Jesus, Messiah, Emanuel!
Golden Texts: 12) ¶ On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13) Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed [is] the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.-John 12:12-13 8) And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed [them] in the way. 9) And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] He that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. Matthew 21:8-9
Golden Text: 23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Messiah: The American Heritage Dictionary (1994) gives a definition of Messiah. Mes-si-ah (m¹-sº“…) n. 1. The anticipated deliverer and king of the Jews. 2. Also Messias. Jesus. 3. messiah. A leader who is regarded as or professes to be a savior or liberator. [Middle English Messias, Messie, from Old French Messie, from Late Latin Messº³s, from Greek, from Aramaic mμšî¡â or Hebrew m³š²¡, the anointed, messiah.]
The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy offers this: Messiah (muh-SEYE-uh) The Bible For JEWS and CHRISTIANS, the promised “anointed one” or CHRIST; the Savior. Christians believe that JESUS was the Messiah who delivered mankind from its sins. Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.
Messianic Background: The book of Matthew was written by a Hebrew (Jewish) believer, a tax collector, to his countrymen (cousins) who were also Jewish-Hebrew people. Matthew wrote to them about Messiah. The Bible says the Messiah is the Savior. To determine Who is Messiah, we read that Messiah must be born to a man who can trace himself back to David the King and to Abraham the Chaldean (Babylon, Iraq). Abraham was father to the Messiah through whom all the nations (goy goiim-gentiles) would be blessed (Genesis 18:18: 22:18; 26:4). Only Hebrew men are a son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac beget Jacob-Israel. Jacob was father of one daughter and 12 sons. David came from one of the 12 sons: Judah. Thus 11/12s of the Abraham’s Hebrew could not be Messiah as they were not of Judah. The choices for Messiah are narrowed greatly when we see that Messiah must come from Judah (Genesis 49:10).
Okay, the Bible has told us that Messiah must be from one nation (Israel: the sons of Abraham). Israel came from the twelve sons of Jacob-Israel. Israel and his twelve sons and families went into Egypt. At first they were welcomed as they were the brothers of Joseph the second ruler in Egypt. They lived for more than four hundred years, most of that time as second class citizens, as slaves. But God has plans for them and they were carrying the male seed of Messiah. While in Egypt, Jacob-Israel, just before he died, blessed the twelve sons. God spoke through Jacob that Messiah must come through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). (Tribe means those who were descendants of the original father Judah). But when you call Messiah, son of David, then Messiah must ALSO be from one family in the tribe of Judah. When the Hebrews people were delivered from being slaves in Egypt, they were sent to the Promised Land. And when Joshua entered the land of Canaan to conquer, there were seventy-four thousand, six-hundred men of Judah able and fit to go to war, from twenty years old (Numbers 1:26-27). Why is that important? Thought you would never ask.
The choices of Messiah are narrowed to a very, very few. Only one of these seventy-four thousand, six-hundred men of Judah would produce Jesse the father of David. But, to be Messiah, you had to be of of Abraham, AS WELL AS one out of seventy-four thousand six hundred men. It was one chance out of seventy four thousand six hundred men of Judah that produced the family of Jesse, the father of David the king. What about the odds of being David? Pretty slim: one out of seventy-four thousand six-hundred. Things are further complicated since David’s father Jesse had seven other sons (I Samuel 16:10). From the family of Jesse, you had to be one of eight sons. Only a son of David (II Samuel 7: 8-16) could be the Messiah. Then hundreds and hundreds of years had to pass. Then Messiah had to be able to trace himself back through his male lineage(line) to King David. But David had many sons. David’s son Solomon was the line to Messiah (Psalm 89:20-37). But Messiah was to be both his legal child and he was to be his adopted son. This is seen in (Isaiah 9:6-7).
