Matthew 1 Jesus' Divine Heritage

I)       Matthew 1:18-25 Jesus’ Divine Heritage

A)    File:  matthew 1 jesus’ divine heritage.doc

B)    Audio:  Jesus’ Divine Heritage

C)    Series:  Matthew

D)    Preached:  September 23, 2007

II)    Introduction:  Matthew:  (Levi) Matthew 9:9

A)    Jesus (Joshua) – Yahweh is Salvation

B)    Christ – Anointed One

C)    Son of David

D)    Son of Abraham

III) The Problem of the Virgin Birth

A)    Not a problem for Biblical Christianity or Judaism:

1)      Old Testament miraculous births:

(a)    Isaac born to Abraham and Sarah

(b)   Samson born to Manoah’s barren wife

(c)    Samuel born to barren Hannah

(d)   and New Testament:  JTB born to barren Elizabeth

2)      God who spoke everything into existence

(a)    man from dust and breath of life (Gen. 1:7).

(b)   a powerful God who interacts with creation.

B)    Not a problem for believers in the Bible – a healthy belief endorsed by prophecy.

C)    But a problem for:

1)      Those who do not believe

2)      Those who do not want to believe

D)    Recent denial of all miracles

1)      Including Virgin Birth and Jesus’ claims to deity.

2)      Scientific age – must be a ‘natural’ explanation.

3)      Accusation of invention by the early church

E)     Some that hold this view will say there were other similar accounts before Jesus:

IV) The Parallels of the Virgin Birth

A)    Similar stories before Christ:

1)      Romans:  Zeus father Dionysus without contact

2)      Babylonians:  Tammuz conceived by a sunbeam

3)      Samarian king, Tukulti II:  wrote that gods created him in the womb of his mother

4)      Sennacherib:  goddess of procreation superintended his conception

5)      Even Alexander the Great:   A legend that Zeus impregnated his mother, Olympias, by a snake.

B)    Because these stories existed before Christ:  Critics will argue that the early disciples invented the story based on these pagan myths – but no gain for disciples to die for this truth!

C)    Arguing that the virgin birth of Christ is invalid because similar stories exist is an invalid argument.

1)      But, most likely, it is evidence that our minds can conceive of such an idea – maybe even have such an idea implanted in our minds to which our consciences’ can bear witness.

2)      It may point to a supernatural plot to discredit the truth.

(a)    Explanation:  Satan understood the prophecies – corruption before flood, Abraham’s trouble, line of David, to create confusion with these other tales.

3)      Possibility – God allowed these stories to increase our receptivity to the idea.

D)    Since no credibility to any of these parallels, let’s look at the biblical account:

V)    The Presentation of the Virgin Birth.  Does the Bible really say?

A)    Matthew and Luke – crystal clear.

1)      Verse 16 – a break in the pattern ‘begat’ to “Joseph the husband of Mary, to whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.”  Begat not= gave birth to – can be used of a man.  same in Old Testament.

(a)    First clue:  Matthew had a clear pattern and broke it.

(b)   Is he not the line of David?  Joseph is legal father – inheritance goes to Jesus – name of family, David, Judah, also.

(c)    Jews would recognize this – Jesus was of the house of David legally because of Joseph.

(d)   Luke covers the other base:  Presents Mary as a descendant of David.  More for Greeks.

2)      Verse 18 – “before they came together” and again in verse 25, “[he] knew her not until she had given birth to…Jesus.”

3)      Verse 23 – The word translated ‘virgin.’  It could only refer to a woman that had not had sexual relations.  True of all 14 occurrences in the New Testament.  All 14 translated as ‘virgin’ in the KJV.

(a)    Used in Isaiah 7:14 in LXX to translate a Hebrew word that also means virgin.  70 scholars agreed.

(b)   Luke uses the same word of Mary twice.

(c)    So if she is clearly a virgin – whose Son is He?

4)      Verses 18, 20 – The child was of the Holy Spirit.

(a)    Though he was to be named “Jesus” he was to be known as “Immanuel which means, God with us.”

(b)   He was conceived of God and was, in fact, God in the flesh!

B)    Conclusion:  Matthew went through great trouble to show that Jesus was not begotten of man but was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to a woman.

