Matthew Series

October 02, 2021

Between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament there is a span of about 400 years known as the quiet/silent years – a period of time that is not reflected in Scripture.

When the curtain closed on the Old Testament, Medo-Persia – located in the near east – was the world’s greatest Empire. By 333 BC the center of world power had shifted to the west.

When Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, his empire was divided between 4 of his generals - Ptolemy, Cassander, Seleucus, and Antigones. For about 250 years Palestine was caught in the power struggle between two of those empires – Ptolemaic and Seleucid.

In 164 BC the Jews revolted under the leadership of the family of Mattathias – also known as the Maccabees {Hebrew for hammer}. Antiochus Epiphanes {Seleucid} was defeated and the Hasmonaean Empire was established.

The Jews celebrate this liberation every year during the Feast of Lights {Hanukkah}.

Meanwhile, Rome was on the rise and in 63 BC the Romans brought an end to the Hasmonaean Empire and began to rule in Palestine.

So…. when the curtain opened on the New Testament the politics and culture of the world had completely changed:

• There was a world language - Greek.

• Travel was easy and relatively safe.

• Jewish settlements and synagogues were well established throughout the known world {Diaspora}.

The world was now ready for the rapid spread of the Gospel.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John make up the Gospel account of Jesus’ Life. Only 3 – Matthew, Mark and Luke are considered Synoptic in that they share much of the same information – although their audiences were different. Most of John’s book is unique and he is not included in the “Synoptic Gospels”.

Levi Matthew – the Tax Collector and disciple of Jesus – is believed to be the author of “Matthew” but he does not identify himself as such.

Matthew:

• Was written in Greek.

• To a Jewish Audience.

• Likely before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Which brings us to My Favorite Thing ---- The word “fulfilled” and Matthew’s insistence that Jesus is the Messiah of Old Testament Prophecy.

Genealogy

Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus. Connecting Jesus to Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the lineage of the Messiah:

Matthew 1:1 - The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

• Genesis 22:18 - And in your Seed {singular} all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

• Isaiah 11:1 - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

• Jeremiah 23:5 - The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.

Birth

Matthew’s description of Jesus’ birth is exactly 1 verse long. The rest of chapter 1 records Joseph’s response to the news of Mary’s pregnancy, his dream, and his obedience to God’s instructions:

Matthew 1:22-23 – All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us.

• Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Visit by the Wise Men

Sometime later, the wise men came from the east and inquired where they might find the new born king. Herod, told of this inquiry, called the religious leaders to the palace to find out if they knew anything about this new “king” ---- they did:

Matthew 2:5-6 – … He is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.

• Micah 5:2 - But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

Massacre of the Innocents

After the wise men went home, Herod decided his best course of action was to murder all the male children in Bethlehem who were under the age of 2. We should be horrified but not surprised. History tells us that Herod was paranoid and cruel and did many horrific things - including murdering members of his own family in order to maintain his power.