The Gospel of Matthew

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The Gospel of Matthew
Knowing the Messiah
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Background

• Matthew (previously known as Levi) was a Jewish
  tax collector for the Roman government in
  Jerusalem. His name meant, gift of God. He
  wrote his Gospel around 62 AD which was about
  eight years before the destruction of Jerusalem.
  He preached in the area of Jerusalem for at least
  fifteen years and then left and went to Ethiopia
  and Syria. He wrote primarily to Jews to prove
  that Jesus was the Messiah of Israel.

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Context-Israel

• The nation of Israel is under the control of the
  Roman Empire but still has some self-rule because
  the Romans realized that the area would revolt
  without it.
• Herod is the King of Judea and fears that his
  throne is n danger(Roman name for this location).
• Caesar Augustus is the ruler of Rome.
• A census is being carried out.
• In Israel, there is turmoil as the common people
  desire freedom from Roman rule.
• The Zealots (A group of Israeli nationalists who
  are committed to expelling the Romans from Israel
  by force) are plotting revolution.

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Context

• Rome is experiencing the Pax-Romana, which was an
  era of relative peace throughout the empire.
• One government (Rome) rules much of the known
  world
• far away places are connected by Roman highways,
  which facilitate trade and the movement of ideas
  across the whole empire.
• The world has adopted Hellenism, or Greek
  philosophy and culture, which is counter to
  YHVHs Law.
• This way of life is spreading through the Holy
  Land and the truth of YHVHs words has been
  diluted.
• The religious leaders are corrupt and have made a
  code of laws (known today as the Talmud and
  Mishnah) according to their own traditions to
  supposedly clarify what YHVH meant in the Law of
  Moses. These traditions have become a heavy
  burden on the people of YHVH.
• The people wait for the Messiah who was promised
  to deliver them from the worldly Hellenistic
  culture, the pagan government of the Romans, and
  the religious hypocrisy of the leaders of
  Judaism. It was the fullness of time

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The Fullness of Time

• (Galatians 44-5).
• Even so we, when we were children, were in
  bondage under the elements of the world. 4But
  when the fullness of the time had come, God sent
  forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the
  law, 5to redeem those who were under the law,
  that we might receive the adoption as sons.

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Fullness of Time

• Jesus first arrival came in the fullness of
  time.
• The final coming of Jesus will also be at the
  fullness of time.
• Compare the points that effect the meaning of
  this phrase

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Fullness of Time

• One world government (Roman Empire)
• Universal philosophy of government (democratic
  republic)
• One World religion (Roma-Rome is a goddess and
  Caesar is god)
• One world culture (Hellenism/Greco-Roman culture)
• Ease of travel-Roman roads to all parts of the
  empire
• availability of information-high literacy and
  easier means of writing
• relative safety-reduction in robbers and
  highwaymen because of the presence of Roman
  legions at outlying posts
• common laws-the laws of Rome reached throughout
  the empire and influenced other cultures.

• One world government-beast out of the earth
• One governmental philosophy-western democracy
• one world religion-beast out of the sea-likely a
  form of secular humanism in the guise of orthodox
  beliefs
• Ease of travel-technology
• Availability of information-internet, etc
• Relative safety-highly developed police and
  military organizations with powerful technology
• Common law-western democracy style laws are being
  embraced and sought after throughout the world

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Consider the Audience

• Who to Jews
• Why To prove that Jesus is the Messiah
• What Message Jesus did not start a new religion
  but came as the true Messiah to fulfill the Word
  of YHVH given to the Jews and redeem the world
  from the real enemy who is Satan.

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Consider The Author

• Levi (later named Matthew) He was a Jewish tax
  collector who was despised by the people and the
  religious leaders because he worked for Rome and
  cheated the people on their taxes. He had money,
  but he was socially an outcast caught between two
  cultures that did not accept him. He was
  considered a sinner and a publican. Then Jesus
  changed everything. He had been forgiven of his
  cheating. He had been accepted into the family of
  YHVH. He had been given a new culture where he
  was important and loved. He was given a job
  working not for the Romans or the Jews but for
  the God of all people

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Chapter 1 - A Genealogy of Jesus (1-17)

• Lets consider the following points about the
  Messiah
• .The Messiah had to be a Jew or a descendant of
  Judah. He was to rule Israel as the King of
  Kings. Judah had the right of the royal
  scepter.
• Genesis 4910 says The scepter will not
  depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from
  between his feet, until he comes to whom it
  belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.
  (Emphasis mine.)
• The term Jew comes from Yhudah which is Hebrew
  for Judah. The Jewish people are descended from
  the southern kingdom of Judah, which consisted of
  the tribe of Judah, the Levites, and some from
  the tribe of Benjamin. The coming Messiah who
  would receive the obedience of the nations would
  have the right of rule and be related to Judah.

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A Genealogy of Jesus

• .He had to be a relative of David.
• Isaiah 165 states In love a throne will be
  established in faithfulness a man
• will sit on it-- one from the house of David--
  one who in judging seeks justice
• and speeds the cause of righteousness. (Emphasis
  mine.)
• This is a reference to the Messiah or coming
  anointed ruler who would be a man and a
  descendant of King David.

