24 July - Matthew 1

We start a new book of the Bible today. We’re starting the book of Matthew, chapter 1. Matthew is the first book of the New Testament. The author of this book was Matthew, who was a tax collector who left everything behind to follow Jesus and become one of his disciples. Let’s see what Matthew has to say in this first chapter:

1. Matthew wrote his letter (known as the book of Matthew today) to a mainly Jewish audience. He started the letter by tracing the genealogy of Jesus back to Abraham. Most of us today could probably care less about how Jesus was connected to Abraham but for Matthew’s Jewish audience it certainly would have been significant. The reason the Jewish people would be concerned with the connection Jesus had with Abraham was because the Jewish people considered Abraham the forefather of their faith.
2. Then Matthew describes one of the most important parts of Jesus coming to earth, the fact that he was born of a virgin. Which obviously isn’t possible by human standards but Jesus was God in human form and so it makes sense that he would be born in a different way. 
3. We also learn how Joseph, Mary’s fiance (and “earthly” father of Jesus), had a difficult time accepting Mary’s word that she was pregnant by God. That would be a hard thing for any man to accept. But God sent an angel to tell Joseph it was true and Joseph took on his role in Jesus’ life. This would have to have been very difficult for Joseph to endure the “questions” of people around them about his wife and “son.” 

Does knowing how Jesus was connected to Abraham help connect some dots for you in the Bible? Is it difficult for you to believe Jesus was really born of a virgin? Do you understand how important it was that Jesus be born of a virgin? Does reading how Joseph naturally struggled with the “news” Mary shared with him make you see Joseph in a new light? Does it make you think less of him or see him as a normal guy like the rest of us? How about Joseph’s faith, does that inspire you to trust God more? What area is God asking for more faith in your life right now?