A Deeper Look at Matthew: An End-Times Bible Study

I have written a book, a Bible Study on the gospel of Matthew. I am sharing it with you, here.

Matthew One

Here we have the wonderful gospel of Matthew. This, the first of the gospels, begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Now, we know from Titus 3:9 to not place too much importance on a genealogy, for we are told it is unprofitable and vain. But Jesus' genealogy has some striking aspects to it and I want to mention a few of these. First, Jesus is a descendant of the patriarch Abraham and his son Isaac. He is descended from Judas [Judah], meaning He is from the tribe of Judah. Also note that Jesus has royal blood in Him, being that he is a descendant of both David and his son Solomon. Every time you see in the gospels one of the cripples cry out "have mercy Son of David," now you know why. All told, there are 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus Christ.

1:18 tells us that before Mary was married to her husband Joseph, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Ghost. So, Joseph decides to quietly let Mary slip away and not marry her, lest "she should be made a public example." What does this mean, "public example?" Well, we are told in Leviticus 20:10 that the penalty for adultery is death. This is what they did to adulterers in ancient Israel. (Today, in America, many, many commit adultery and get away with it because there are no serious laws prohibiting it.)

While contemplating how to let Mary slip away, "the angel of the Lord (in Roland Buck's Angels on Assignment we are told that this is the archangel Gabriel)" appears to Joseph in a dream, telling him not to fear marrying Mary, for the Child in Mary's womb has been conceived by the Holy Ghost. Furthermore, the angel tells him that "she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from his sins. The name "JESUS" is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jehoshua or Yahushua which literally means "savior."

The Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 is now fulfilled. Here we are told that "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." So Joseph arises from his sleep and does as he is told, taking Mary for his wife. And he knows her not till she gives birth to her firstborn Son, to whom he gives the name JESUS.