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A Genealogy of Jesus

• He must be a descendant of Abraham
• Gen. 2218 says and through your offspring all
  nations on earth will be blessed, because you
  have obeyed me.
• The offspring that was to bless the nations
  (Jesus) had to be related to Abraham. This was a
  key in getting the Jews to believe in Him
  because they valued the ability of any person to
  be able to trace their heritage back to Abraham.
  To do so would make a person a Jew of Jews.

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A Genealogy of Jesus

• .He must be a descendant of Jacob.
• Num. 2417 says "I see him, but not now I
  behold him, but not near. A star will come out of
  Jacob a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will
  crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all
  the sons of Sheth. (Emphasis mine.)
• The Messiah was to be a relative of Jacob, the
  father of the twelve tribes and again was
  connected to the Scepter or the place of
  rulership.

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A Genealogy of Jesus

• He must be a descendant from Jesse.
• Is. 111-5 says A shoot will come up from the
  stump of Jesse from his roots a Branch will bear
  fruit.
• The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-- the
  Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit
  of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge
  and of the fear of the LORD--and he will delight
  in the fear of the LORD.
• He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
  or decide by what he hears with his ears but
  with righteousness he will judge the needy, with
  justice he will give decisions for the poor of
  the earth.
• He will strike the earth with the rod of his
  mouth with the breath of his lips he will slay
  the wicked.
• Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness
  the sash around his waist.
• The messiah was to a descendant of Jesse, the
  father of David. He would also rule and judge the
  whole earth. (Emphasis mine.)

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son of

• Son of Abraham A Hebrew Chosen A literal
  descendant of Abraham and a member of the Chosen
  people of God.
• Son of David A King Messiah a literal, human
  descendant of King David with the right to rule
• The term son of does not necessarily indicate
  paternal relationship but descendency and
  characteristic similarity. In other words, to be
  a son of someone you did not have to be an
  actual son but could be a relative or even just
  have character traits like that person.

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What is the Point?

• Matthews genealogy is not intended to give a
  direct father to son lineage, because Jesus had
  no earthly father. It was given to
• show how He was related to certain important
  historical figures in the life of Israel.
• Show that He was known to be from the House of
  David (Mary and Joseph both could be traced back
  to David).
• refute the Jews slanderous contention that Jesus
  was an illegitimate son of Mary.
• indicate that Joseph staked his good name on the
  truth of Jesus divine birth.

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What kind of Family did Jesus have?

• Jacob-Stole Esaus birthright through deception
• Judah-Sold Joseph into slavery
• Perez -result of affair between Judah and Tamar
• Rehoboam-King at the division of Israel who
  practiced paganism and caused the people to be
  taxed extremely
• Abijah-First king of Israel (northern
  Kingdom)-pagan
• Asa-rebuked for relying on a physician rather
  than God for healing
• Uzziah-Leper king whose affliction was traced to
  his attempt to offer sacrifices in the place of
  the Levites
• Ahaz-Wicked King of Israel who practiced the
  placed an altar to a pagan God in the Temple
• Manasseh-Unfaithful king responsible for the
  captivity of Judah
• Amon-Idolatrous king of Judah whose pagan ways
  led to his death in the palace

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Zadok

• In later days Ezekiel declared that the priests
  who were sons of Zadok were the only faithful
  ones at the time of the Exile, and that they only
  would be allowed to serve in the ideal future
  Temple.
• Family name of the Zadok mentioned in Nehimiah
  who signed Nehimaiahs covenant and helped him
  rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

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What About the Women?

• Why are so many women named in the genealogy of
  Jesus? This is not usual for a Hebrew genealogy
  because relation is counted through the fathers.
  The following are some clues.

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Maternal validation

• (1) This usage gives some legitimacy to women as
  ancestors. Maternity is important in this list.
  We can see this in the use of the phrase was the
  mother of. Since Jesus ties to physical
  humanity come through Mary, Matthew is pointing
  out the maternal connection.
• Women were typically not considered as valuable
  as men but God showed that He valued them by
  choosing Mary to carry His Son.

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Roles and Values

• (2) YHVH takes that which is humble and exalts
  it. Women of that time were considered as
  property for which a bride price was paid. They
  were no more than an item to be owned. However,
  YHVHs desire was for all people to realize that
  they had a place and were important to Him. Role
  distinctions were to remain in place but no
  person was to be considered a piece of property.
  For they are all made in the image of God. God
  created women equal but gave her a submissive
  role. Submission does not equal inequality.

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Why Gentiles?

