MATTHEW LESSON 5

     The Gospel of St. Matthew was written by Matthew.  The key word
in Matthew is "fulfilled", as we have been looking at the prophecies
being fulfilled.  Matthew was, also, called Levi.  Matthew was one of
the twelve apostles.  Most people agree he was a Roman tax collector.
Matthew was hated by the publicans, and they criticized Jesus for
eating with him.  When Jesus called him, he left the tax tables and
followed Jesus.

     In the first chapter of Matthew, we see the complete genealogy of
Jesus Christ.  In Matthew, we see Jesus as the promised Messiah.  If
you will, The Lion of the tribe of Judah.  (Matthew-one of the four
beasts , 1st of 4 gospels, in Revelation).

     If we were to think of a theme for this book, we would say its
purpose would be to show Jesus as a fulfillment of that promised
Messiah (His Kingship).  "Gospel" means good news, and certainly this
book of Matthew is a book of good news.

     Matthew 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son
of David, the son of Abraham."

     I believe, here, that this generation of Jesus Christ begins with
Abraham, because he is the father of all believers as we read in
Galatians 3:29 "And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed,
and heirs according to the promise." Remember, all believers in the
Lord Jesus Christ make up spiritual Israel, the (spiritual)
descendents of Abraham, because of their faith.  We read in the 17th
chapter of Genesis that these spiritual descendents of Abraham would be
so many, they will be impossible to number.  Genesis 17:5 "Neither
shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be
Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." Physical
Israel is just one nation.  This is speaking of spiritual Israel (all
believers in Christ).  Verse 7 of the same chapter of Genesis, it
makes it clear that these are spiritual descendents.  Genesis 17:7
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed
after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a
God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." This covenant was based on
Abraham's faith and on the faith of his spiritual descendents.  Abram
(high father) was changed to Abraham (father of a multitude).

     Matthew 1:2 "Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and
Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;"

     This genealagy starts with the three Old Testament patriarchs,
whom the blessings were passed down through.  "Isaac" means laughter.
Jacob's name was changed to Israel.  "Jacob" meant trickster, and God
changed his name to "Israel", which means having power with God. This Israel
was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.  This Judas was the same
as "Judah" (God be praised).  Jesus is shown as being the Lion of the
tribe of Judah.  This first gospel (Matthew) shows Jesus as a Lion
(the first of the 4 faces of the beast in Revelation).

     Matthew 1:3 "And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and
Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;"  Matthew 1:4 "And Aram
begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;"
Matthew 1:5 "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of
Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;"

     We need to stop for a moment here, and recognize that Jesus was
descended in the flesh from Booz (a Jewish man) and Ruth, a Moabite (a
Gentile).  This actually makes Jesus both Jew and Gentile.

     Matthew 1:6 "And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king
begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;"

     "David" (the beloved of God) was in the ancestry of Jesus.  God
promised David that his ancestor would come and rule.  A very strange
thing is that Jesus, through the flesh, was a descendent of David, but
in the Spirit was David's God.  David called Him Lord.  We, also, see in
the verse above, just how forgiving God really is.  David had Uriah
killed so he (David) could have Bathsheba, Uriah's wife.  David's and
Bathsheba's first child died, but God blessed them later with Solomon.
God's people are not perfect, just forgiven.

     Matthew 1:7 "And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and
Abia begat Asa;" Matthew 1:8 "And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat
begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;" Matthew 1:9 "And Ozias begat
Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;" Matthew
1:10 "And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon
begat Josias;" Matthew 1:11 "And Josias begat Jechonias and his
brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:"

     Matthew 1:12 "And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias
begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;" Matthew 1:13 "And
Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat
Azor;" Matthew 1:14 "And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and
Achim begat Eliud;" Matthew 1:15 "And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar
begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;"

     I know that you have noticed the difference in the spelling of
the names here and in the Old Testament.  Most of this is caused
because of the difference in the Greek and Hebrew languages.

     Matthew 1:16 "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom
was born Jesus, who is called Christ."

     This, too, is a large statement.  Jesus took on the form of flesh,
so that He might be tempted in all ways as we are.  "Jesus" means
Saviour.  "Christ" means the Anointed One.

     Matthew 1:17  "So all the generations from Abraham to David [are]
fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into
Babylon [are] fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into
Babylon unto Christ [are] fourteen generations."

