A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
Matthew 1
Lesson #02
PROPHECY FULFILLED IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST
- Memory verse: Mat 1:21
- Read Mat 1:17 The Genealogy of the King
- God directed the Jews to keep genealogies of which they did faithfully until 70 AD when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed with all the genealogical records.
- The genealogy in Matthew goes back to Abraham through David. It is the royal lineage of Joseph. Sixteen of the names are Jewish kings.
- All names in the genealogical line are not mentioned in Matthew. The list here chooses some and excludes others.
- Some were godly people: Abraham, Isaac, Ruth, David. Some were ordinary people: Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, Akim. Some were evil: Manasseh and Abijah.
- God’s work is not limited by human failures and sin, nor does it depend on man’s efforts to fulfill it.
- The genealogy divides itself into epochs.
- Epoch 1 (Mat 1:1-5) 1000 years
- Epoch 2 (Mat 1:6-11) 350-400 years
- Epoch 3 (Mat 1:12-16) 600 years
- The genealogy is built around the Jewish letters of David’s name. The Hebrew language did not have numbers but instead used letters of the Hebrew alphabet to represent numbers.
- The name David, therefore, has a numerical value of 14.
- Verse 17 tells us each of the 3 epochs consists of 14 generations.
- Why this pattern?
- The genealogy divides itself into epochs.
It was to make memorization easier for the Jews.
The use of multiples of 7 and 3 was common in Jewish literature.
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- It is very unusual that there are women mentioned in the genealogy.
- There are five women: Two were prostitutes. One was a foreigner (Gentile). One was in adultery.
- These contrast with the purity of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- Tamar (3) Gen 38. She was a harlot.
- Rahab (5) Jos 2. She also was a harlot.
- Ruth (5) book of Ruth. She was a Gentile.
- Bathsheba (6) 2Sam 11. She was the wife of King David.
- Mary (16) mother of Jesus.
- The genealogy indicates the barriers broken by the birth of Christ:
- The barrier between Jew and Gentile is broken (Ruth was a Gentile). In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. (Gal 3:28)
- The barrier between male and female is broken. (Women are mentioned in the list). God is no respecter of persons (Act 10:34)
- The barrier between saint and sinner is broken (Bathsheba, Tamar, and Rahab, among others, were sinners). Jesus came to call sinners to God (Mat 9:13).
- Proof of the virgin birth in the genealogy:
- Joseph, the husband of Mary. (16)
- Notice it does not say Joseph, the father of Jesus.
- Buried in the genealogy is another proof that Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus.
- Joseph, the husband of Mary. (16)
- It is very unusual that there are women mentioned in the genealogy.
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Verse 11 mentions a king in the genealogy named Jeconiah (Coniah)(Jehoiachin).
Read Jer 22:24-30
The royal line of Israel’s kings had progressed from David to Solomon to numerous other kings in the blood line.
However, because of sin and rebellion of the people and of the kings themselves, God said in Jer 22 that none of Jeconiah’s descendants would ever be king. After that prophecy, the kingdom fell and the Israelites were taken captive into Babylon. There was no king in Israel after that.
Joseph is descended from Jeconiah.
Therefore, no biological son of Joseph could ever be king according to the prophecy in Jer 22.
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- Why do you think this list of names in Mat 1 would be of special interest to the Jewish reader?
- =1= Genealogy was very important to the Jews for the priesthood and the kingship. It proves the authority of Jesus as King.
- A man could not be king unless he had the proper genealogy.
- He had to be from the tribe of Judah descended from David.
- =2=Abraham was considered the father of the Jews. Jesus was Abraham’s descendant.
- He inherited the promises given to Abraham and was circumcised to prove he was part of the covenant.
- This signified a spiritual tie as well as a physical one to prove He was the promised Savior.
- =1= Genealogy was very important to the Jews for the priesthood and the kingship. It proves the authority of Jesus as King.
- Read Luk 3:23-38 The genealogy through Mary
- The genealogy in Luke goes back to Adam through David.
- It is the legal lineage of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
- The two genealogies are the same from Abraham to David.
- The biggest difference is the name of Joseph’s father.
- Matthew says his father was Jacob. (Mat 1:16)
- Luke says his father was Heli. (Luk 3:23)
- Heli was probably Mary’s father and Joseph was Heli’s son-in-law.
- Joseph adopted Jesus and therefore, Luke says that Jesus was (as was supposed), the son of Joseph.
- People who did not know about the virgin birth, presumed that Joseph was his father.
- Why are both genealogies given?
- Jewish Law used the genealogy through the mother as a legal establishment of parentage. It’s easier to establish a mother’s relationship to a child than it is to establish who the father is.
- Jewish Law also used the genealogy through the father to establish the passage of inheritance.
- Why do you think this list of names in Mat 1 would be of special interest to the Jewish reader?
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- Read Mat 1:18-25 The advent of the King
- Miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit
- According to Jewish thinking, knowledge of the Holy Spirit was limited:
- =1= The Holy Spirit was the person of God who brought God’s truth to men.
