BS1G - THE STORY OF CHRIST'S BIRTH AS RELATED BY MATTHEW
The Incarnation (or God Becoming Man)
The object of Matthew’s very first paragraph was to show that the Messiah was in origin, not just a man but of God, and therefore divine. Read the entire paragraph and then we’ll look at the specifics.
Matthew 1:18-25
Right from the start we can see that Jesus’ family was going to be messy – like most of our families are. At what stage was Joseph and Mary’s relationship when she was “found to be with child through the Holy Spirit?”
Matthew 1:18A
This pledge to be married was called a betrothal (contract of marriage) and it was as binding as a marriage usually lasting 10-12 months before the wedding would take place.
Matthew describes Mary as having been “found with child” but Luke gives us more details – perhaps having the opportunity to interview Mary directly. How does Luke describe the pregnancy as occurring related by the angel Gabriel?
Luke 1:35
When Joseph (a righteous and just man) found out about Mary’s condition what was his response?
Matthew 1:19
God (who knows all things) knew what Joseph was considering. Who did He send to Joseph as his spokesperson?
Matthew 1:20A
……and what was the message?
Matthew 1:20B
Notice the angel confirms what Matthew writes in verse 18. Joseph was a thoughtful man and hadn’t responded to the alarming news about Mary with haste. It says, “as he considered this”. When we don’t know what to do, God will lead us. Often in ancient times, God made His will known to the prophets and people of God through angels.
When the angel called to Joseph in his sleep what did he call him?
Matthew 1:20
Joseph was a descendant of King David’s line and perhaps the angel used this statement –“son of David” ---to prepare Joseph for the intelligence that Mary was to be the mother of the Messiah – the promised heir of David.
“Fear not” – At this point Joseph could only assume that Mary had had a relationship with a man other than himself and that’s why he had chosen to “divorce her quietly”. But the angel dispels those fears about Mary. She will not disgrace Joseph and therefore he shouldn’t have apprehensions about her virtue and purity.
The fact that Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by a direct action of God prepared Jesus to be a divine man who was pure, holy, and free from the corruption of Adam and Eve’s sin nature that we all inherit. It would make Jesus qualified to be the spotless “Lamb of God” who takes away the sin of the world. This is the reason for what is called “the Immaculate Conception” – or God impregnating Mary by the direct action of His Holy Spirit.
Had Joseph been his father, Jesus would have been like everyone else. And what was that?
Romans 5:12
But, because God was the real father, what was true of Jesus when He was born?
2 Corinthians 5:21 / Hebrews 4:15 / 1 Peter 2:22
Before continuing with the account of Christ’s beginning, we need to realize that this event we name “the immaculate conception” was the fulfillment of a prophecy.
Matthew 1:22
That prophecy came from Isaiah.
Isaiah 7:14
Prophecies might be given for a current event, but often they apply to a more important event that will occur later. This is the case for Isaiah 7:14.
Judah’s King Ahaz fears that two kings (Syria and Israel) will destroy Judah. The king will not ask for a sign as Isaiah instructs him to and so the Lord Himself (Adonai) gives him a “sign” (or a pledge) of a virgin conceiving (that could only be known by God). A son would be born to a favored virgin and her son would be their protectorate. And by the time this son is 3 years old the land would be forsaken by the hostile kings (Isaiah 7:16).
What was this protectorate to be called?
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew tells us what “Immanuel” means.
Matthew 1:23
It was a pledge of God’s own divine protection and presence. The birth of this child would be the sign of God’s commitment and it was a name fully expressing the incarnation (or the coming of God to earth in human form). When God originally made us, He planned that we would each partner with Him so that together we would accomplish the purpose we were made for. It was always God’s plan that He be “with us”. Sin had destroyed this great partnership but with Jesus we were about to get this back! So, the name Immanuel has great meaning for all of us.
What did Joseph do when he woke up?
Matthew 1:24
Joseph recognized this dream from God and probably took Mary immediately as his wife, now convinced of her innocence and purity. Had he delayed in doing this there might have crept in uncertainties and suspicions.
And when Mary’s son was born what did Joseph call him?
Matthew 1:25
Why did Joseph call the son Jesus?
Matthew 1:21a
Jesus was a common name amongst the Jews that meant Savior. It was the same as the Hebrew name Joshua.
What did the angel predict that Jesus would do for “His people”?
Matthew 1:21b
Jesus didn’t come to save us “in” our sins but “from” our sins and this is the evidence that we are “His people”. It’s impossible that we should be His people if we indulge in sin and live in the practice of sin. John writes about it this way:
1 John 3:7-9
And so, the conception of Jesus was miraculous being created directly by the power of God. It was the way God chose to create a body (both human and divine) that could save people from their sins. But Matthew means more than Isaiah. He sees that God is Jesus’ father and that Jesus was literally “God with us”.
The divine nature was united with the human in the person of Jesus Christ. Later this would happen in everyone of Christ’s followers. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Next Study: BS1H- The Story of Christ's Birth as Related by Luke