Matthew
1:1-17 The genealogy of Jesus
Why start a Gospel with a long list of names? Genealogies showed the purity of lineage that was so important to a Jew. The first readers of the Gospel would be fascinated that Jesus could trace his genealogy back to Abraham (1).
The genealogy is carefully arranged in three groups of fourteen names each (17). It is not intended to be comprehensive but to make three names stand out: Abraham (2), David (6), and Jesus (16). The high point in the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in the Old Testament is undoubtedly King David (6). The climax of the genealogy is David’s greater son (16). The exile to Babylon (11-12) represented the nadir of Israel’s fortunes, the frustration o their hopes and the end of the royal line; and it too points forward to Jesus … the Messiah (16) and his people in whome those fortunes will be restored and those promises fulfilled.
Four women appear in the genealogy: Tamar (3) was an adulteress (Ge 38); Rehab (5) was a prostitute (Jos 2:1); Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba (6), was the woman David had seduced and whose first child had died (2Sa 11-12); Ruth (5) was a Gentile Moabite (Ru 1:4), whose descendants were not allowed near the assembly of the Lord (Dt 23:3). Sinners they may be, but God works to rescue and use them in his service.
Matthew’s beginning shows that the barriers between men and women are broken down: women share in the official genealogy of the Messiah alongside men. The barriers between Gentiles and Jews are broken down too: Ruth (5) plays her part in the coming of one who was to be not only Messiah of Israel (16) but Saviour of the whole world.
1:18-25 The birth of Jesus
Matthew tells us in no uncertain terms who this baby is. He does so by two unmistakable allusions to the Old Testament. The first great name accorded to the child of promise here is Jesus (21), meaning, ‘The Lord saves’. Matthew gives an allusion from Ps 130:8: ’He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.' The second takes us back to Isa 7:14 ’the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel’. Jesus is no mere teacher: he is ’God with us’ (23).
In this first chapter, god’s good news is revealed. God speaks first through history as seen in the genealogy (1-17), secondly through dreams five times in the first two chapters (20; 2:12, 13, 19, 22), thirdly through angels (20; 2:13, 19), fourthly through Scripture (21-22) and fifthly through Immanuel, ‘God with us’ (23).
This passage is strongly trinitarian. God the Father reveals himself through his Son, Jesus (21) and Immanuel (23). All this is brought about through the agency of the Holy Spirit (18). The Father loves us enough to send his Son, the one who shares both God’s nature and ours. He comes to rescue his people from their sins (21), enemies far deadlier than Rome.
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2:1-12 The Magi visit the Messiah
Jesus, Immanuel (1:23), was born in the little town of Bethlehem (1), the ancient seat of the Davidic line (1Sa 16). His coming always divides people, as will be seen here and as the story of Jesus’ life unfolds towards the cross.
The theme of the Gentiles becomes a dominant motif in Matthew, beginning with the coming of the Magi (1). This term applies to magicians (referred to as sorcerers in Ac 8:9; 13:6) and astrologers. A star (2) became part of Jewish messianic expectation found in the prophecy of the Gentile prophet Balaam (Nu 24:17).
17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
Both Jewish and Gentile worlds were predisposed towards seeing in the stars an indication of what they might expect.
After seeing his star, some of these men journeyed west to Judea (2) to give the newborn king costly gifts (11) and the worship of their hearts. They even recognised him as king of the Jews (2), a title which does not recur until Jesus’ crucifixion (27:11, 29, 37). Their faith, their insight, their wholehearted search and adoring worship are utterly amazing.
In contrast stood Herod (1, 3) and the Jewish clergy (4). Herod’s response was hatred and fear. He refused to acknowledge Jesus’ kingship, but held jealously to his own rule. The Jewish chief priests and teachers of the law (4) knew their Scriptures and thus where the child would be born (5-6; Micah 5:2,4), but did they go to greet him? Their apathy hardened into outright opposition to Jesus as his ministry developed, and ended with frenzied lust for his blood - an awesome warning that knowledge is no substitute for obedience
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2:13-23 The escape to Egypt and return
Joseph had a clear message from God that he was to take his family to Egypt (13). In their journey to Egypt and return to Israel, there are three Old Testament fulfillment citations.
First, Out of Egypt I called my son (15; Hos 11:1) demonstrates that Jesus embodies and fulfils the history of the people of God in his own person. As Israel long ago were led down to Egypt, so was Jesus; as Israel were brought out, so was Jesus. Jesus is also cast as the successor of Moses. While Moses brought the children of Israel out of the land of bondage and death, Jesus was to bring the people out of a worse bondage and a worse death, the death of sin (1:21).
Secondly, Matthew’s quotation of Jer 31:15 (18), Rachel weeping for her children, reflects Herod as a new Pharaoh, who tried to kill the first born, Jesus, and in his rage and frustration slaughtered other innocent children in Bethlehem (16). He failed to kill the Saviour, just as Pharaoh had failed to kill Moses. Life came out of death, and the return from exile brought new life to Israel.
