Commentary on the Book of Matthew

Chapter 1

Genealogy of Jesus Messiah

Vss 1-17, is a genealogical record of Jesus the Messiah, tracing his lineage back to Abraham and David. It provides a detailed account of the generations that connect Abraham and David to Jesus, with each generation mentioned as the father of the next in line.

The genealogy starts with Abraham, who was the father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king, who was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah.

The genealogy continues with Solomon being the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, who was the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, and who is called the Messiah.

The passage also notes that there were three sets of fourteen generations from Abraham to David, from David to the deportation to Babylon, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah. This repetition of the number fourteen may have been a symbolic or rhetorical device used to emphasize the significance of Jesus' lineage and to highlight the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah.

Overall, the genealogy presented in this passage highlights the lineage of Jesus, tracing it back to Abraham and David, and showcasing the fulfillment of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. It serves as a historical record, connecting Jesus to the lineage of Israel's forefathers and establishing his rightful place as the promised Messiah.

Authorship & Date of Matthew

The Book of Matthew is one of the four Gospels in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is traditionally believed to have been written by Matthew, also known as Levi, who was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. However, the authorship of the Gospel of Matthew is a subject of scholarly debate, and some modern scholars propose that it may have been written by an unknown author who used the name Matthew.

The Gospel of Matthew is addressed to a Jewish audience and focuses on presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the Jewish Messiah. It emphasizes Jesus' teachings and his role as the Son of God and the promised Messiah.

The date of the Gospel of Matthew is also a matter of scholarly debate, with estimates ranging from the late 50s to the late 90s AD. Some scholars propose that it was written before the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, while others suggest a later date. However, there is no consensus among scholars regarding the exact author, audience, or date of the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew: Gospel for Jews

The Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Christian Bible is believed to have been written by the apostle Matthew, also known as Levi, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. The Gospel of Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience, likely in the 1st century AD.

Matthew's Gospel was written with several specific purposes in mind:

To present Jesus as the Jewish Messiah: Matthew's Gospel focuses on demonstrating how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament, presenting him as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. Matthew frequently refers to the Hebrew Scriptures and portrays Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, showing that he is the promised King from the line of David, the new Moses, and the embodiment of God's covenant promises to Israel.

To instruct Jewish believers in the teachings of Jesus: Matthew's Gospel includes extensive teachings of Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount, which provide instructions on how to live as his followers. These teachings address various aspects of Jewish faith and practice, and are intended to guide Jewish believers in their understanding of Jesus' teachings and how they relate to their Jewish heritage.

To emphasize Jesus' authority and divinity: Matthew portrays Jesus as the authoritative and divine Son of God, emphasizing his miraculous birth, his authority to teach and interpret Jewish law, and his power to perform miracles. Matthew presents Jesus as the one who fulfills the promises of God's presence and salvation, and as the ultimate authority to whom all people, including Jews, should submit.

To address the concerns and challenges of the Jewish community: The Gospel of Matthew was likely written during a time when the early Jewish Christian community was facing challenges from both within and outside the Jewish community. Matthew's Gospel addresses these challenges by presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish hopes and expectations, and by providing guidance on how Jewish believers should navigate issues such as the relationship between the Old Testament law and Jesus' teachings, the role of Gentiles in the community, and the challenges of persecution.

In summary, the Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples, primarily for a Jewish audience, with the purposes of presenting Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, instructing Jewish believers in the teachings of Jesus, emphasizing Jesus' authority and divinity, and addressing the concerns and challenges of the Jewish community at the time.

Virgin Birth & Joseph's Role

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, God with us." And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus (Matthew 1:18-25)

The passage quoted above is from the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament of the Bible, and it describes the birth of Jesus Christ. Let's break down the meaning and scriptural proofs of this passage.

Meaning:

The passage narrates how Mary, the mother of Jesus, was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit even though she was betrothed to Joseph, her husband-to-be, and they had not yet come together in marriage. Joseph, being a righteous man, initially planned to send Mary away secretly to avoid disgracing her. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and reassured him that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he should take her as his wife. The angel also revealed that the child would be named Jesus and would save His people from their sins. The passage further explains that these events took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, referring to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin would conceive and bear a son, who would be called Immanuel, meaning God with us. Joseph obeyed the angel's command and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to Jesus, whom he named as instructed.

Scriptural Proofs:

The virgin birth of Jesus: The passage clearly states that Mary, though betrothed to Joseph, was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit before they came together in marriage. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14, which states, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. This prophetic fulfillment underscores the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth, as He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.

Joseph's role as the earthly father of Jesus: The passage highlights Joseph's role as the husband of Mary and the earthly father of Jesus. Although Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Joseph was chosen by God to be the earthly guardian and provider for Jesus. This is affirmed by the angel's instruction to Joseph to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus. It also fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 that the child would be called Immanuel, which means God with us. Joseph's obedience to the angel's command and his acceptance of Jesus as his son demonstrate his righteous character and willingness to fulfill God's plan.