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.7) Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Notice that this verse has a double presentation of Messiah: 1.-Messiah is to be born and 2-He is to be given (in adoption, bestowed, presented, set aside for, granted to). Thus the child is to be born and the son is to be given (in adoption). It is reported that Hebrew scholars had struggled with this because it tells us the child is to be both born into a family and “given” or adopted. How can Messiah be both born into and given in adoption? And if all that is not bad enough, Messiah had to born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14) BORN OF A VIRGIN!! WAIT! How can a virgin conceive a child? Who will read Isaiah 7:13-16? Can you NOW BEGIN TO SEE how few people could be Messiah? Matthew explains this and establishes that the Messiah is: Jesus of Nazareth.
Who is Matthew? Strong’s Greek Lexicon (Strong's Number 3156) Matthaios {mat-thah'-yos} 1) Matthew meaning "gift of Jehovah". His original name was Levi, and his name Matthew was probably adopted as his new apostolic name. He was a Jew. His father's name was Alphaeus. His home was Capernaum. His business was the collection of dues and customs (taxes) from persons and goods crossing the Sea of Galilee, or passing along the great road to Damascus (Syria) which ran along the shore and through Capernaum. Christ called him from this work to be His disciple. Matthew appears to have been a man of wealth, for he made a great feast in his own house, perhaps in order to introduce his former companions and friends to Jesus. His business would tend to give him a knowledge of human nature, and accurate business habits and of how to make a way to the hearts of many publicans and sinners not otherwise easily reached. He is mentioned by name, after the resurrection of Christ, only in Acts 1:13; but he must have lived many years as an apostle since he was the author of the Gospel of Matthew, which was probably written at least twenty years later. There is reason to believe he remained for fifteen years at Jerusalem, after which he went as missionary to the Persians (Iran), Parthians, and Medes. However, there is a legend that he died a martyr in Ethiopia.
Who wrote Matthew? Those who enjoy casting doubt on the truth of God’s Word assert Matthew did not write Matthew. Although this book does not announce that Matthew (Levi) was the author, it was known from a very early time in the church that Matthew did write this Gospel. These church fathers attested to Matthew, as author of Matthew:
Apostolic fathers: Clement of Rome (a companion of Paul at Phillipi who became Bishop of Rome); Polycarp (student of the Apostle John)
Early Church fathers: Justin Martyr (150 AD Rome wrote Apology & Dialogue); Clement of Alexandria (150A.D. founder of Alexandrian school of Theology)Church fathers: Tertullian (200 A.D. of north Africa); Origen (200 A.D. Greek Christian skilled in Old Testament)
These, among others, affirmed Matthew as author.
Also there is internal evidence found in Matthew 9:
9) And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10) And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Matthew 9:9-10
It is believed Matthew is telling of his conversion and the meal at his house that followed. In this tax collectors account of the ministry of Jesus, Matthew speaks more about coinage (Chapter 17& 18) than the other writings.
Confrontational: Matthew is very Jewish (believed to be of the tribe of Levi-priestly tribe). This book is aimed at those who were Jewish from its first verse. ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. This verse is an “in your face” attack against those who do not accept Jesus as Messiah.
Matthew says, “OH YEAH!” Did you know that Jesus met the two major criteria. He is the son of David and the son of Abraham.
Also the book of Matthew is “Old Testament Jewish” in that writers of commentaries say it quotes or alludes to the Old Testament one hundred twenty-five times in its 28 chapters. The book of Matthew was written early as Matthew refers to the Temple as if it is still in existence. Matthew is an historian and would have told us of the temple having been destroyed. Matthew mentions the temple seventeen times. Surely in one of those he would have alluded to the temple’s destruction. He does not ever allude to its destruction. The Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. We can conclude that Matthew wrote Matthew and he wrote Matthew within about twenty five years of the death of Jesus. That would be similar to someone writing about World War II (1941-45) in the 1960s or very early 1970s. Or writing about Gulf War I (1991) in 2016 A.D.
When you ask those doubters who wrote Matthew, those who want you to doubt, frankly admit that they do not know. My response has been: “If you do not know who wrote Matthew, perhaps Matthew, wrote Matthew.” If you agree that Matthew wrote Matthew, you have much good and prestigious company from the early church. So let us agree that Matthew wrote Matthew.
