Jesus' Birth & Childhood

Let’s look at Matthew, a catechism or instruction book for new Christians.

Preparing for Jesus (Matthew 1)

Read Matthew 1. Let’s learn about Jesus' birth and John the Baptist.

Abbreviated Genealogy

Why did Matthew abbreviate this genealogy? The lineage in 1 Chronicles 6:3–14 is abridged in Ezra 7:1–5, and more so in Ezra 8:1–2. Condensed genealogy is a literary device. Matthew used three stylized sets of 14 generations, picturing Jesus as a son of David inside a number puzzle.

In Hebrew David is “DVD” (D is 4. V is 6. 4+6+4=14). Matthew symbolizes this by 3 periods of 14: 1) Israel’s ascent under David, 2) decline into Babylon, and 3) ascent again under Christ. Matthew has Joseph’s lineage and Luke has Mary’s.

Names have Meaning

Names once meant something. Jesus means “YHWH (the Lord) saves.”

She will give birth to a son, and you will call him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21 CEB)

Jesus is also Immanuel.

‘A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’ (Matthew 1:23 CEV)

Jesus is the cornerstone of Christianity.

Perpetual Virginity?

Joseph married a virgin.

But he didn’t have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. Joseph called him Jesus. (Matthew 1:25 CEB)

If Mary was a perpetual virgin, the word “until” is pointless. Plainly Jesus had siblings (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55; John 7:3; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5). The Greek word for cousins was not used. A prophecy of Jesus makes it clear.

I have become estranged from my brothers, And a stranger to my mother’s sons. (Psalm 69:8 NASB)

Neither Jesus nor the Apostles claimed that Mary was a perpetual virgin.

Jesus as Refugee (Matthew 2)

Read Matthew 2. The Magi were educated advisors to kings. They believed an ancient prophecy of the Messiah.

And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. (Matthew 2:6 ESV cp. Micah 5:2)

Fleeing to Egypt

Let’s recognize humanity’s mistreatment of foreigners and innocent children in Matthew 2:13-23.

Now when they [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Matthew 2:13-15 NKJV)

Massacre of the Innocents

Was this a myth? Much of ancient history is only found in one place and this murder of a dozen or so village children is only recorded in Matthew. Other records show that Herod murdered a wife, three sons and more.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:16-18 NKJV)

Jesus understands the refugee. The Bible demands that foreigners be treated well (Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Leviticus 19:33-34; 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 10:18-19; 24:14-17; 23:16; 27:19; Psalm 146:9; Jeremiah 7:6; 22:3; Ezekiel 22:7; 47:22-23; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 25:43; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 11:13; 13:2). Let’s not hide behind human laws that disobey scripture.

The Home in Nazareth

Where was Jesus’ childhood home?

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:19-23 NKJV)

Nazareth was despised and rejected (John 1:46; 7:52). Jesus was despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:2-3, 7-9, 12; Psalm 22).