Jesus as the Savior from sins: The angel told Joseph that the child would be named Jesus, which means Yahweh is salvation, and that He would save His people from their sins. This points to the central mission of Jesus as the Savior who would redeem humanity from the bondage of sin and provide salvation through His sacrificial death on the cross. This is in line with the overall message of the New Testament, which emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the long-awaited Messiah who came to bring salvation to humanity.

In addition to these scriptural proofs, the passage also emphasizes the fulfillment of God's plan through the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, including the angelic visitation, Joseph's obedience, and the naming of the child according to the prophecy. It highlights the miraculous nature of Jesus' birth, His role as the Savior, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, all of which are central themes in Christian theology.

In conclusion, the passage from Matthew 1:18-25 describes the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the role of Joseph as the earthly father, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. It underscores the divine nature of Jesus' birth, His mission as the Savior, and the importance of Joseph's obedience and faith in God's plan. The passage begins by recounting how Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit, even though they had not yet come together as husband and wife.

This miraculous conception underscores the divine nature of Jesus' birth, as it was not the result of human intervention, but rather a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies such as Isaiah 7:14, which foretold that a virgin would conceive and bear a son called Immanuel, meaning God with us.

Joseph, upon learning of Mary's condition, initially planned to divorce her quietly to avoid exposing her to public shame. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and reassured him that the child conceived in Mary was from the Holy Spirit and that he should take Mary as his wife.

Joseph's obedience and faith in God's plan are highlighted in the passage, as he willingly accepted his role as the earthly father of Jesus, despite the social and cultural challenges he would face. He demonstrated great humility and righteousness by obeying the angel's message and taking Mary as his wife, thereby fulfilling another prophecy from Isaiah 7:14.

The passage concludes with Joseph naming the child Jesus, as instructed by the angel. This name carries significant meaning, as it means The Lord saves, underscoring Jesus' mission as the Savior who would bring salvation to humanity.

In summary, Matthew 1:18-25 highlights the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ, the role of Joseph as the earthly father, and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. It emphasizes the divine nature of Jesus' birth, His mission as the Savior, and the importance of obedience and faith in God's plan. The passage serves as a foundational account of the birth of Jesus in the New Testament, underscoring the significance of this event in Christian theology and belief.

Chapter 2

Magi Seek King Jesus

This passage in Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1-2, describes the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, also known as the nativity story. The story is set in Bethlehem of Judea during the reign of Herod the king, and it involves the visitation of magi, or wise men, from the east who have come to worship the newborn Jesus.

The magi were believed to be astrologers or scholars who were knowledgeable in interpreting signs in the heavens. They saw a star in the east that they believed signified the birth of a king, specifically the King of the Jews, and they followed the star to Jerusalem in search of the child. The mention of the star is significant, as it represents a divine sign or manifestation that guided the magi to Jesus.

When Herod the king heard about the magi and their inquiry, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Herod was a Roman-appointed ruler of Judea, and the news of a potential rival king being born would have threatened his authority. He gathered the chief priests and scribes of the Jewish people, who were knowledgeable in the Hebrew scriptures, and inquired of them where the Messiah, or the promised savior, was to be born.

The chief priests and scribes referred to the prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures, specifically a prophecy from the book of Micah 5:2, that foretold the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem of Judea. They quoted the prophecy, stating, 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.'

Herod then secretly called the magi and asked them to determine the exact time the star appeared. He wanted to know when the birth of the potential rival king had taken place. He then sent the magi to Bethlehem, instructing them to search carefully for the child and report back to him so that he could also go and worship the child. However, Herod's true intentions were not sincere, as he wanted to eliminate any potential threat to his throne.

The magi followed the star, and it led them to the place where the child was. When they saw the star standing over the place, they rejoiced greatly with joy. They went into the house where Jesus was with his mother, Mary, and they fell to the ground and worshiped him. The magi then presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus. These gifts were significant and carried symbolic meanings - gold represented Jesus' royalty, frankincense represented his divinity, and myrrh foreshadowed his eventual death and burial.

Afterward, the magi were warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, and they departed for their own country by another way. This divine warning protected Jesus from Herod's malicious intentions, as Herod had planned to harm the child. This event is often referred to as the Flight to Egypt, as Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath.

The story of the magi and their visit to the newborn Jesus is significant in Christian tradition and holds several theological meanings. It highlights the fulfillment of prophecies from the Hebrew scriptures regarding the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem, and it emphasizes the divinity and kingship of Jesus. The magi's journey to worship Jesus despite their different cultural and religious backgrounds also serves as a symbol of the universality of Jesus' message of salvation.

As the magi followed the miraculous star that appeared in the sky, they embarked on a long and