Bible Study PH

Matthew 1:1

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Keynote
Study Guide (HL)
Study Guide (EN)
  • 1st – Through the Bible…
    • Introduction…
      • There are TWO ways to teach the Bible – VERSE by VERSE or TOPICAL…
      • We teach through the Bible VERSE by VERSE – chapter by chapter – book by book…
      • Not that there is anything wrong with TOPICAL teachings…
      • But there are TWO main STRENGTHS to going through the bible VERSE by VERSE!
    • 1st – Context…
      • When a church teaches a TOPICAL Bible study – picking out a few verses…
      • The danger is you do not know the CONTEXT of those verses…
      • It is easy to change the meaning of a single verse when taken out of CONTEXT…
      • Most errors in Bible interpretation come from taking a verse out of CONTEXT…
      • Satan quoted the Bible when he tempted him to leap from the Temple – Luke 4:10-11
      • Note – never in Psalm 91 does it say to jump off of tall buildings – CONTEXT…
      • Which is why Jesus countered – you shall NOT temp the Lord – Deuteronomy 6:16
      • One of the most important concepts in understanding the Bible is CONTEXT…
      • Understanding a verse in the context of the other verses before and after…
      • The context within the chapter – within the book – within the whole Bible…
      • That is why we study the whole Bible – teachings chapter by chapter…
      • We learn the Bible in CONTEXT – having an accurate understanding of the Word!
    • 2nd – Whole Counsel…
      • Every part…
        • If a church only teaches TOPICALLY – or just certain books – we miss the whole counsel…
        • Pastors will tend to teach on certain topics they LIKE and overlook ones they DISLIKE…
        • When was the last time you heard a teaching from Obadiah [or even knew it was a book]!
        • But every part of the Bible is Gods inspired Word – all of it is necessary…
        • By teaching through the whole Bible – book by book – chapter by chapter…
        • We learn ALL of the Word – and we focus on the topics God deems important!
        • Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
      • Old and New Testament…
        • The NT sits on the foundation and history of the OT – and is essential to unveiling its truths…
        • If there is any doubt on how important the OT is – the NT lets us know…
        • The New Testament included approximately 250 direct Old Testament quotations…
        • If we include indirect or partial quotations – the number jumps to more than 1000…
        • The quotes come from every book of the Old Testament – with the exception of Obadiah!
        • We study through the New Testament every Sunday morning – from Matthew to Revelation
        • And during the Midweek we study through the Old Testament – Genesis to Malachi
        • Because if we only hear the NT – we will miss out on about 75% of the Bible…
        • A good encouragement to get into both the Old and New testaments!
      • Round two…
        • Having finished the book of Revelation – we will start again in the book of Matthew
        • This will the SECOND time we will be working our way through the NT!
        • Unlike a book – that we can finish and move on from….
        • The Bible is infinite in its depth – it is the WORD of God – II Timothy 3:16
        • Therefore we come back to it OVER and OVER to keep learning and growing…
        • So let us open our Bibles to the Book of Matthew – and BEGIN!
  • 2nd – The Author…
    • 1st – Name…
      • The author of the Book is a Disciple named Matthew [title of the Book]
      • That was NOT always his name – he used to be called LEVI son of Alphaeus – Mark 2:14
      • Perhaps because he was from the TRIBE of LEVI [not confirmed]
      • His name was changed to MATTHEW [Μαθθαῖος] – meaning the Gift of God 
      • We do NOT know who changed his name – but we assume Jesus…
      • Because once LEVI met Jesus – he was NOT the same – He became the GIFT of God!
      • Like Saul who had his name changed – from Saul [great] to Paul [little]
      • A man with a tainted history – murderer – never really used by God…
      • Who became one of the greatest men used by God in history!
      • God does not want to leave us as we were before Christ…
      • God wants to give us a new name – changes our character – II Corinthians 5:17
    • 2nd – Tax collector…
      • Before MATTHEW met Jesus he worked as a TAX collector – Luke 5:27
      • He lived in the city of Capernaum [כָּפָר נַחוּם] – the village of Nahum…
      • A little village on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee…
      • It became the HUB of most of the ministry of Jesus!
      • Rome conquered Jerusalem in the year 63 BC [General Pompey]
      • They demanded heavy TAXES from all the nations they conquered…
      • The common practice of the day was to hire LOCALS to collect the TAXES…
      • Rome did not care if the TAX collector got EXTRA – making the job a lucrative position…
      • But it made the TAX collector a hated man – worked for ROME – stole from his PEOPLE! 
      • I love that God choses to use people – that we love to hate…
      • It means God does not care about who we WERE – instead He looks at who we WILL be!
      • Philippians 3:13 – “One thing I do – forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”
    • 3rd – Apostle…
      • MATTHEW was one of the TWELVE disciples of Jesus…
      • Listed FOUR times in NT – Matthew 10:3 – Mark 3:18 – Luke 6:15 – Acts 1:13
      • Mark 3:14 – “Then He appointed twelve [Apostles] – that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach…”
      • The word APOSTLE – means to be sent out…
      • Is a picture of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…
      • EVERYTHING we have SEEN Jesus do in our lives – we are called to go tell EVERYONE…
      • You might think that you will NEVER be an APOSTLE – but we are all called to be sent out!
