfuncon. Mahew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 2-6- Abraham was a liar, Judah was Tamar’s father-in- law (Genesis 38:1-30), Tamar was not an Israelite, Rahab was a pros)tute (Joshua 2), and David was an adulterer and murderer and impregnated Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife). There is scandal aached to many of the women which has later significance. Jesus had some dysfunc)on in his family tree. • Vs. 6-11- We discover the second list of 14 generaons– from David to the Babylonian exile. Here we discover a list of powerful kings who oIen failed in their faithfulness to God. Their stories can be found in 1-2 Kings & 1-2 Chronicles. Babylon is regarded as the agent of God’s punishment of Israel (Jeremiah 25:8-14) (Babylon was also punished for their wickedness.) Mahew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 12-16- The third sec)on of 14 generaons (really 13. The author was concerned with the showing God’s purpose being fulfilled) These names con)nue from exile to the birth of Jesus. Many of the name are unknown– but the purpose is to show God’s faithfulness to the promise made to Abraham in the midst of imperial power and dominaon and Israel’s faithlessness. The birth of Jesus also breaks the chain of “The father of...”, instead Jesus is iden)fied by Mary (“Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born...”) Mahew 1: The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 17- The grouping of generaons by the author is actually 14, 14, 13. The number 14 had significance to the author, and may emphasize Jesus’ link with King David (whose name has a numerical value of 14). The purpose of this genealogy was to show God’s hand moving though the chosen naon of Israel and their dysfunc)on to get to the birth of the Messiah, Jesus. Mahew 1: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 18- “Now the birth...” The word birth is translated from the Greek word geneseos. It is where we get our English word Genesis. The birth of Jesus brings about a new creaon on earth. Mary, was engaged to Joseph, but “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” In Genesis 1:2 the Holy Spirit is ac)ve in creaon, and now with this “new” genesis or birth, the Spirit is ac)ve again. Mahew 1: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 19- Because Mary was engaged to Joseph, and supposed to be a virgin, her pregnancy was scandalous. There was law on the Books for how to handle this, and if enacted, could have led to Mary’s death (Possible Adultery/ Deut. 22:23-27). Joseph, being a good man, was not going shame Mary, but quietly divorce her. Mahew 1: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 20-21- The Lord speaks to Joseph in a dream through an angel. The Lord has to communicate with Joseph because Joseph as the male has the responsibility to act. Joseph is encouraged to go through with the marriage because Mary’s child is from God. Joseph is to name him Jesus (Hebrew: yeshua’) which means “he will save people from their sins.” The purpose of Jesus is given in vs. 21. He is the Savior of humanity. Mahew 1: The Birth of Jesus the Messiah • Vs. 22-23- The birth of Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament by the Prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:14) Jesus gains another name, “Emmanuel,” represen)ng his call and God’s place in the world. God is with God’s people. • Vs. 24-25- Joseph is awaken from his and obeyed the word of the Lord. He married Mary, but did not “sleep” with her un)l aer Jesus was born. There lack of consummaon emphasizes God’s ac)on, and shuts down any talk of Jesus being Joseph's son by birth. Mahew 2 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN, THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT, THE MASSACRE OF THE INFANTS, THE RETURN FROM EGYPT Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 1-2 – “In the ?me of King Herod...” Known as Herod the Great, he was installed by Rome as King of the Judeans around 37BC. He was half Jewish, and ruled for over 30 years. He also had a reputaon for brutality, and in his later years for being paranoid about threats to his person and throne. “...aBer Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea...” Mahew’s Gospel liIs up the Jewish heritage of Jesus and His connec)on to David. David was anointed king in Bethlehem. (1 Samuel 16:1) These events take place about 2 years aer Jesus’ birth. Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 1-2 cont.- “Wise Men from the east...”- These Wise Men (Magi GK) were Gen)le priests from Persia who had access to centers of power. One scholar writes “they combined astronomical observa?on with astrological specula?on.” They watched the heavens (stars, moon, etc.) and made predic)ons based on it. These Wise Men were poli)cal and religious figures, who held weight in their day. They are now in Jerusalem, a center of power and they have a ques)on... Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 1-2 cont.- “Where is the child who has been born the king of Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” For those who believed in astrology, “a new star in the sky was...believed to herald the birth of a significant person in the land over which the star shone.” They were looking for the righmul king of Jerusalem by virtue of his birth, and they came to the current king to ask the ques)on. We cannot miss the significance of Gen)les coming to worship this “king of the Jews.” Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 3- “When King Herod heard this he was frightened...” The King was frightened because of his insecurity and perceived loss of power. A 2 year old baby Jesus has him shook. Herod was the king installed by Rome, but Jesus is the king anointed by God. “...and all Jerusalem with him.” This is a reference to the religious leaders that were put in place by King Herod. If the king’s posi)on was shaky, so was theirs. An insecure king will surround himself with an insecure cabinet. Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 4- “and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.” The Chief Priests were over all the priests that lived in a round Jerusalem. The scribes were the ones who copied the scriptures, and evolved into teachers well trained in interpre)ng and applying the OT law. Herod, being half- Jewish, knew enough scripture to know that “king of Jews” equated to “Messiah.” Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 5-6- The religious leaders supply King Herod with the answer “In Bethlehem of Judea...” and then back that up with evidence from Micah 5:2. Jesus has been born “to shepherd my people Israel.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd who love the people of God and treat them fairly (Ezekiel 34:11-16) Mahew 2: The Visit of the Wise Men • Vs. 7-8- We begin to see the evil inten)ons of Herod manifest.