By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
GOD SAVES
Matthew 1:18–25; Numbers 21:6–9
In preparation for the celebration of Christmas we integrate the Matthew account with our continuing study on Numbers.
Matthew intentionally lays the Old Testament foundation of Jesus’ genealogy in the first 17 verses of his account. Every name has a story. Every man is a sinner. Every woman needs a savior. Every promise of God has a fulfillment. Don’t miss out on these critical truths about biblical genealogies.
These generations listed trace historical characters from the patriarchs and the exodus to the kingdom years and the Babylonian exile. The king (“son of David”) of the Jews (“son of Abraham”) fulfilled covenant promises given to Abraham and David. The promised Savior has come.
The Savior (Matt. 1:18–23)
The name Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning salvation. In this passage the angel told Joseph to name the child “salvation” or “savior” because He would save His people from their sins. Gabriel’s visitation to Mary (Luke 1:26–31) records a similar encounter. When Jesus was eight days old He was circumcised and given His name (Luke 2:21).
This child was the result of an immaculate conception, one in which the Spirit of God produced a fertilized egg in the womb of the virgin chosen by God to bear the Messiah. Until this detail was revealed to Joseph he had planned to quietly divorce Mary of their betrothal. After all he knew he had not consummated his relationship with her. Rather than bringing to her public humiliation or even execution he would quietly end their engagement.
Mary was the virgin chosen by God to bear Jesus. Through the centuries critical scholars and unbelievers have argued that Isaiah 7:14 was mistranslated by Matthew. Interestingly enough Matthew quoted from a Jewish translation in Greek which predated Jesus’ birth by more than a century. Jews first translated the Hebrew (ha ‘almah) with the Greek (ho parthenos) for “the virgin.” The Savior was “conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary” (Apostles’ Creed).
The Arrival (Matt. 1:24–25)
Details of the child’s arrival are scant in Matthew’s gospel account with only a few brief verses. Joseph followed through with the marriage though he did not have physical intimacy with Mary until after Jesus had been born and the days of her purification were completed.
Only two gospel accounts provide snapshots of Jesus’ infancy. Matthew 1–2 records this summary of Jesus’ birth, as well as the magi’s visit two years later, Herod’s slaughter of the Bethlehem boys and the family’s flight to Egypt. Luke 1–2 record the details of the Annunciation, the Magnificat, the angelic announcement of His birth, the shepherd’s visit and Mary’s response, His circumcision and naming, His temple presentation several weeks later and His temple visit around the age of “bar mitzvah.”
The Requirement (Num. 21:6–9)
Readers may wonder how a message on the birth of Jesus relates to our continuing study on the book of Numbers. The answer is this: the boy born in Bethlehem would become the man who would die as a sacrifice for His people. Jesus connected these during His first encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:14).
Israel’s continual complaints invited judgment. This time God used poisonous snakes. When the people repented they asked Moses to intercede for them. God instructed Moses to construct a bronze serpent and elevate it on a pole. If the people would look upon the serpent and trust God to heal them He would.
Jesus explained: “Just as Moses lifted the snake in the wilderness” — the Hebrew name for the book of Numbers (Bemidbar) means “in the wilderness” — “so the Son of Man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life” (John 3:14–15). Jesus connects the Torah with the gospel. Look upon Jesus and believe.
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