      • II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ…”
    • 4th – Humble…
      • As we read through his Gospel – he only mentions himself by name ONCE – Matthew 9:9
      • And he references himself in the THIRD person – Jesus saw a man [not me]
      • Because he understood the MESSAGE was not about Him…
      • The purpose of the Gospel – is to tell others about Jesus!
      • The average person uses around 16,000 words a day…
      • About ONE about of every TEN of those words is – I – ME – MY!
      • We like to talk about ourselves – a LOT – but it turns out we are NOT the answer…
      • What we have a LOT of are opinions – maybe they are RIGHT – more often they are WRONG…
      • Which is why we want to – in HUMILITY – talk a LOT more about Jesus!
    • 5th – Obedient…
      • Mark 2:14 – “[Jesus] said to [Matthew] – Follow Me. So he arose and followed Him.”
      • When Jesus called MATTHEW – he did not hesitate – or give excuses…
      • He IMMEDIATELY left everything behind – and went with the Lord!
      • When Jesus stirs our heart – calls us to step out in faith – how do we respond…
      • It is VERY easy to find reasons why we should NOT follow…
      • We are BUSY – we are NOT qualified – we will start TOMORROW…
      • There are ALWAYS going to be EXCUSES why we should NOT step out in faith…
      • But to be used by God – only ONE thing is needed – get up and FOLLOW Jesus!
      • Luke 9:23 – “If anyone desires to come after Me – let him deny himself – and take up his cross daily – and follow Me.”
    • 6th – Example…
      • Mark 2:15 – “[Jesus] was dining in Levis house – [and] many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples… and they followed [Jesus].”
      • The moment God got a hold of Matthews life – he began to reach out to OTHERS…
      • He invited ALL of his TAX collector friends – other SINNERS – over for dinner…
      • He wanted them all to meet Jesus – so they could also be SAVED!
      • We all have friends and family who do NOT know Jesus…
      • They are SINNERS – who need to also have the HOPE that comes from the GOSPEL…
      • How do we give that HOPE to them – invite them to come and MEET Jesus…
      • Encourage them to come to church – a Bible study – a Fellowship night…
      • They may or may not come – but we can give them the INVITATION!
      • Revelation 22:17 – “Let him who hears say – Come! And let him who thirsts come!”
  • 3rd – The Audience…
    • 1st – The Jews…
      • The Book of Matthew is written to a Jewish audience – FOUR reasons:
      • FIRST – It contains more quotes from the OT than any other Gospel [over 60 quotes]
      • SECOND – The genealogy in Matthew starts with Abraham [father of the Jews] – Matthew 1:2
      • THIRD – the title for Jesus – SON of DAVID – is used ten times [more than every other Gospel]
      • FOURTH – Only Matthew calls the KINGDOM of God – the KINGDOM of heaven…
      • He was sensitive to his Jewish audience – who do not speak or write the name of God [G-D]
      • I do not have a whole lot of interests outside of Jesus…
      • But I am willing to walk about just about anything – so I can talk about Jesus…
      • I can chat about sports – politics – even the weather!
      • We need to know our audience – who are we talking to…
      • We want to be sensitive – so we can open a door to present the Gospel…
      • Be a bridge that reaches from Jesus out to a lost and sinful world!
      • I Corinthians 9:22 – “I have become all things to all men – that I might by all means save some.”
    • 2nd – Four Gospels…
      • Four stories…
        • If there is an ACCIDENT – police look for MULTIPLE witnesses…
        • The more PERSPECTIVES they can get – the better they will understand what happened!
        • Each of the Gospels has a distinct purpose – a unique PERSPECTIVE…
        • Each emphasizes a different aspects of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ:
        • Matthew – shows us Jesus as the King of the Jews [Messiah] – Matthew 21:5
        • Mark – presents Jesus as the servant of all…
        • Luke – presents Jesus as the perfect sinless man…
        • John – presents Jesus as God almighty!

      • One focus…
        • When John saw the THRONE of God in Heaven – Revelation 4:7
        • There were FOUR Cherubim who worship before God…
        • These Cherubim have FOUR kinds of FACES – lion – cow – man – and bird…
        • This is ONE of several other places in the Bible were we see this!
        • The TWELVE tribes camped on FOUR sides of the Tabernacle – Number 2:34
        • Each side had its own banner: Judah = Lion – Ephraim = ox – Reuben = man – Dan = eagle…
        • The GOSPELS: Matthew = Lion [Jesus is King] = Mark – Ox [Jesus is the servant of all]
        • Luke = Man [Jesus is the perfect sacrifice] – John = Eagle [Jesus is the King of Kings]
        • What do all of these have in common – God is at the CENTER…
        • The CHERUBIM circle around the LORD – Israel gathered around the LORD…
        • The GOSPEL message – is all about Jesus – who is the LORD…
        • The point – this life has ONE purpose – and that is to put God at the CENTER – John 17:3
  • 4th – The Timing…
    • 1st – The Temple…
      • Although we do NOT know when the book of Matthew was written…
      • We can assume that book was written before the destruction of the Temple…
      • Matthew refers to the Temple still standing – Matthew 24:2
      • The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD – making Matthew one of the OLDEST books of the NT!