- =2= The Holy Spirit enabled men to recognize truth when they saw it.
- =3= The Holy Spirit was connected with the creative work of God. (Gen 1:2)
- =4= The Holy Spirit was connected with recreation. (Eze 37:1-14)
- The birth of Jesus in Matthew is written from Joseph’s perspective.
- The betrothal of Mary and Joseph (18)
- Marriages were arranged by parents when children were small. They were considered engaged until the betrothal contract was signed.
- The commitment of betrothal was as legally binding in the Jewish culture as a wedding ceremony. There was a written agreement between families and the exchanging of gifts to seal the contract. There was usually a year between the betrothal period and the wedding ceremony. During the betrothal period, they were legally called husband and wife (19).
- Joseph’s options (19)
- The Mosaic Law commanded death for adultery. (Lev 20:10)
- Adultery during the betrothal period was just as serious as after the wedding ceremony.
- To break a betrothal, a legal bill of divorce was necessary.
- Then the priests would carry out the death sentence.
- Because both death and a divorce were public ceremonies, Joseph looked for a way to end the betrothal privately so as not to disgrace Mary, or cause a death sentence.
- God gave Joseph another option: To marry with Mary and raise her child.
- What do you learn about the character of Joseph?
- He was a just man. (19)
- He evidently loved Mary in seeking to protect her.
- He was a sensitive man.
- He was devoted to God and His will.
- He was obedient to God no matter what the consequences would be, even if it meant disapproval from other people.
- He was self-controlled. (25)
- What names are given to Jesus in Matthew chapter 1?
- Jesus, who is called Christ (16)
- Christ means the “anointed one”.
- The Jews were looking for a Messiah all through the Old Testament.
- Messiah means “anointed one”.
- Jesus, he shall save His people from their sins (21)
- The name “Jesus” is the Greek form for the Jewish name “Joshua”.
- Joshua means “Jehovah is salvation”.
- Immanuel, God with us.
- This name comes from a prophecy in Isa 7:14.
- Why wasn’t Jesus named “Immanuel”?
- The word “Immanuel” in Hebrew was not a name but a characterization.
- It meant that in Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) God came down to live among us.
- Jesus, who is called Christ (16)
- What do you learn about why Jesus came?
- Matthew lets his Jewish readers know from the beginning why Jesus came: To save his people from their sins. (21)
- This was in the meaning of his name. Therefore, the Jews should have recognized Him as their Messiah and not look solely for a king to save them from Rome.
- Bethlehem, the birthplace of the King
- Bethlehem means “house of bread”.
- Jesus is the bread of life. (Joh 6:35)
- Bethlehem was the home of David, the king. It is Fitting for the Jews that it is also the home of Jesus, the King of kings who would sit on David’s throne.
- Bethlehem means “house of bread”.
- Some of the 196 prophecies of the First Coming of Jesus Christ:
| Prophecy | Event | Fulfillment |
| Gen 3:15 | Seed of the woman | Gal 4:4 |
| Gen 18:18 | Seed of abraham | Act 3:25 |
| Gen 17:19 | Seed of Isaac | Mat 1:2 |
| Num 24:17 | Seed of Jacob | Luk 3:34 |
| Gen 49:10 | Tribe of Judah | Luk 3:33 |
| Isa 9:7 ; 2Sam 7:12 | Throne of David | Mat 1:1 |
| Mic 5:2 | Birthplace, Bethlehem | Mat 2:1 |
| Dan 9:25 | Time of birth | Luk 2:1-2 |
| Isa 7:14 | Born of a virgin | Mat 1:18 |
| Num 24:17 | Star at his birth | Mat 2:2 |
| Psa 72:10 | Adoration of the Magi | Mat 2:1,11 |
| Jer 31:15 | Massacre of infants | Mat 2:16 |
| Hos 11:1 | Flight to Egypt | Mat 2:14 |
| Isa 40:3-5 | His coming announced by John | Mat 3:3 |
| Isa 58:6 | He would proclaim a jubilee | Luk 4:18-19 |
| Isa 9:1-2 | Ministry in Galilee | Mat 4:12-16 |
| Deu 18:15 | He is a prophet | Joh 6:14 |
| Psa 110:4 | He is a priest | Heb 6:20 |
