Matthew Chapter 1
Matthew begins by proving the lineage of Jesus back to David and Abraham. “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:” (Matthew 1:1).
As I have been seaching for study aids, I have found many people concerning themselves with numbers and meanings of numbers. I will leave this for another time, if at all. To me beside Matthew tracing the lineage, I find a message of trust.
Joseph had to trust that the Holy Spirt placed Jesus in Mary’s womb, and he did. We have to trust the lineage and whatever math is or isn’t produced in verses 1 through 17. We are even remined of the prophecy that is being fulfilled: “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, ” GOD WITH US.” (Matthew 1:23) which is a quote from the Old Testement: Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14) If you trace the name Jesus through English back to Hebrew, the name means “God Saves” and the name Immanuel means “God with Us”