Matthew 1 - 2

Introduction

Who wrote this book?
Matthew, a tax collector who became one of Christ's twelve disciples

When and to whom was it written?
Possibly written around A.D. 70s (though some believe he may have written it in the 50s or 60s), primarily for Jewish readers.

Matthew 1

This chapter begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christs. What interesting about this is that it actually skips some of the generation and seems to be purposely skipped in order to achieve a multiple of seven (Jesus was written as the 14th generation since Abraham).

Then it continues with the chronology of the birth of Jesus where a virgin Mary was destined to deliver a baby Christ. Joseph was reluctant at first when he found out that Mary is already pregnant and thinking of divorcing her until an angel came to him in a dream to assure him to take her as his wife as what is conceived in her comes from Holy Spirit.

Why Joseph consider to divorce Mary?
His wife-to-be is pregnant from a child that is not his and this is a disgrace in any era.

Why Joseph consider to divorce Mary even though they have not gotten married yet?
It is a customary at the time for those who are engage to behave like husband and wife (except that they do not live together or have sex) and a divorce is the only way to break off such engagement.

Why a Virgin Birth?
Jesus, to be free of sin, needed to circumvent the natural method and be conceived in a supernatural way. A miraculous birth to a sexually pure young woman would underscore his supernatural beginning - a sign of His divinity.


Matthew 2