Matthew 1

Matthew Henry Introduction and Chapter 1

Matthew 1:1-17

I always found genealogies to be a bit boring when I was younger.  I didn't really care about them because I could find no relevance to my daily life, or so I thought.  I find that the older I get the more I appreciate them.  Looking at the list, there are some amazing guys in it.  David.  Solomon.  Hezekiah.  Josiah.  But then there are guys like Manasseh.  It's not the guys like David and Josiah in the list that I have come to appreciate, its the Manasseh type guys.

God, in all his sovereignty and glory, came to Earth as a man, Jesus Christ.  Yet in the family tree are guys like Manasseh.  Often as a kid, I thought that Jesus came from this long spectacular line of kings.  All of the men were most likely amazing, like David, who I knew.  God honored their obedience and passion for Him by bringing forth the Messiah from them.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

This list of ancestors to Jesus gives us a good look at the nature of God.  It is not the religious and self righteous that are the only ones that God can use.  But on the contrary, He delights in using men that are sinners and it makes no logical sense to call.  That is where I belong.

I am more like Manasseh than David.  I turn my heart to idols and away from God more often than I delight in Him and sing praise.  I turn to politics, money, the American Dream, and a host of other things.  What gives me hope is that God can still use me, much like Manasseh.  If the Messiah can be a descendant of Manasseh, God may just use me for His glory, despite my sinful nature.

Matthew 1:18-25

This is a great passage.  It is what the Old Testament was pointing to.  It is what the New Testament taught about.  Jesus the Christ, God Incarnate, came to Earth as a man and lived among us.  This alone was just a tip of the iceberg of what He would later do, but this is the beginning.

While we frequently hear about Mary around Christmas time, we hear very little of Joseph.  But I have admiration for the guy.  First, he could have publicly humiliated Mary, as would most of the men in his society.  But he doesn't do that.  He considers divorcing her quietly.  Considers.  This, in my mind, is a display of love. The woman he was going to marry, and most likely was in love with, suddenly becomes pregnant.  He considers divorcing her.  I don't know that I would have been as calm and collected as he appears to be in this passage.

Second, he doesn't doubt the angel.  Zechariah was also visited by and angel, and told his wife Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist.  However, unlike Joseph, he doubted.  Joseph believed and obediently follow the instructions he had received.

Chapter 1 ends with the Messiah living on Earth.  This is the beginning of the greatest story ever told.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for being so compassionate and caring for sinners.  Thank you for caring enough about us that you would remove Yourself from the glory of Heaven to live among us.  You are more gracious than we deserve, and more loving than we can possibly fathom.

Lord, please strengthen me to be more like Joseph, and less like Manasseh.  I desire to follow You, but my foolish heart desires to chase after the temporary things of this world.  I love you Lord and desire to bring You glory through my life so that You will not be ashamed to have me known as one of Your followers.

You are glorious Lord, and worthy of all my praise.  I can not praise you enough.  You are marvelous.  In Jesus name. Amen.