• (3) Most of these women were also Gentile (not
  Hebrew). This is an early indicator that YHVH was
  not just God of the Hebrews but of all who
  believed by faith.
• Tamar
• Rahab
• Ruth
• Bathsheba

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Tamar

• The wife of Er, the oldest son of Judah (Gen 386
  ff). Upon her husbands death under the
  displeasure of Yahweh, his brother Onan ought to
  have performed the husbands part, but he evaded
  his duty in this respect, and likewise perished.
  Shelah, the next brother, was promised to her,
  but not given. This led Tamar to the
  extraordinary course narrated in Gen 3813
• By her father-in-law she became the mother of
  Perez and Zerah. Judah, who at first condemned
  her to be burned (Gen 3824), was compelled to
  vindicate her (Gen 3825, 26). Through Perez she
  became an ancestress of Jesus

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Rahab

• The two spies sent by Joshua from Shittim came
  into her house and lodged there (Josh 21).
• She refused to betray them to the king of
  Jericho, and when he demanded them, she hid them
  on the roof of her house with stalks of flax that
  she had laid in order to dry. She pretended that
  they had escaped before the shutting of the gate,
  and threw their pursuers off their track. She
  then told the spies of the fear that the coming
  of the Israelites had caused in the minds of the
  CanaanitesOur hearts did melt for Yahweh your
  God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth
  beneathand asked that the men promise to spare
  her father, mother, brothers and sisters, and all
  that they had.
• They promised her to spare them provided they
  would remain in her house and provided she would
  keep their business secret. Thereupon she let
  them down by a cord through the window, her house
  being built upon the town wall, and gave them
  directions to make good their escape (Josh
  21-24).
• True to their promise, the Israelites under
  Joshua spared Rahab and her family

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Ruth

• Moabite woman who left her own culture and people
  to serve Naomi, a Jewess. She is a picture of
  leaving the world for God. Salvation is pictured
  in her story in the person of Boaz, the kinsman
  redeemer a foreshadowing of the work of Jesus.

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Bathsheba

• Hittite woman whose husband Uriah was killed in
  battle as the Result of King Davids desire fore
  her upon seeing her bathe. Her first child by
  David died, her second son from David was king
  Solomon.

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Anointed One

• The term Anointed One is the literal meaning of
  the word Messiah. In Israel, only three
  offices or kinds of people were anointed. Jesus
  is the Anointed One and fulfills all three
  offices. The three offices are as follows
• Prophet
• Priest
• King

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Prophet

• Prophet Forth-teller of YHVHs direct Word.
  Jesus came as a prophet first. He grew into
  manhood and began to prophesy or speak Gods
  words regarding the coming Kingdom.

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Priest

• Priest - Mediator between YHVH and man. Jesus is
  now our High Priest and the only mediator between
  YHVH and man.
• Hebrews 414
• 14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest
  who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son
  of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we
  do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
  with our weaknesses, but was in all points
  tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us
  therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
  that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
  in time of need.

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King

• King - Ruler of a kingdom. A King has complete
  authority and demands a pledge of loyalty. When
  Jesus returns, He will come as King of Kings and
  Lord of Lords, thus fulfilling the last anointed
  office.
• Psalm 1101-2
• The Lord said to my Lord,
• Sit at My right hand,
• Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.
• 2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength
  out of Zion.
• Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
• Hebrews 1011-15
• And every priest stands ministering daily and
  offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which
  can never take away sins. 12But this Man, after
  He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever,
  sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that
  time waiting till His enemies are made His
  footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected
  forever those who are being sanctified.

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King

• Revelation 1911-16
• 11Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white
  horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful
  and True, and in righteousness He judges and
  makes war. 12His eyes were like a flame of fire,
  and on His head were many crowns. He had a name
  written that no one knew except Himself. 13He was
  clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name
  is called The Word of God. 14And the armies in
  heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,
  followed Him on white horses. 15Now out of His
  mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should
  strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them
  with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the
  winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty
  God. 16And He has on His robe and on His thigh a
  name written
• KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

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Olive oil

• Anointing is accomplished by pouring olive oil on
  the head of the person. This seems strange. What
  possible meaning could this have? First, it must
  be understood that olive oil provides health
  advantages to the body and was used medicinally.
  Secondly, and more important, olive oil in the
  Bible is a picture of the Holy Spirit. An
  anointed person is one on whom the Holy Spirit
  rests and gives authority from YHVH.

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Three Sets of Generations (Fourteen in length)

• There are three sets of genealogies in Matthew
  chapter one. Each is broken into groups of
  fourteen. Considering the importance of numbers
  in the Jewish mind, lets consider this grouping
  system to see if it might have some specific
  meaning.

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Generations

• 14 2 (witness) x 7 (perfection). Two is the
  number of witness. Two witnesses are required to
  establish any matter. II Corinthians 131 says,
  This will be my third visit to you. Every matter
  must be established by the testimony of two or
  three witnesses." (Emphasis mine.) Seven is the
  number of perfection or completeness.

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Generations

• Taken together, the indication is that Matthews
  genealogy represents a perfect witness to the
  person-hood and Messiah-ship of Jesus. This
  pattern is repeated three times. Three is the
  number for Godly unity and strength. The
  indication is that this is a Godly, united, and
  strong witness on the matter. It also pre-figures
  the idea that fullness of YHVHs time plan would
  be accomplished in three stages.

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Next lesson

• Read Matthew 118-223 which concerns the birth
  of Jesus.