Hebrew or Aramaic? Now, this same bunch who says Matthew did not write Matthew, want you to believe that Matthew wrote in Aramaic. Did Matthew write in Aramaic or Hebrew? Church father Papias (130 A.D.) wrote:
. . . Matthew put together the oracles [of the Lord] in the Hebrew language and each one interpreted them as best he could.” (As quoted by Eusebius).
After all, why would this very Hebrew man write in another language? Pastor David Hocking says today most Hebrew scholars believe Matthew translated from his native language of Hebrew (the common language of the people) into the commercial language Greek. Greek had been spoken since the conquering of the great Greek world conqueror Alexander the Great and his four chief generals. Also remember the sign over the cross? Pilate wrote in Greek, Latin and Hebrew (Luke 23:38; John 19:20). Greek, the commercial language, Latin the language of Roman government and Hebrew the language of the people. So as a side note Matthew is now believed to be written in any language but Greek directly from the Hebrew. The same group will allege Jesus spoke Aramaic and not Hebrew. WHY? Why would Jesus speak in a language not common to “His own.” (The people to whom He was legally related (legal lineage) by Joseph. Those with Whom HE grew up, amongst whom HE was raised spoke and wrote Hebrew. But those are side issues.
Eye Witness: Matthew was an eye-witness of Jesus' ministry. That is important. Let every thing be established by eye witnesses. (Deuteronomy17:6; Deuteronomy 19:15) Matthew was one of the original twelve apostles (see Matthew10:3). Jesus called him to leave his occupation of gathering taxes for the Romans (Matthew 9:9-13). He was present on the day of Pentecost (Acts1:13). It is clear Matthew aimed this book at a Jewish audience. There are many quotations from the Old Testament. Several times he used the phrase that it might be fulfilled. Matthew was writing of Old Testament prophecies concerning Messiah. They were ALL fulfilled in Jesus. The central theme of Matthew's presentation of the life of Jesus is: Jesus is the long awaited Messiah.
MESSIAH Matthew begins his Holy Spirit inspired account of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus with these words: ¶ The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1. Have you ever thought about the significance of those words?
We in this generation are often doing genealogy searches. Our family is very important to us. Matthew presents the legal genealogy of Jesus through Joseph. A Hebrew-Jewish legal genealogy can only come through His father (the husband of his mother). Matthew is writing in the book (scroll, account, genealogy, the record) of the Jesus the Christ (Messiah). This is His earthly, prophesied (foretold, forecasted) expected lineage (ancestry, derivation, genealogy, family tree). Messiah was to be the earthly son of King David, the greatest king of Israel. He was also to have come from the line of Abraham. To the Jewish believer (who wanted to deny Christ Jesus is Messiah) it was a direct, serious challenge. But it is also important that we again note how FEW people on the face of the earth could even claim to be in the line of Messiah. Son of Abraham, Son of David.
1. Abraham: Abraham was the father of eight sons: Ishmael, (Genesis 16:15) Isaac, (Genesis 21:3) and six by his second wife Keturah, being Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. [fn] (Genesis 25:1-2). Messiah could not be the son of any son, except Isaac, the son of promise.
2. Isaac: Isaac, the promised one of God, would produce the line to Messiah. Yet, Isaac was not the first born of Abraham. And Isaac had two sons, the first born was Esau. The second twin was Jacob. Jacob is the liar, the supplanter, trickster. It was through the second son Messiah would come.
