Jesus’ Human Lineage
1:1, 16
Matthew presents Jesus as the sovereign, the king. Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, showing him to be the son (descendant) of King David. He is revealing the king and establishing Jesus’ right to Israel’s kingship.
The Jews expected the Messiah to be David’s descendant based on God’s covenant with David to have a descendant on the throne of Israel forever. (2 Samuel 7:16)
In verse 18, Matthew shows us that Joseph, Mary’s husband, was a descendant of David, as was Mary. Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph had to register there because he was “of the house and lineage of David”. (Luke 2) This was predicted in Micah 5:2.
Notice that Matthew does not call Joseph the father of Jesus. Matthew clearly maintains the concept of the virgin birth of Jesus. He does so in this verse as well as verses 20 and 23.
The child of Mary is Jesus, which means God saves. Matthew also said that Jesus is called the Christ. The word “Christ” is a transliteration of the Greek word “Christos”. Christos translates the word for “annointed”, “mashiakh”, from we transliterate into “messiah”. Jesus is the one anointed to save and rule his people.
Jesus’ Divine Lineage
1:18-25
Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Betrothal is the stage before formal marriage, but it is more than being engaged in modern society.
Most marriages were arranged while the couple were young teens. The two sets of parents agreed for their children to be married. They entered into a contract that included a dowry, or bride price. The agreement could only be broken by divorce.
The couple did not live together during betrothal, but also could not see other people. After an agreed period of time, there would be a wedding feast. The groom would come to the home of the bride and take her to the feast. We see this in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:6-7.
The virgins did not know the exact time the bridegroom would appear. They needed to be constantly ready. When he came, they lighted lamps and processed with him to the bride’s house.
We see an example of the feast in the story of the wedding at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. It was a festive occasion that obviously included wine drinking. (John 2:1-12)
During the time of betrothal between Joseph and Mary, he found out she was pregnant. This would have been scandalous. It would be considered adultery under normal circumstances.
Matthew tells us again of the virgin birth, saying she was with child from the Holy Spirit. (18) However, when Joseph first heard Mary was pregnant, he did not know this and assumed she had been with another man since this occurred “before they came together”. (18)
He determined to divorce her. Being a just man, he knew he should divorce her at a minimum and shame her at the maximum. The Old Testament penalty for adultery was actually death. (Deuteronomy 22:23-24) We see this in the story of the woman caught it adultery. (John 8:1-11)
But Joseph was also compassionate. He decided to divorce her quietly so she would not be shamed. (19) Some versions say “put her away”, which meant to divorce.
God intervened in Joseph’s thought process, however. He sent an angel to Joseph in a dream. The angel told Joseph not to divorce Mary and to continue with the marriage process. He further told Joseph that her child was not from another man, but from the Holy Spirit. The angel was likely Gabriel, who also appeared to Mary to tell her what would happen.
The angel also gave Joseph instructions about this son. He was to name him Jesus because he would save his people from their sins. (21) The name Jesus means “God will save”.
At this point in the story, Matthew interrupts to tell us that these events took place to fulfill the Lord’s word through the prophet and quotes Isaiah 7:14. He included an explanation that Immanuel means God with us.
Joseph comes across very well in this story. He is just and compassionate. He is also obedient to God, doing all the angel told him to do. He married Mary. (24) He refrained from sexual relations with her until after Jesus was born. (25) And he named the baby boy Jesus.
TAKEAWAYS
1. So, we have both the human and divine nature of Jesus revealed. His genealogy reveals his human ancestors and nature. His birth by the Holy Spirit and his mission to save his people from their sins reveal his divine nature.
2. We also see a clear presentation of the virgin birth. It is presented in other places in the Bible also. Even in Genesis 3:15, the enemy of Satan is the seed, or offspring, of the woman. Paul spoke of it in Galatians 4:4, saying Jesus was “born of woman”.
The doctrine of the virgin birth has been carried forward by the Christian creeds.
The Apostles Creed (3rd Century) states:
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
The Nicene Creed (325 A.D.) states:
he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary…
The “Chalcedonian Confession” states:
in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary…
3. We also see the Trinity involved in the incarnation. God the Father told of the coming of the Son way back in the time of Isaiah. And we know from John 3:16, that the Father sent the Son. The Son came and was born of a woman, taking on human form. The Spirit caused Mary to conceive the Son.
4. We see that God desires to dwell with his people. He communed with Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden. He dwelt in the Tabernacle and the Temple. He sent Jesus to be with his people. He became flesh and dwelt among them. (John 1:14) Finally, his throne will be in the New Creation where his people can see him.
Finally, in the New Creation, God will dwell with his people. “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
As we remember the first advent, we look forward to the second advent, knowing the wonderful future in store for those who believe in the Lord Jesus.
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