Page 10 - November 2023 - Truth & Tidings

e continue our study of Gospel Isaac and Solomon were only conduits
bookends with the theme of through whom those promises flowed
WChrist “with us” in Matthew. until they found their ultimate fulfillment
Chapter 1 introduces Him as “Emmanuel in Christ.
… God with us” (1:23) ; and He promises These titles not only confirm Christ as
1
His disciples in Matthew’s final verse, “I the rightful heir of land and throne; they
am with you always” (28:20). also hint at the path that He will take to re-

“With us” (1:23) ceive that inheritance. As Abraham’s Son,
He was miraculously born and beloved by
If Matthew is the Gospel of the King, His Father. He laid down His life on the
what a beautiful royal portrait it is! It mountaintop and, through Him, blessing
begins with a genealogy, something that’s flows to the entire world. As David’s son,
so important to us as Christians, because He rises again to reign forever as the unri-
our faith rests on true history. If the facts of valed King over a prosperous and peace-
Scripture are not historical, then we have ful kingdom. Indeed, “all the promises
no gospel and no hope. of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,
We find many genealogies in the Old unto the glory of God” (2Co 1:20).
Testament – eight chapters straight at the Not only does He receive two great titles
start of 1 Chronicles – but there is only one in this chapter, “son of David” and “son of
Man’s genealogy in the New Testament. Abraham,” but we also read of His being
That final genealogy belongs to our Lord given two names. Isn’t it interesting that a
Jesus, the last Adam, who brings history chapter packed with supernatural events
to its fulfillment. All past history led up comes to its climax and conclusion with
to Him, and any future history only has this simple statement: “He called his name
importance as it is linked to Him. His Jesus” (Mat 1:25)? The crowning moment
lineage and descendants are now the ones of this story is a baby being given one of
that matter – “Behold I and the children the most ordinary names of His day, Jesus.
which God hath given me” (Heb 2:13). What’s so amazing about that?
Matthew begins his genealogy with two Matthew tells us that He was named
titles that identify Christ as the ultimate before His birth by an angel (v21) and a
heir of promise: “the son of David, the son prophet (v22-23). And here the careful
of Abraham.” David and Abraham both reader discovers something especially
received covenantal promises linked to interesting: Notice how similar Isaiah’s
their sons, and Christ inherits both those words are to the angel’s words. Isaiah
promises. Abraham’s son was promised said, “A virgin … shall bring forth a son,
the land and David’s son, the throne. Yet, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”
¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the (v23). The angel said, “She shall bring
KJV. forth a son, and thou shalt call his name

330 TRUTH kTidings November 2023