1)      No other interpretation – Jesus was not Joseph’s child. 

2)      Jesus Christ is clearly presented as having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.

VI) The Prophecies of the Virgin Birth

A)    Verse 23:  Isa. 7:14.  Context:  King Ahaz fearing destruction of Jerusalem by Assyria and Isaiah brings word from God that the line of David will not be cut off by Syria and Israel.

1)      Context – all of Isa. 7-9 the same discourse.

2)      The sign would be that a virgin will give birth to one whom people shall call “Immanuel.”

3)      Same context, same person, Isa. 9:6-7.

(a)    This coming Messiah must be divine:  rules from the throne of David forever.  called “Mighty God”

(i)     God has never allowed anyone else to be called God

B)    Other prophecies – Psalm 2:7-9.  (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5, 5:5) Never fulfilled in David.

1)      Messiah clearly presented as one whose reign is eternal, who has God’s authority to judge, who has God’s power to conquer, who has God’s personal endorsement as ‘begotten son’!

C)    The prophecies paint a picture of a coming prince, a Messiah, who would bring the authority and power of God to dwell with us on earth.  But for what reason? 

VII)          The Purpose of the Virgin Birth

A)    Verse 21:  Jesus’ name/mission:  to “save his people from their sins.”  Drowning people are generally not saved by other drowning people!

1)      Atoning sacrifice:  spotless lamb.

(a)    even David – Ps 51:5 – conceived in iniquity

(b)   Romans 5:  Sin came through one man – Adam – and death through sin.  Through Adam’s one sin – death spread to all men. 

(i)     But Eve ate first.  But Adam had the law!  The Bible is clear – the trespass came through the man and is therefore passed on through the man.

(ii)   This is why God sent Jesus in fulfillment of Gen. 3:15 as the seed of a woman.  An idea that did not make sense.

2)      He was going to offer rebirth:

(a)    He allows mankind to change spiritual heritage:

(i)     Rebirth: From children of Adam to children of God.

3)      According to Old Testament theology:

(a)    Only God can forgive sin.

(b)   Everyone born of man is born in sin.

(c)    No one born of man is without sin.

(d)   Only God has the authority to declare someone righteous – justified.

B)    1 John 5:5 – who is it that overcomes the world?  The ones who believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God!

VIII)       Conclusion:

A)    The Bible unequivocally declares that Jesus is the Son of God – conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to a woman – thus not receiving the sin passed on from Adam.

B)    Jesus’ power as God was displayed through His mighty works, His message of salvation, and his resurrection from the dead.

C)    The Bible very clearly indicates that He is the only way to be saved.  The only one who was born without sin, who overcame all temptation to live a sinless life, who offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for your sins, and who has the authority to forgive you and give you a new birth as a child of God – without Adam’s sin, without your own sin.

I)       Notes:

A)    Why does Matthew put this information here?  Why is it important?  How is it part of linking Old Testament thought to New Testament teaching of the Christ?  Does Isaiah passage ‘prove’ that the Messiah would be a son of God?  Was it necessary that He not be born of a man?  Why? 

B)    Proper fulfillment of the following:

1)      Gen. 3:15 – the seed of the woman

2)      ‘today I have begotten thee’  Psalm 2:7 – the Son of God

3)       

C)    Potential order:

1)      Introduction

(a)    Religious polls

(b)   Historic Heresies

(c)    Religious leaders

(d)   Importance

D)    Old Testament prophecies that make it a necessity

1)      conceived in iniquity – Ps 51:5.

September 23, 2007,

“Jesus’ Divine Heritage”

Matthew 1:18-25:

1)    The ________________________ of the Virgin Birth. 

2)    The ________________________ of the Virgin Birth. 

3)    The ________________________ of the Virgin Birth. 

4)    The ________________________ of the Virgin Birth. 

5)    The ________________________ of the Virgin Birth.[1]

Matthew 1:18-25:  18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23       “     Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

                    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.[2]

September 23, 2007,

Matthew 1:18-25 Word Find

Notes:  __________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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[1] 1) Problem; 2) Parallels; 3) Presentation; 4) Prophecies; 5) Purpose;

[2]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Mt 1:18-25.