The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 1 Part 2 Fulfilled Prophecy, A Miraculous Birth & Simple Faith

Matthew tells us special details about the birth of Jesus Christ.

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. 

The Spirit of God guided Matthew to record details surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.

Guided by God's Spirit, Matthew could authoritatively say of the birth of Jesus that "It happened this way."

When the mother of Jesus was espoused to Joseph, he discovered that she was pregnant.

The Holy Spirit made sure to add a key detail. Mary was pregnant before "they came together."

This phrase makes it clear that Joseph and Mary did not have any sexual relations prior to their marriage.

How could Mary be pregnant? 

Matthew tells us that she was "found with child of the Holy Ghost."

A pattern in the gospel of Matthew is that of prophecies being fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

There are many prophecies about His birth. 

There are prophecies about His words. 

There are prophecies about His works.

What does this mean? 

It means that the seed of God was planted in the womb of Mary by the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Christ is the long anticipated Savior, the "seed of the woman."

Genesis 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 

Matthew is telling us that Jesus Christ is the long promised redeemer, the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent's head.

This text from Genesis is the very first promise from God about sending a redeemer to save all mankind from sin.

It is most unusual in the fact that the "seed" is universally referring to the male seed of procreation. 

The Hebrew word literally means a man's semen.

Thus, to speak of the seed of the woman never happened in ancient societies because that seed always came from a man. 

Why is the necessary? Because Adam fell into sin, and from that point humans are born with blood polluted by Adam's sin. 

We are born with a sin nature inherited by Adam. 

However, Christ, the seed of the woman did not inherit a sin nature.

The blood that formed in baby Jesus was not the blood of man. It is the blood of God (See Acts 20:28).

How is this possible? Because Joseph's semen was not used to impregnate Mary. 

It was a "seed" prepared by God and planted in her womb by the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10:5-10  Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6  In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8  Above when he saiad, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9  Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 

Jesus is called the Lamb of God slain from or before the foundation of the world (See 1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8). 

The fall of man did not catch God by surprise. 

He planned to save us from our sins even before He created anything!

The text from Hebrews is a record of a conversation in heaven between the Father, the Son and the Spirit, before anything was created. 

Sacrifices of animals under the law provided a temporary covering of sin until Christ came. 

Thus, the Father could not eternally accept burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin because it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away human sin.

Animal sacrifices offered by faith, brought cleansing and forgiveness from God as He looked forward to Christ's eternal sacrifice. 

Thus, Jesus said that the volume of the book (The Old Testament) spoke about His sacrifice as the holy seed of the woman.

Thus, in the heavenly conversation above, Jesus could exclaim "a body thou hast prepared me."

Jesus freely offered Himself upon the cross as the once for all time sacrifice for sin.

Luke's gospel provides even more detail and the reference is noted so that you can read his account (See Luke 1:26-38).

The virgin birth of Jesus Christ is foundational truth we must believe.

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

This fulfills Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin conceiving a son whose name would be called "Immanuel." 

Immanuel is this seed of the woman who is mankind's only hope of salvation from sin.

Joseph was an honorable man who listened to God and obeyed Him.

Matthew 1:19-21  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 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. 21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

When we spend time during the Christmas season to read about the birth of Christ, we often focus on what God did through Mary.

We must also not forget about this man named Joseph.

Here Joseph is called a "just" man. 

He was morally upright, keeping God's commandments, an honest and virtuous man.

Joseph thought that Mary committed a sexual sin and was unfaithful to their vows.

He was not willing to make Mary an object of scorn and ridicule by publicly divorcing her. 

Rather, he was going to handle it discreetly and privately in order to spare her public humiliation.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him what was happening with regard to Mary's pregnancy.

What words of comfort were given to Joseph! 

God said "Do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife. She is pure and innocent. She is pregnant by the power of God and her son will be a holy, Divine child."

Joseph was commanded to name the child "Jesus" which means "Jehovah saves." 