3. Judah: Then Jacob complicated things quite a bit. Jacob had four wives and twelve sons. Messiah did not come through the first born. Messiah did not to come through the priestly line of Levi, that included Moses and Aaron. (Moses the Law Giver, the Ten Commandment receiver). Aaron was the first high priest. (It was Aaron’s sons only who were to be priests of God). But Messiah did not come through Levi. How about Joseph? Jacob’s 11th born son Joseph became the family (tribe) protector, savior, nourisher in Egypt where he was a chief ruler. Yet, Messiah did not come through the line of Joseph. Messiah was to come through Judah. (Genesis 49:10) JUDAH? But, not through Judah’s natural sons born of his wife, but through sons born when he had a sexual “hookup” with a woman he thought was a prostitute. And worse than that, it was his daughter-in-law Tamar, in disguise. This was to be the line of Messiah? “I” Would NEVER have done it like that.
4. David: Messiah was also to come through David the King (Isaiah 11:1-12 ). (II Samuel 7:8-17) (Psalms 89:20-37) The mighty king who subdued most of the then known civilized world. David brought power, authority riches and fame to Israel. Messiah was to be “son of David.”Messiah was to rule. (Isaiah 9:6-7) one day as King. Pastor David Hocking teaches that these verses in the Hebrew establish the Messiah, must be born of the line of David and also be adopted into that line. How can that be? Why is that necessary? Did not the line of David, JOSEPH, in fact adopt a son that was not from his bowels? But was Mary of the line of David and of the tribe of Judah? (Luke 3:23-38)
The people of Israel were looking for a king. a son of David, to be a Prince (Daniel 9) and Messiah was to have an earthly reign. The Hebrews of ancient Israel, then under Roman occupation, were looking for several specific things. Messiah must be born of a seed of a woman (Genesis 3:15) (Who will look that up?)
Messiah was to be of Abraham. Who will look up Genesis 12:2-3? And be of the seed of Isaac Genesis 17:19. (Who will look that up?) Messiah shall be out of Jacob (Israel) (Numbers 24:17) But Messiah was to be of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). Messiah was to be like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18). Messiah was to be an heir to the throne of David. (Psalms 89:20-37) Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Messiah was to born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14+Isaiah 9:6-7). These were a few things that were expected of Messiah. Did Jesus fulfill them all?
I am Messiah: Sun yet Moon was a popular cult leader of the 1970s-1980s. His movement was big in university campus towns. It is said that the “Moonies” were often at the airports and bus stations collecting money. Moon claimed to be the Messiah. However, he was not born in Bethlehem, he was not a descendent of Abraham or David and although he drew thousands to himself, those Christians and Jewish believers who knew their Bible, laughed at his claims. It is important to know and recognize Who is and who is not the Messiah. The anti-Christ will claim to be God on Earth. He will state he is Messiah for all mankind. Careful study of his background will reveal he cannot be the Messiah.
There is only one Messiah of Israel and all mankind. He must be born of the seed of a woman, of the line of Abraham, of the tribe of Judah of the line of King David. He must be born of a virgin. He must be born in Bethlehem of Judah. He must be called out of Egypt and be called a Nazarene. He must called Wonderful, Counselor, and be the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God. He will be wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, (Isaiah 53:1-12) as they pluck out His beard and mar his face (Isaiah 52:14) so He is hard to recognize. He must be pierced through his hands and his feet(crucified) (Zechariah 12:10; Psalms 22:1-20 ). He must rise again (Psalm 16:10, Psalms 49:15) and be alive forevermore. He is Emanuel, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Jesus is THE Messiah, Savior and Emanuel.
PRAYER: Almighty and most merciful Father, we come before You, as men seeking to understand this child born in Bethlehem was our Emanuel. We want to know You as Messiah and understand this child born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger, sent into Egypt, raised in Nazareth was our Lord and our God. Teach us of Messiah. Show us Jesus Christ is the Only One who can possibly be The Messiah. Help us to open our hearts and lives unto Him and only Him. Teach me Thy ways O Lord. Teach me only Thy ways. I reject everything that is not of You. I accept only You, as my Lord and my God. Finally, God the Holy Spirit, I have asked You to come into my heart and life. I need You to guide me into all truth today and everyday. This I pray and ask in the Mighty Name of God, the Son, my Lord and my God, Jesus the Messiah. Amen.
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