Matthew
was written primarily to a Jewish audience. Therefore, Matthew has the most references
to the Old Testament in all of the Gospels. He also goes deep into how Jesus
fulfilled prophecy and presents Jesus as the Messiah the Jews were looking for. Matthew was Jesus Disciple who
was a tax collector (dishonest IRS agent of the day) prior to following Christ.
As you read, note the heart that our Lord Jesus Christ had for the Jewish
nation.
Matthew
Chapter 1
The Lineage of Christ
The book of the generation of Jesus
Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Jesus is the son of David, thus He has
royal lineage. And He is mentioned as the son of Abraham signifying His Jewish
descent. Aside from Christ’s divine conception, it is significant to study the
2 lineages recorded in the Gospels (in Matthew and Luke; it is believed the lineage
in Matthew is Joseph’s and in Luke is Mary’s).
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac
begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
The characters mentioned here represent quite
a bit of history. Abraham is the Father of Faith and Isaac’s life represents
God’s hand in bringing a man and woman together in marriage (Genesis 24). Jacob
was known as a deceptive individual who beguiled his father and cleverly took
the wealth of his father-in-law, Laban. However, Jacob’s name was changed by
God to Israel which means “one who prevails with God” (Hitchcock’s). And then
Judas (Judah) is mentioned. Judah was a blessed son of Jacob, and God calls
Judah’s descendents, the Tribe of Judah, a Lion. But we also see an error in
the life of Judah. He was one who early on in life, slept with his
daughter-in-law thinking that she was a prostitute. But Judah’s life pictures
redemption from his wrong as repented (turned direction); and he is honored by
God in the Scriptures.