Jesus was born to become the perfect Lamb of God who would die for the sins of all humanity for all time.

This is why no other religion, no other "god" offers salvation  and eternal life. 

There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved (See Acts 4:12).

One source of eternal truth, one way to the Father, one name who can save sinners.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. He is the only source of perfect truth. He is the only source of eternal life. He is the only way to the Father. 

Therefore, Jehovah, the Old Testament name of God most intimately connected with mankind's redemption, is given to Christ. 

Jesus Christ "shall save his people from their sins."

Prophecies were literally fulfilled by the birth of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1:22-23  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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. 

Here is the linkage to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. 

The birth of Jesus unfolded in this specific way because it perfectly and literally fulfilled prophecy.

Mary was indeed a pure virgin who was pregnant with a son by means of the Spirit of God.

His name will be called "Immanuel" which literally means "God with us."

This reminds us that God is faithful and He will always keep His promises.

This also sets the stage for the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ spoke with all heaven's authority and power.

John 7:46  The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. 

Mark 1:21-22  And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 

His words and teaching were given with power because He spoke as God to man. 

His doctrine was pure and powerful. His teaching aimed at changing the hearts of sinful men.

Christ's words brought life and light into a world darkened by sin.

His words were received with great gladness (See Mark 12:37).

Jesus vast array of mighty works and miracles astonished everyone.

Matthew 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 

His works were overwhelming displays of the power of God as He healed the sick, raised the dead, recovered sight for the blind and made the lame to walk.

His works were astonishing as Jesus commanded the elements of nature and made the powerful winds stop blowing and the threatening waves to cease.

Jesus is God manifest in the flesh!

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

Paul made it very clear that the deity of Jesus Christ is true and grounded in historical reality.

The deity of Christ Jesus is securely rooted in fact and supported by large numbers of eyewitnesses. 

The evidence is so overwhelming that there is no controversy about it.

"God was manifest in the flesh."

Emmanuel means "God with us."

Jesus name means "Jehovah saves" for He shall save His people from their sins. 

Jesus Christ as Savior, King, Prophet, and Priest is the One introduced to us by Matthew. 

Jesus is the Word made flesh who dwelt among us.

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John's gospel introduces Jesus Christ by calling Him "the Word."

"The Word" was not only with God the Father, but also He (The Word) is God!

Later in the same chapter (See John 1:14), John tells us that this same Jesus who is the Word, "was made flesh and dwelt among us."

Joseph's faith and obedience displays his upright character.

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

What was Joseph’s response to what the angel of the Lord told him?

Joseph responded with simple  faith, believing what he had been told by God.

Joseph took Mary for his wife but they did not physically consummate their marriage until after she gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God.

We see the long hoped for seed of the woman being born.

We see the prophesied virgin birth of the Son of God.

We see that God was manifest in the flesh. 

We see that Jesus is Emmanuel, which means "God with us".

We see that Jesus' name means Jehovah saves.

We see that Joseph was a man who feared and trusted God, who would be a good earthly father to Jesus.

This is why Matthew gave us Christ's genealogy first, because he is introducing us to the perfect King, Priest and Prophet. Jesus Christ.

We can thank God for telling us what happened so that our faith is rooted and grounded upon His eternal Word. 

Remember that Jesus was born to die for our sins. 

Jesus was born to suffer in our place.

Jesus was born to carry our sins away forever.

Jesus is the greatest expression of the love of God and He will save all who repent and believe on Him. 

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (See John 1:29).

Jesus shed the blood of God on the cross which has unlimited power to atone for our sins. 

These are foundational truths we glean from Matthew's first chapter!

I pray that these truths encourage each Christian to walk closely with the Lord.

I pray that we are inspired to love and serve Jesus Christ with all our soul, all our heart, all our mind and all our strength.

If anyone is reading this lesson and has not been born again as Jesus commanded, I pray that you will turn to Christ with repentant faith and He will save you!

May God be glorified by our response to His Word because how we respond to His word, is our response to Him.

Bob