     This was the beginning of Jesus the Christ, the specially Anointed
One of God.  All others, who came, were leading up to the Messiah.

     Matthew 1:18 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise:
When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came
together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost."

     In this verse, we see that Mary was promised to Joseph.  Mary and
Joseph had not slept together.  Her pregnancy was of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost's Spirit had hovered over Mary, and she had conceived.

     Matthew 1:19 tells us so much about Joseph, Matthew 1:19 "Then
Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a
publick example, was minded to put her away privily.  Matthew 1:20
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear
not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a
son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people
from their sins."

     You see in these Scriptures that Jesus is the Son of God.  He had
no earthly father.  Joseph was not Jesus' father.  God was His Father.
Mary furnished the flesh, and God furnished the Spirit.

     Even in the name that was chosen for the Son of God to use on
this earth, there is a message.  "Jesus" means Saviour.

     All of this explanation, here, of the birth of Jesus is startling
to us, but can you imagine how startled, or surprised, Joseph was when
an angel told him that Mary was carrying Messiah. His people had been
looking for Messiah all of Joseph's life. Messiah was to actually live
in his home.

     Matthew 1:22 "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying," Matthew 1:23
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God
with us."

     God took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus was, is,
and always will be, God the Word, who became the Son housed in a body
for His stay on the earth.  A virgin having a child is beyond the
comprehension of worldly people even today, and many have decided that
Jesus was not, in fact, born of a virgin.

     How foolish it is not to believe that Jesus was, in fact, born of a
virgin.  A God, so great that He could speak a world into existence,
can certainly cause a virgin to have a child.  Abraham's wife, Sarah,
thought it was impossible to have a child after she was 90 years old,
but she did.  You see, with man it is an impossibility, but with God
all things are possible.

     Matthew 1:24 "Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the
angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:"
Matthew 1:25 "And knew her not till she had brought forth her
firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."

     In these verses, we see several things:

     l. That God does truly speak to some people in dreams.  Not all
dreams are from God.  When a dream is God speaking to you, there will
be no doubt.
     2. Joseph heeded God's message in marrying Mary.
     3. Joseph's restraint from living with Mary until the Christ
        child was born.  This took great discipline on his part .
     4. His following instructions to the utmost in naming the baby
        JESUS as the angel had instructed him.

Next lesson read chapter 2 of Matthew six times in preparation for the
lesson.






































                          Matthew 5 Questions


l.  Who wrote the Gospel of Matthew?
2.  What is the key word in Matthew?
3.  What was another name for Matthew?
4.  Who do most people believe he worked for collecting taxes?
5.  What did he do when Jesus called him?
6.  "Gospel" means what?
7.  In Matthew, we see Jesus as what?
8.  In Matthew, which beast do we see from Revelation 4:7?
9.  What is the theme of Matthew?
10. To whom were the promises of blessings given?
11. What does Abraham mean?
12. For how long was the covenant with Abraham?
13. In Galatians 3:29, who are the spiritual descendents of Abraham?
14. Who were the three Old Testament patriarchs?
15. Ruth was a --------- woman?
16. What does David mean?
17. Even though Jesus was physically a descendent of David, what was
    He to David?
18. Why did Jesus take on the form of flesh?
19. What does "Jesus" mean?
20. What does "Christ" mean?
21. How many generations from Abraham to David?
22. How many generations from David to the carrying away into Babylon?
23. From carrying away into Babylon, how many generations to Christ?
24. In verses l8-25, what is the express purpose?
25. In verse 18, Mary, before she came together with Joseph, was found
    to be with child of whom?
26. What kind of man does verse 19 call Joseph?
27. What had Joseph planned to do with Mary before the angel appeared
    to him?
28. In verse 20, who appeared to Joseph?
29. How did he appear to Joseph?
30. Who did the angel call Joseph?
31. What instructions did the angel give Joseph on naming the child?
32. Why?
33. Who was Jesus' Father?
34. What did Mary furnish?
35. What does "Emmanuel" mean?
36. What causes worldly people to deny the virgin birth?
37. Why did Sarah believe she could not have a child?
38. Finish this statement.  Some things are impossible with man, but
    with God ----------------------.
39. Does God ever speak in dreams?
40. What was the second thing we saw in verses 24 and 25?
41. What was the third thing?
42. What was the fourth thing he heeded?