The third reference, so was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene (23), explains how Jesus came to grow up in Nazareth (23). Nowhere is it found in the Old Testament. Nazareth was despised in Jesus’ day: it was an obscure town from which no good was thought to come (Jn 1:46), situated in ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’ (4:15), and there was plenty of indication among the prophets that the Messiah would be despised (Ps 22:6, Isa 53:3)
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
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3:1-12 John the Baptist
In all the Gospels, the ministry of Jesus is prefaced by that of John (1). He is introduced with no background information and no biography, but like Elijah of old, he sweeps onto the stage with his call to repent (2).
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
His message shook the state, his courage was phenomenal and yet with striking humility he saw himself as the voice through which God was addressing his nation (5).
3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3 (3) forms part of God’s comfort to his exiled people: her years of hard service are over; her sins are forgiven
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.
The purpose of John’s preaching was to prepare the way for the Lord (3), Jesus.
There were three important features of John’s baptism. First, it was given to Jews (5), because even their heritage could not save them (9). Secondly, it was not self-administered, but had to be received at the hand of another (6, 11). Thirdly, it offered hope for deliverance from the coming wrath (7). His baptism reminds us of the famous river in Ezekiel’s vision, where judgment and mercy flow from God’s throne, bringing forgiveness of sins and life in the Messiah’s kingdom.
1 The man brought me back to the entrance to the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was trickling from the south side.
3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.
4 He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.
5 He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.
6 He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river.
8 He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Dead Sea. When it empties into the sea, the salty water there becomes fresh.
9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.
10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea.
11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
John does not profess to be able to give the Spirit or to offer forgiveness of sins, both of which come only through Jesus. In his prophecy of the coming one (11), John develops a harvest imagery where the day of judgment will come upon the unrepentant like wind and fire (11-12): the wind separates grain from chaff in winnowing, and fire burns up the chaff and stubble (12).
3:13-17 The baptism of Jesus
There are four reasons why Jesus was baptised (13, 16). First, by submitting to baptism, Jesus acknowledged God’s claim on him for total consecration of life and holiness of character.
Secondly, it anticipated his full and profound baptism on the cross, when he would taste the wrath of God and offer mercy to everyone. Thirdly, at the end of his ministry he urged baptism upon his followers (28:19).
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
He is here giving them the example they should follow. Fourthly, it was the public declaration of his messiahship, including his sonship, kingship and possessions of the Spirit (16-17).
The imagery at the conclusion of his baptism (16-17) also points to fulfilment of Scripture. The dove may allude to the salvation Jesus brings, pointing back to Noah after the flood (Ge8:8-12). God’s attestation of his Son (17) further echoes at least two Old Testament texts. This is my son (cf. Ps2:7) announces that the ultimate messianic ruler, the true Son, has come.
7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
Whom I love, with him I am well pleased (17) takes us back to the chosen servant of the Lord, whose destiny is to suffer abuse and opposition, and eventually to die for the sins of the people
1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
13 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
God Almighty was bringing in his long-promised deliverer to usher in the kingdom. He was both messianic Son and suffering servant. And the descent of the Spirit not only set him apart for this ministry, but equipped him for the task.
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4:1-1 The temptation of Jesus
God deliberately allows temptation. Its arrival does not meant that God’s blessing has evaporated. It simply allows the temporal and the emotional to be separated from the lasting. Temptation builds spiritual muscle. We are meant to live on the bread that comes from God alone, even if it is bread in the desert.
While the temptations Jesus faced were exemplary for us, they were messianic, uniquely appropriate to God’s Son, ho had just received a clear vision of his mission. How was he to carry it out? How was he to lead people back to God? Was he to adopt the path of the conquering king or of the suffering servant?
Notice how Jesus quoted Scripture to overcome each of these temptations: It is written (4; cf. 7; 10)
3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
16 Do not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.
1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder,
2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,”
3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.
4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.
6 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known,
7 gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other),
8 do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them.
9 You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people.
10 Stone them to death, because they tried to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
11 Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no one among you will do such an evil thing again.
12 If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God is giving you to live in
13 that troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known),
14 then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you,
15 you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town. You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.
16 You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. That town is to remain a ruin forever, never to be rebuilt,
17 and none of the condemned things are to be found in your hands. Then the LORD will turn from his fierce anger, will show you mercy, and will have compassion on you. He will increase your numbers, as he promised on oath to your ancestors—
18 because you obey the LORD your God by keeping all his commands that I am giving you today and doing what is right in his eyes.
The Spirit was able to take the Scriptures that he had learned and use them in spiritual warfare.
17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
If we do not know the Scriptures and trust the Spirit in warfare against Satan we will not share in the victory of God’s Son. However, if we do, the Spirit will bring Scriptures to our attention when temptation presses, and, like Jesus, we will have the power to overcome. Christian readers must not go for a temporal kingdom, which Jesus refused; they must not grab fulfilment now, which Jesus declined; and they must not compromise with Satan, which Jesus rejected. They are to use the Spirit’s sword in the ongoing battle against the forces of evil.
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Here’s how you can answer that idea clearly.