    • 2nd – The Church…
      • Matthew is the ONLY Gospel to mention the CHURCH…
      • CHURCH [ἐκκλησία] – a compound word meaning to be CALLED out [of the world]
      • Meaning Matthew perhaps understood more than the other Gospel writers…
      • Gods intention to use those who He CALLED out – to bring His Gospel to the world!
    • 3rd – Synoptic Gospels…
      • Matthew – Mark – and Luke are called the SYNOPTIC Gospels…
      • The Gospel of John is different – 90 percent of the events in the Gospel are only in John…
      • If Matthew was written before 70 AD – it is likely the FIRST Gospel…
      • The early church Fathers [Augustine] put it FIRST in the NT for a reason…
      • They held to Matthew being the source of the other SYNOPTICS!
  • 5th – The Outline…
    • 1st – Timeline…
      • Where the books of Mark and Luke tend to focus more timing…
      • The Gospel of Matthew is not laid out in a chronological timeline…
      • Though it BEGINS with the birth of Jesus – and ENDS with His resurrection…
      • The events in between are organized by THEME!
    • 2nd – Four sections…
      • Sayings…
        • The phrase AFTER these saying – is used THREE times in the book:
        • After the completing the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:28
        • After completing His ministry in the Galilee – Matthew 19:1
        • After completing His ministry in Judea – Matthew 26:1
      • Outline…
        • FIRST – The Presentation of the King – Matthew 1-7
        • SECOND – The Ministry of the King – Matthew 8-18
        • THIRD – The Rejection of the King – Matthew 19-25
        • FOURTH – The Resurrection of the King – Matthew 26-28
  • 6th – The Book – Matthew 1:1
    • 1st – The Genesis…
      • Two natures…
        • The book of the generation of Jesus Christ!
        • GENERATION [γένεσις] – where we get the word GENESIS [beginning]
        • It is the same word used in VERSE 18 – the BIRTH [γένεσις] of Jesus…
        • These TWO genesis – give us BOTH natures within Jesus!
      • Fully Man – Matthew 1:1-17
        • Jesus came to earth as a man – John 1:14
        • He did what no one else could– He lived a PERFECT and SINLESS life…
        • Then the only perfect man – died to pay our DEBT – Romans 6:23
        • In that moment Jesus condemned sin – defeated DEATH – I Corinthians 15:55
        • Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us His righteousness!
        • II Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Christ who never sinned – to be the offering for our sin – so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
        • In Jesus – we have lived a perfect life – we are SINLESS…
        • So God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes…
        • He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as flawless!
      • Fully God – Matthew 1:18-25
        • The Bible makes it VERY clear – Jesus is God…
        • Romans 9:5 – Jesus is the eternally blessed GOD
        • Isaiah 9:6 – Jesus is the Son that was given – the mighty GOD
        • John 20:28 – Jesus is our Lord and GOD
        • I John 5:20 – Jesus is the True GOD 
  • The doctrine of the DEITY of Jesus – is the RED line that cannot be crossed…
  • It is what makes a religion that claims to believe in Christ a cult…
  • There is great diversity within the Body of Christ – I Corinthians 12:27
  • And we can agree to disagree and a VAST collection of non-essentials…
  • But we CANNOT disagree on the Trinity – Deity of Jesus Christ – it is THE essential!
  • 2nd – The Genealogy…
    • History…
      • When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD [Titus Vespasian]
      • The Jews were scattered across the world – and they LOST track of their GENEALOGIES…
      • No Jew in the world today can tell you what TRIBE they are from!
      • We might wonder why is it important that we know the GENEALOGY of Jesus…
      • God gave several promises as to where the MESSIAH would come from…
      • The MESSIAH had to come from a WOMAN – Genesis 3:15
      • The MESSIAH had to come from the line of Abraham – Genesis 22:18
      • The MESSIAH had to come from the line of David – II Samuel 7:11
    • Incomplete…
      • The list of NAMES in the book of Matthew are NOT complete…
      • His point is NOT to give us EVERY name between Abraham and Jesus…
      • He is drawing a LINE – to show us the HERITAGE of Jesus!
  • 3rd – The Name…
    • Did you ever wonder why we call Jesus – Christ – like it is His last name…
    • Jesus is His NAME – [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ] – Yahweh Shua – God is Salvation…
    • Christ is His TITLE – [Χριστός] or [מָשִׁיחַ] – meaning the anointed one!
    • He was ANOINTED – called – to come and DIE to save us from our SINS!
    • It is the COMMAND of God that EVERY person BELIEVE in Jesus…
    • Because there is NO other way to be SAVED – NO other way to get to HEAVEN!
    • Acts 4:12 – “Nor is there salvation in any other – for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

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