Picture shows King Herod's Fortress. (Pic courtesy of National Geographic)
'Matthew' means 'gift of God.'
He was a Jewish tax collector, who obeyed Christ's call and became one of the original 12 apostles. His given name was Levi.
Writing especially for the Jews, Matthew proves that Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the Messiah, the rightful heir to David's throne.
Matthew's gospel stands first in the NT as the perfect bridge between the old covenant and the new, Israel and the church, prophecy and fulfillment.
Here in chapter 1, we will read about the fact that it is a special book.
The Old Testament is the book of the genealogy of Adam, but the New Testament is the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
In fact, the genealogy of Jesus Christ is the last one given in the Bible.
Here and in Luke chapter 3, as we will see later - the important thing is not your first birth but your second birth.
We will read about a special providence, but maybe to some readers, the boring list of difficult names is actually the record of God's working throughout the ages to bring His Son to earth.
God ruled and overruled to fulfill His great promises.
In the same way He will keep His promises and send Jesus back again.
We will read about a special child, the birth of Jesus was different from every other birth .
He was conceived by the Spirit in Mary's womb and born with a sinless nature.
He is 'God with us,' Emmanuel.
And he is also 'God like us' because He took our nature, and entered into human life and experience.
What a wonderful Saviour!
We will see in chapter 2 about responses.
What were the responses to His birth?
Creation responded by putting a miraculous star in the heavens to tell the world a king had been born.
Not just a king, but the King of the universe.
The Gentiles responded by worshiping Him and bringing Him gifts.
Matthew shows early in his book that Jesus came to save Gentiles as well as Jews.
The wise men were astrologer-scientists who studied the heavens.
The star lead them to the Scriptures, and the Scriptures led them to the Saviour.
God speaks to us in ways we can understand.
He is a good God in that respect. In every respect, He is a good God.
Herod the king responded with fear and deception.
He wanted no new king to threaten his reign.
The chief priests and the scribes gave the right information but the wrong response.
They were only 5 miles away from the Messiah, yet they refuse to go see Him.
What good is it to understand Bible prophecy if it doesn't make a difference in your life?
Tax collector: collects tax for the Roman government at Ah Long interest rates
Genealogy: family tree (list of fathers and sons)
Messiah: the Hebrew word for saviour
Christ: the Greek word for saviour
Gentiles: non-Jewish people
The chief priests and the scribes: leaders of the Jewish religion
'Matthew' means 'gift of God.'
He was a Jewish tax collector, who obeyed Christ's call and became one of the original 12 apostles. His given name was Levi.
Writing especially for the Jews, Matthew proves that Jesus Christ is the Son of David, the Messiah, the rightful heir to David's throne.
Matthew's gospel stands first in the NT as the perfect bridge between the old covenant and the new, Israel and the church, prophecy and fulfillment.
Here in chapter 1, we will read about the fact that it is a special book.
The Old Testament is the book of the genealogy of Adam, but the New Testament is the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
In fact, the genealogy of Jesus Christ is the last one given in the Bible.
Here and in Luke chapter 3, as we will see later - the important thing is not your first birth but your second birth.
We will read about a special providence, but maybe to some readers, the boring list of difficult names is actually the record of God's working throughout the ages to bring His Son to earth.
God ruled and overruled to fulfill His great promises.
In the same way He will keep His promises and send Jesus back again.
We will read about a special child, the birth of Jesus was different from every other birth .
He was conceived by the Spirit in Mary's womb and born with a sinless nature.
He is 'God with us,' Emmanuel.
And he is also 'God like us' because He took our nature, and entered into human life and experience.
What a wonderful Saviour!
We will see in chapter 2 about responses.
What were the responses to His birth?
Creation responded by putting a miraculous star in the heavens to tell the world a king had been born.
Not just a king, but the King of the universe.
The Gentiles responded by worshiping Him and bringing Him gifts.
Matthew shows early in his book that Jesus came to save Gentiles as well as Jews.
The wise men were astrologer-scientists who studied the heavens.
The star lead them to the Scriptures, and the Scriptures led them to the Saviour.
God speaks to us in ways we can understand.
He is a good God in that respect. In every respect, He is a good God.
Herod the king responded with fear and deception.
He wanted no new king to threaten his reign.
The chief priests and the scribes gave the right information but the wrong response.
They were only 5 miles away from the Messiah, yet they refuse to go see Him.
What good is it to understand Bible prophecy if it doesn't make a difference in your life?
Tax collector: collects tax for the Roman government at Ah Long interest rates
Genealogy: family tree (list of fathers and sons)
Messiah: the Hebrew word for saviour
Christ: the Greek word for saviour
Gentiles: non-Jewish people
The chief priests and the scribes: leaders of the Jewish religion
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