Matthew 1:1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham….
My oldest sister loves family genealogies—tracing histories back in time to see where they lead. The beginning of Matthew does something similar—traces Jesus’s legal lineage back to Abraham, rooting the New Testament into the Old.
Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
This first book of Matthew also gives the narrative wings as we see the origins of Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary. We are rooted in the past so that we can fly into the New Testament on the metaphorical wings of the Messiah.
Matthew 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Lord, As I begin this foray into the New Testament, thank You for rooting me firmly in You, in all that has come before. Thank You for the reminder that You are Immanuel,“God with us”. Thank You that You are here with me every step of the way. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).
Have a blessed day.