| Isa 11:1 | He is a Nazarene | Mat 2:23 |
| Isa 6:9-10 | Teaching by parables | Mat 13:14,15, 35 |
| Isa 63:3 | Rejected by men | Joh 1:11 |
| Isa 11:2 | Some characteristics | Luk 2:56 |
| Isa 11:10 | Conversion of Gentiles | Joh 4:14-15 |
| Isa 35:5-6 | Ministry of miracles | Mat 8:16-17 |
| Psa 69:9 | Purification of the temple | Joh 2:13-22 |
| Psa 22:6 | Persecution | Luk 4:29 |
| Psa 8:2 | Triumphal entry | Luk 4:29 |
| Psa 118:24-25 | People cry Hosanna | Mat 21:9 |
| Zec 9:9 | Rode a donkey | Joh 12:14 |
| Psa 69:20 | No one to pray with Him | Mat 26:40 |
| Psa 41:9 | Betrayal by a friend | Mar 14:10 |
| Zec 11:12 | 30 pieces of silver | Mar 14:10 |
| Psa 55:15 | The betrayer’s death | Mat 27:5 |
| Zec 11:13 | Money for the potter’s field | Mat 27:6-7 |
| Zec 13:7 | Desertion of the disciples | Mar 14:27 |
| Psa 109:7-8 | Judas replaced | Act 1:18-20 |
| Psa 27:12 | False witnesses | Mat 26:60-61 |
| Psa 2:2 | Rules take council against Him | Luk 23 |
| Isa 53:7-9 | Patient under suffering | Mat 27 |
| Isa 53:7 Psa 38:13 | Silent before accusers | Mat 27:12,14 |
| Psa 22:7-8, 16 | Mocked | Mat 27:39-43 |
| Psa 22:8 | Prophetic words of mockery | Mat 27:43 |
| Isa 50:6 Psa 35:15,21 | Spat upon | Luk 22:64 |
| Isa 53:5 | Wounded and bruised | Mat 27:26, 29 |
| Mic 5:1 | Beaten in the face | Luk 22:64 |
| Isa 53:4-5 | Suffered vicariously | Mat 8:16-17 |
| Psa 69:4 | Hated without cause | Joh 15:23-25 |
| Psa 109:24 | Fell under the cross | Joh 19:17 |
| Psa 109:25 | People shook their heads | Mat 27:39 |
| Psa 22:17 | People astonished | Luk 23:35 |
| Psa 31:5 | Committed himself to God | Luk 23:46 |
| Psa 38:11 | Friends stood afar off | Luk 23:49 |
| Psa 22:11,13 | Helpless watchers | Mat 27:36 |
| Psa 22:17 | Naked on the cross | Joh 19:23 |
| Psa 22:14 | Heart burst | Joh 19:34 |
| Amo 8:9 | Darkness over the land | Mat 27:45 |
| Psa 22:14,17 | Crucifixion | Mat 27:35 |
| Dan 9:25-26 | Year of crucifixion stated | ? Exact year is not agreed upon. |
| Lev 23:4-5 | Dies on Passover | Mat 26:18-29 |
| Psa 89:45 | Death in the prime of life | Luk 3:23 |
| Isa 53:12 | Crucified with sinners | Mar 25:27-28 |
| Psa 22:16 | Hands and feet pierced | Luk 23:33 |
| Zec 12:10 | Side pierced | Joh 19:34-37 |
| Psa 34:20 | Not a bone broken | Joh 19:33,36,38 |
| Psa 69:21 | Gall & vinegar offered | Joh 19:29 |
| Psa 109:4 | Prayer for his enemies | Luk 23:34 |
| Amo 5:20 | Convulsions in nature | Mat 27:51 |
| Psa 22:1 | Statements upon the cross | Mat 27:46 |
| Psa 22:11 | Forsaken by God | Mat 27:46 |
| Psa 40:6-8 | Voluntary death | Joh 10:17-18 |
| Psa 22:18 | Lots cast for his garment | Mar 15:24 |
| Isa 53:9 | Buried with the rich | Mat 27:57-60 |
| Lev 23:6-8 | In the tomb for Feast of Unleavened Bread | Mat 26:17 |
| Lev 23:9-14 | Raised on the Feast of First Fruits | 1Cor 15:20 |
| Psa 16:10 | Resurrection | Mat 28:9 |
| Hos 6:2 Jon 1:7 | Rise the third day | Luk 24:46 |
| Psa 68:18 | Ascension | Luk 24:50-51 |
Homework
Matthew 2
- Application of Mat 1
- The Word of God is filled with prophecy because God validates His plan by fulfilling prophecy.
- He fulfills prophecy so that man will know that He is God. God does the same in each individual life. He gives us promises, and then fulfills them. By this we know that He is a God who loves us.
- What promises has God fulfilled in your life lately?
- Preparation of Mat 2:1-23
- Read Mat 2:1-23
- List as many reasons as you can why the virgin birth of Jesus is important?
- Look up, read, and give a title to the following Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the first 2 chapters of Matthew.
- Mat 1:18 = Isa 7:14
- Mat 2:2 = Jer 23:5
- Mat 2:2 = Num 24:17
- Mat 2:6 = Mic 5:2
- Mat 2:11 = Isa 60:3 Psa 72:10-11
- Mat 2:15 = Hos 11:1
- Mat 2:18 = Jer 31:15
- Mat 2:23 => Isa 11:1
- What names do you find for Jesus in Matthew 2?
- Read Mat 2:1-23
- Memory verse: Psalms 33:4
