How Christmas Began According To Matthew

HOW

CHRISTMAS

BEGAN:

ACCORDING

TO

MATTHEW

Daniel A. Brown, Ph.D.

Although the Gospel accounts accurately record actual, historical events and conversations, their main purpose is to reveal a PERSON and a PURPOSE, a MESSENGER and a MESSAGE. The Gospels answer the question, “Who is Jesus Christ, and why did He come to the earth?” Each Gospel is written from a slightly different angle, to different groups of people, reflecting the life-perspective of the author. Matthew, for instance, a former tax collector (Matthew 9:913), wants to show his Jewish brethren that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Hence, he makes constant reference to how Jesus’ life fulfills OldTestament prophecies (see 1:2223). Matthew’s Gospel emphasizes God as PROMISEKEEPER and as REDEEMER. It is a message of hope for anyone whose life is set on a course from which there seems to be no return. “Regardless of what I have been or done,” Matthew exudes, “I am not excluded from the promises of God or from His Kingdom because Messiah has rescued me.” This Gospel overflows with gratitude for the forgiveness and mercy Matthew has personally received.

Matthew 1:1-25 The Natural Seed, the Human Genealogy (vs. 1-17) 1. Jesus is a descendant of David, king of Israel. God promised to “establish [David’s] seed forever, and build up [his] throne to all generations” (Psalm 89:34; see Isaiah 11:15). In a passage made famous in our modern culture by the song from Handel’s Messiah, God promises to set a ruler on David’s throne forever: “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders... There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom…” (Isaiah 9:67). 2. Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, Father of faith. God promised to bless all the people of the earth through Abraham’s seed (Genesis 22:18). The promise was not made through the Law, but by faith (Romans 4), and righteousness is reckoned to anyone who believes God’s word: “…it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants” (Romans 9:8). 3. Jesus is a descendant of exiles, captive people. God promised to restore His people to their rightful inheritance that they had forfeited because of their sin (Deuteronomy 30:4). The Babylonian captivity and restoration (vs. 11 and 17) was hugely symbolic for the Jews as a picture of what Messiah would accomplish for them: 'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile' (Jeremiah 29:14). 4. Jesus is the Son [Descendant] of Man. Jesus took on the likeness of our flesh: a. To die as an offering for our sin (Romans 8:3; Philippians 2:78);

The Coastlands, Aptos Foursquare Church

HOW

CHRISTMAS

BEGAN:

ACCORDING

TO

MATTHEW

Daniel A. Brown, Ph.D.

b. To render the devil powerless (Hebrews 2:14); c. To become an understanding and merciful high priest (Hebrews 2:17); and, d. To redeem us from the curse of the Law, and to offer us adoption as children of God (Galatians 4:45). The Spiritual Seed, the Heavenly Genealogy (v. 18) 1. Jesus is the Son [Descendant] of God. He was in the beginning with God, as God—long before He came to earth (John 1:12, 14; Philippians 2:6). 2. Jesus is the “only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16; Psalm 2:7), the exact likeness and essence of God (Hebrews 1:3, 5). Seeing Him is seeing the Father (John 14:9). Why Was it Essential that Jesus was Born of Woman, but Without the Seed of Man (v. 25)? 1. After the Fall of Adam and Eve, God decreed consequences for man, woman and the serpent, but He also prophesied His plan for our redemption: the “seed of woman” would eventually “bruise” [break, overwhelm, cover over] satan (Genesis 3:15). 2. Death came into the world through Adam’s sin. That death spread to all people through their own sin, but also (first) because they were offspring of the “seed” of Adam (Romans 5:11, 13:18; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). If Jesus had been born of Adam’s seed, He would have inherited Adam’s sin, and would not have been a sinless sacrifice. The Name of Jesus (vs. 21-25) 1. Literally, Jesus translates as Godsaved—saved by God Himself. His Name, the Name above all names (Acts 4:12), is a declaration of God’s intent: to save us from a condition about which we can do nothing on our own. 2. Immanuel means God with us—experiencing the ever present nearness of God. Though sin separates people from God, forgiveness of sin reunites them with Him. The Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross brings those who were “formerly far off” from God near to Him again forever (Ephesians 2:13).

The Coastlands, Aptos Foursquare Church