Matthew 1 - 5

The Messiah

Note: Today our Bible reading takes a dramatic change from the Old Testament to the New Testament, from the giving of the Law by the Lord through his prophet, Moses to the fulfilling of the Law by the Lord through His son, Jesus. Just like in the Old Testament where we read the first 5 books, in this phase we read the first 5 books of the New Testament.

Matthew's Gospel is the Gospel to the Jews. Jesus is presented as the Messiah and King. The first verse of chapter one establishes His lineage back to Abraham through David. The succeeding 15 verses traces His ancestry from Abraham, the father of faith, to Jesus, the fulfillment of that faith.  Everything about His birth is spiritual and heaven inspired. An angel comes to Joseph three times - to provide an explanation of His birth; to protect Jesus after He is born; to return Jesus to Israel to fulfill His prophetic purpose.

Matthew's Gospel is also the only Gospel to tell of the wise men. Tradition says there were three wise men, but the Bible only states that wise men brought three gifts and does not specify the number of men. The gifts symbolize His purity - gold, His sweetness - frankincense, and His suffering - myrrh. The wise men state that they saw "his" star (2:2) and came to worship Him. These were men from the East, perhaps Persia, that had knowledge of the Jews, perhaps the descendants of those with whom Daniel dwelt in captivity.  Suffice it to say, they were more perceptive to the royalty of Jesus Christ than the secular rulers, Herod and the Romans, and the Jewish spiritual leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees.

After being baptized by John the Baptist (3:15), Jesus went to the wilderness for forty days. There the scripture relates three distinct temptations by the Devil (4:3, 5, 8) that tempted him physically, mentally, and spiritually. Jesus overcame all these temptations by using the Word of God, quoting scriptures from Deuteronomy each time (your Bible should have the references). This sets a excellent example for the believer in overcoming tests and temptations from Satan - we must use the Word of God and allow His spirit to strengthen us.

After the temptation, the Lord returns and settles in Capernaum to begin His public ministry. It is not a coincidence that Jesus' initial message is verbatim identical to the message of John the Baptist, "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." (4:17 and 3:2). This establishes Jesus' ministry and confirms John's.

Chapter 5 provides the first of five lengthy discourses by Jesus in Matthew, and is commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon is in great contrast to the strident discourses in the Numbers and Deuteronomy. Jesus speaks of blessings to the poor, the mournful, the humble, the meek, the merciful, those who are persecuted.  No mention is made of the quid pro quo so often cited in the Old Testament Law, i.e. obey and be blessed, disobey and be cursed.

However, in 5:17, Jesus makes it clear that the Law is of supreme importance stating, "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose." He did not abolish the Law, He amplified it. Murder is no longer physically killing a person, murder now is talking evil of a person (5:21-22). Adultery is no longer a physical act, it is lust in the heart (5:27-28). Vows, revenge, marriage, divorce, enemies - all of these subjects are amplified by the teachings of Jesus.

Chapter 5, in the last verse, 48, Jesus sets the expectation He has for those who follow Him, "You are to be perfect, even as your Father is heaven is perfect."  The word "perfect" is the Greek word telios - meaning complete and mature. This declaration tells me two things. Jesus want nothing less for us than the holiness of God and because He expects this, He has to have prepared a way for the perfection to occur.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.