1. Temptation can happen inside God’s will
- Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
- The temptation did not come after failure
- It came right after His baptism, when God said He was pleased
Ask them:
- If temptation meant loss of blessing, why would it happen at that moment?
2. Temptation is not the same as sin
- Jesus was tempted, yet remained sinless
- The presence of temptation shows pressure, not guilt
You can say:
- “Being tempted shows you’re in a real fight, not that you’ve lost”
3. Sometimes obedience leads into testing
- The Spirit led Jesus into a hard place
- This was part of preparation, not punishment
Example:
- You decide to take your faith seriously
- Suddenly you face stronger pull toward old habits
That does not mean you went backward
It often means you’re moving forward
4. Temptation can confirm your identity
Each temptation challenged Jesus:
- “If you are the Son of God…”
The attack focused on who He was
Same pattern today:
- You are tempted to doubt your identity
- You are pushed to prove yourself in wrong ways
5. God provides what you need in the moment
- Jesus answered with Scripture each time
- He was not abandoned
You can point out:
- Strength to resist is evidence God is still with you
6. A simple way to respond
You can say something like:
- “Temptation does not mean God left you”
- “Jesus was tempted while fully in God’s will”
- “The real question is not ‘Am I tempted?’ but ‘How do I respond?’”
Question to leave them with
- When you face temptation, do you see it as failure
or as a chance to trust God more?
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1. Know what actually matters
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Jesus was hungry
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Still, He refused to put physical needs above God
What this means for you:
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Not every strong desire should control your choice
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Ask yourself:
- “Is this need, or just pressure right now?”
2. Use Scripture as your first response
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Jesus answered every temptation with God’s Word
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No debate, no long reasoning
Make it practical:
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Learn short verses you can recall fast
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Example: when tempted to worry → recall trust-based verses
Question:
- What do you usually reach for first — feelings or truth?
3. Don’t twist truth to justify wrong choices
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The devil quoted Scripture too
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Jesus corrected the misuse
For you:
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Not every “spiritual-sounding” idea is right
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Check context, not just words
4. Stay in your role — don’t try to prove yourself
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“If you are the Son of God…”
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Jesus refused to perform just to prove identity
Apply it:
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You don’t need to prove your worth through shortcuts
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Temptation often pushes you to rush or show off
5. Reject shortcuts, even if they look easier
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Jesus was offered authority without the cross
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He refused
In real life:
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Quick success often asks you to compromise
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Ask:
- “What am I giving up to get this faster?”
6. Worship shapes your decisions
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Jesus said: worship God only
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That set a clear boundary
For you:
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What you value most drives your choices
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If something pulls you away from God, it’s not neutral
7. Expect temptation, even at your strongest
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This happened right after a major spiritual moment
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Not a weak point — a high point
So:
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Don’t be surprised when challenges come after progress
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Prepare, don’t panic
8. You’re not alone in the struggle
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Jesus faced real temptation
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He understands pressure from the inside
Use that:
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Pray honestly
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Be specific about what you’re facing
9. Resistance is possible
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Jesus resisted every time
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Temptation is not unbeatable
Start small:
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Delay the decision
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Change your environment
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Replace the action with something better
One simple framework you can use
When temptation hits:
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Pause
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Recall truth
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Refuse the shortcut
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Choose the right action
Final question for you
- Which temptation hits you most often right now
- and which of these steps can you apply today?
5:1-12 christian character
_The Beatitudes set forth the character of a Christian - not eight distinct kinds of disciple, but rather the eight qualities found in every Christ-follower and the eight blessings they are given.
The poor in spirit are not just those in material need, but those who acknowledge their spiritual poverty before God.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the LORD.
To such and only to such, the kingdom of heaven is given.
Those who mourn are not primarily those who mourn the loss of a loved one, but those who mourn the loss of their right standing before God. It is the sorrow of repentance. Such mourners will be comforted by the free forgiveness of God.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
The person who is gentle, humble and patient in his relationships with others is described by Jesus as meek. That person will inherit the earth (5; see also 1Co 3:22; Ps 37:1, 11, 22, 34), although we would expect the opposite.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
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22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours,
1 Of David. Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be destroyed.
34 Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
Righteousness is to be in the right - with God and with others. Christians are committed to hunger for righteousness (6), in the whole human community as something pleasing to God (Ps 107:9;Jn 4:13-14).
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
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9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
Mercy (7) is compassion for people in need. Our God is a merciful God and shows mercy continuously; the citizens of kingdom must show mercy too.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
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The primary meaning of pure in heart (8) is that relationships both with God and others are to be free from falsehood (Ps 24:3-4; 51:6; 1Ti 1:5).
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
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3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?
4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Every Christian is meant to be a peacemaker (9) both in the community and in the church (Ro 12:18; 1Co 7:15; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11).
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
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But however hard we may try to make peace, some people take the initiative to insult us or persecute us (11). How did Jesus expect his disciples to react to persecution? We are to rejoice and be glad (12). We may lose everything on earth, but we will inherit everything in heaven.