Gospel of Matthew: Matthew Reveals History Fulfilled in Jesus.
length: 55:34 - taught on Oct, 26 2023
Class Outline:
Thursday October 26, 2023
Our final structure is the simplest, but the least useful. I give it because I want to show that we can see several structures from the more complex (chiasm) and a little less (5 discourses) to the very simple.
Three sections marked by, “From then on Jesus began.”
Simplest structure, “from then on:”
The preparation of Jesus the Messiah (1:1-4:16).
The proclamation of Jesus the Messiah (4:17-16:20).
The passion of Jesus the Messiah (16:21-28:20).
One of the characteristics of Matthew is his frequent quotation of the Old Testament. He does so much more than the other Gospels.
OT fulfillment of ISA 7:14.
Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
More than a prediction (ISA 7:14). It was offered as a sign to Ahaz, and it was to become an ultimate sign in Israel.
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
This is quite a sign.
Syria and Israel were preparing to invade Judea, of which Ahaz was king. Ahaz was not strong enough to repel them. Isaiah the prophet was sent to king Ahaz with the message that the Lord would not let the invasion happen. In addition, the prophet offered Ahaz a sign from the Lord, any that he wanted.
Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 "Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven."
Ahaz, an evil, idol-worshipping man, rejected the offer. In response Isaiah gave a sign anyway, a sign that the whole world would come to know, and now do.
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!" 13 Then he said, "Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well? 14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”
Israel in the time of Christ, though they ask for signs from Him over and again, are never impressed enough to believe. Jesus then tells them that another sign will be given to that generation - the sign of Jonah.
The virgin birth was a sign that Jesus was the Messiah / King.
Most of Matthew’s many OT quotations deal with an OT historical event that was a foreshadowing of a pattern for a NT event. These events are viewed as a providential outworking of God’s plan. It shows us that God has all history in His decreeing hands.
An example of an OT historical event being fulfilled in the life of Christ.
“Out of Egypt I called My Son” (HOS 11:1 - Exodus)
We cannot see these many fulfillments until after they happen and are pointed out.
MAT 2:15 cites HOS 11:1, which speaks of the historical Exodus of Israel from Egypt. Matthew capitalizes on the metaphor of Israel as God’s son to speak of a much greater exodus of God’s unique Son in recapitulation of redemptive history.
When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."
Another historical event of the OT is again used in fulfillment of an event in Christ’s life, the murdering of the male children in Bethlehem.
OT historical event of the violent Babylonian exile if fulfilled in the murder of the children of Bethlehem.
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;
AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,
BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."
MAT 2:17 cites JER 31:15, which personifies the nation of Israel at the Babylonian exile as Rachel weeping for her children who were dead.
A similar yet much more significant weeping for dead children occurred when Herod ordered the slaughter of babies from the region of Bethlehem.
Evil men are allowed to do evil things in God’s redemptive history.
The sorrow of both texts occurs in the context of hope.
Thus says the Lord,
"Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord,
"And they will return from the land of the enemy.
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."
As we wrap this up there is one more usage of the OT by Matthew that bears revealing in this introduction / summary, before we begin it next time.
Matthew reveals Christ as Messiah, Son of David, Son of Abraham, Immanuel, King, Son of God, Lord, Teacher, Son of Man.
There are additional titles used by Matthew.
A few of these titles are lumped together when Jesus stands trial. He is on trial, not legally, not for blasphemy (as the Sanhedrin claimed), not for sedition, or revolt (as the Romans claimed), but for who He is.
Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us."
At the apex of His hour, when finally asked straight out by the high priest as to whether He was the Messiah, He answers in the language of Daniel (DAN 7:13).
And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
"I kept looking in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
One like a Son of Man was coming,
And He came up to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before Him.
14 "And to Him was given dominion,
Glory and a kingdom,
That all the peoples, nations and men of every language
Might serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
Which will not pass away;
And His kingdom is one
Which will not be destroyed.
In DAN 7:14 He is given dominion.
But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
He spoke DAN 7:13 at His trial and DAN 7:14 after His victory and just before His ascension.
In a way, the fulfillment of history and the fulfillment of all titles to Christ are on trial in every human heart. Each must decide for him or herself. For each believer, you must daily choose the title you give to Him, for your thoughts and actions that day will depend on how you see Him.
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