Matthew 1-2
Background and Context for Matthew
Written by Matthew to a Jewish audience, the gospel presents Jesus as the promised Messiah. The main point of this book: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word, and lives find true fulfillment in Him. Here, Jesus embodies all righteousness—through repentance, confession, and divine approval. These events show righteousness starting with turning to God, leading to baptism's symbol of new life. The chapter urges confession and repentance as pathways to receiving the Spirit's truth and God's favor. I'll break it down by the main points, incorporating cross-references to help you study and apply these truths in pursuing Christ wholeheartedly.
Matthew, a former tax collector called by Jesus (Matthew 9:9), wrote around 60-70 AD to Jews, emphasizing Jesus as fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (Matthew 1:22-23; 2:15). The gospel bridges Jewish heritage with the new covenant, using "kingdom of heaven" to respect God's name.
Introduction
Matthew 1-2 opens the New Testament with the genealogy and birth of Jesus Christ. Matthew wants his readers to see that Jesus is not a new idea — He is the long-awaited fulfillment of everything God promised to His people. As the main point of this series states, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Word, and our lives can only be fulfilled in Him. From the very first verse, we are reminded that Jesus is the blessing for all nations, the King born in Bethlehem, the One called out of Egypt, and the despised Nazarene who brings hope. God fulfills every promise He has made, and in Jesus we see the ultimate proof that He is faithful.
1) Jesus Is a Blessing for All Nations Forever (1:1)
Matthew begins with the genealogy: “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). Right from the start, we see two great promises fulfilled. To Abraham, God promised that through his offspring all nations on earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). To David, God promised an eternal kingdom and a descendant whose throne would last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Jesus is that promised Son. He is the blessing for all nations and the eternal King. In Him, God’s ancient promises reach their climax.
2) Jesus Was Born of a Virgin (1:18-25)
Matthew emphasizes that Mary was a virgin when she conceived by the Holy Spirit. This fulfills the miraculous sign given through Isaiah: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The virgin birth is essential — it means Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature passed down through Adam. He is fully human yet without sin, the perfect substitute who can represent us before God (Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
3) Jesus Is a King Born in Bethlehem (2:1-6)
Wise men from the east come looking for the one born king of the Jews. They find Him in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy of Micah: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2). Jesus is the true King, born in the city of David, just as the Scriptures foretold.
4) Jesus Was Born in the Midst of Persecution (2:13-18)
Herod, threatened by the newborn King, orders the slaughter of all boys in Bethlehem two years old and under. This fulfills the prophecy spoken through Jeremiah about Rachel weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31:15). God knew the powers of this world would not welcome King Jesus. From the very beginning, the light came into the darkness, and the darkness tried to overcome it (John 1:5). Yet God protected His Son and preserved the promise.
5) Jesus Was Called Out of Egypt (2:19-21)
After Herod’s death, an angel tells Joseph to take the child and His mother back to Israel. They settle in Nazareth. This fulfills the words of Hosea: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1). Just as Israel was called out of Egypt in the Exodus, Jesus — the true Israel — is called out of Egypt to begin His redemptive work.
6) Jesus Was a Nazarene Who Was Despised (2:23)
Joseph settles the family in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophets’ words that “He will be called a Nazarene.” Nazareth was a small, insignificant town, often looked down upon. Jesus was despised and rejected by many because of where He came from. Yet this too was part of God’s plan. The Messiah would be the “shoot” from the stump of Jesse — humble, unexpected, and often rejected (Isaiah 11:1; 53:3).
Application
God fulfills every one of His promises — all 7,487 of them. Jesus is the yes and amen to every promise God has made (2 Corinthians 1:20).
How would your life change if you truly knew God’s promises and believed them? As we study Matthew together, remember that you can count on every word Jesus spoke. He fulfilled prophecy to show you how to live a fulfilled life in Him.
Where you feel uncertain, anxious, or doubtful about the future, anchor your heart in this truth: God keeps His word. Jesus is the fulfillment of every promise. Trust Him. Rest in Him. Let His faithfulness shape the way you live today.
Small Group Questions
· Who do you trust the most out of everyone you know and why do you think you trust them so much?
· Do you have a hard time trusting God?
· Are there any promises that you wish God would make to you?
· How important is it that God is who He says He is and He does what He says He is going to do?
For Further Study
Read Matthew 1-2 alongside Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Hosea 11:1, and Jeremiah 31:15 to see the direct fulfillments of prophecy.
Study 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Galatians 3:16 to understand how all God’s promises find their “Yes” in Jesus.
Meditate on Ephesians 1:4 and Jeremiah 31:17 to rejoice in God’s eternal plan and the hope He gives for our future.
