Matt. 1:22 “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:”

I might tell you that the Bible was divinely inspired, but you would reply, “show me some proof, what examples can you show to prove this claim?” Other than explaining the truth that 2 Tim. 3:16 proclaims I might take you to Matt. 1:22 to show you in what manner God has inspired his word.

2 Pet. 1:21 hits the idea straight on the nose, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” God not only inspired the Bible but he clearly communicates the means in which he used to inspire it, speaking through men carried by the Holy Spirit as a sail carries the boat in the direction of the wind.

Apply: 1. The Bible is divinely inspired by God. 2. The Bible is truth and all that is in it is true for its source is of God. 3. The truthfulness or inerrant nature of the Bible demands our submission to its commands, promises, and wisdom.

Note, it today’s world it is more common than not to deny the clear meaning of a text. Often times the authors intention is thrown out the window, the text is demanded to stand on its own and then meanings are force out of the text that were never there. Sadly the Bible has been highly abused by this form of textual criticism. God wrote the Bible, his intention is to give us a relationship with himself, meaning the Bible tells us who God is and how we are to interact with a holy, perfect, righteous, God. Do you submit to the commands, promises, and wisdom of God’s word? Do you throw parts out that you do not like?

Matt. 1:21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

There is a subtlety here that is easy to pass up. “…for he will save his people from their sins.” Notice it does not say he will save his people in their sins, but from their sins. Meaning the end result of a genuine Christian is holiness. Christ is the set apart one; in his holiness he is redeeming us to himself, saving us from our sins. He is taking us out of our sinful habits through the transformation according to his word, unto a sanctified state of holiness that brings honor to his name.

A Christian enslaved to sin is no object of glory for Christ’s, for where is the victory that was won on the cross? Is not the man who claims to be a Christian expected to behave differently from the man who claims no hope in a savior? If Christ died to save us from our sins then yes we who claim to be Christian’s should stand apart from the world.

Apply: 1. The one who saves us from our sins is not ourselves, we have no power in ourselves to change our sinful natures, this saving from sin only comes through Christ. 2. Salvation demands sanctification, faith demands obedience, as Christ demands change.

Note, after thinking through the truths of this verse it has come to my concern that the most evil of men on this earth might be the one who claims salvation in Christ, but has gained no progress in sanctification for his lie and hypocritical life may cast doubt upon onlookers in Christ’s capability to transform a sinner into a saint. Taking it a step further I asked myself the most honest of questions, “what has Christ changed in you? What is still the same? These two questions I then ask to you, and have no fear in answering them honestly for if we find ourselves to be lacking in progress, may we die to our own self and attempts and turn to Christ who will save his people from their sins!

Matt. 1:18b-19 “When His mother Mary had been betrothed to joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.”

Have you ever seen God work but have had a terrible time proving it was the work of the divine? Did this work of God guide you to risk or give up your good name and reputation? Upon thinking of these questions I wonder what was going through Mary’s mind when she realized she was pregnant and not yet married? Even though it was the Holy Spirit’s doing she had no way to prove that she had not broken one of the biggest of Jewish laws.

Imagine, being labeled a harlot for the sake of God’s will even though you were truly not a harlot. I think there are two very valuable things we can take away from this situation, and how Mary handled it.

Apply: 1. After high advancements (such as Mary being the mother of the world’s savior), in case we would be puffed up by our towers of blessing and achievement we must expect something to humble us, a thorn in the flesh if you will that will keep us from idolizing the glory that should be given to God. 2. Those who keep a clear conscience can trust God with the keeping of their good names, and have hope that they will clear up, restoring and even gaining honor as the faithful servant of God is proven true.

Note, the times God calls us to die to ourselves it often is a call to leave behind our reputation. Imagine how salvation would be birthed in the lives of many if only we didn’t care what others thought and we gave God the glory due to his name, witnessing to his work and love. What reputations are you comfortably sitting on that may be hindering the advance of the gospel?

Matt. 1:18a “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way.”

When considering the genealogy, that presupposed the birth narrative found in v.18-25 and observation of the text we are expounding now, it would be quite obvious to the common man that Matthew is saying that Jesus Christ was a real human being, flesh and bone who walked at a real time in history upon the face of this earth. I bring attention to this first of all because there are some who would like to argue otherwise and write Jesus off as a myth.

It saddens me that such a simple observation of the text needs to be brought to our attention and many words spent arguing its truth. Any man of faith would read this section and know with his whole heart that Matthew is simply recording the greatest event in history and his heart would be filled with joy as he can learn how wonderfully his God loves him, to send his only Son (John 3:16).

Apply: 1. God’s word is truth, it is simple and clear. 2. Christ is a real person the God-man sent to save mankind from their sins. Have faith, Christ was real, therefore your salvation is real.

Note, when reading God’s word read it for what it clearly says. Submit to it for this is the key to understanding. Live it, obey it for this will prove its truthfulness to you! What will it take for you to submit?

Matt. 1:1 – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”

What sentence or verse in the entire Bible, or all the writings of the world would be more appropriate to start the New Testament than what we find here in Matthew 1:1? A man could spend the entirety of his life unpacking this verse and I am sure that it may take the first half of eternity for God to expound upon all that is in here when we abide with Him in Heaven. This verse is the revelation of God’s specific, historic, timely, sovereign plan and fulfillment of salvific history for sinful man.

First, Matthew refers to Christ as the “son of David” the line in which the Messiah would come. 2 Sam. 7:4-17: Ps. 89:3-4; 132:11 refers to the Davidic Covenant and here Matthew is showing its fulfillment.

Second, Matthew refers to both Christ and David as the “son of Abraham” the father of the people in which God promised to bless. Gen. 12:1-3; 22:18 refers to the Abrahamic Covenant and here Matthew is showing its fulfillment.

Apply: First, The immediate application is to have faith that God is true to his word. The promises that God made between Abraham and David many years ago where fulfilled and carried through to the dot.

We may also realize that God is sovereign, meaning He is in control of all things (Mal. 3:6). This means God has a specific plan and is going to carry it out exactly as He has revealed to us.

Note, the promises that God made to Abraham and David were true but because of their lack of complete faith in God’s promise they sinned, despite their sin God still carried through to His promise. Sin can often be avoided if we simply trust faithfully the hope that is found in God’s promises. What promises are you ignoring or having a hard time believing?