Matthew 1-3

1-
Primarily a recount of the genealogy of Jesus. Some of the interesting points:
~Bathsheba figures prominently (David's great sin).
~The way Matthew counts out the generations, 14 from Abraham to David, 14 from David to Babylon, and 14 from Babylon to Messiah. I'd draw a parallel to the Trinity here, but my meager knowledge isn't capable of backing it up.
~Joseph didn't consummate his marriage to Mary until after Jesus' birth.

2-
The visit of the magi, and Herod's conniving. Funny that Herod attempts to use the worship of Jesus against Him and fails. Ending with Joseph settling his family down in Nazareth.

3-
John the Baptist was baptising people to the Lord when, apparently, a pack of Pharisees and Sadducees show up. John seems to tell them that being of Abraham's line (Jewish by birth, in other words) is not enough to save them. That they must "bear fruit in keeping with repentance;" and carrying the fruit analogy further, informs them that "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." MAT 3:8 & 10. John mentions that "from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." (9) which I find hard to translate but which may mean:
1 The line of Abaraham numbers greater than the stars in the sky (as promised), if God needs one of that line to do His work there is an abundance of material to choose from.
2 God can/will choose who is worthy of Abraham's inheritance and will raise to that status any who truly repent (the corollary would seem to be that if you don't repent then you won't be raised or perhaps might fall)
3 God can, if he chose, make a child of Abraham from the very stones of the ground, as in Genesis, so what benefit is it to claim that line?

The 3rd seems rather tenuous, and the 2nd seems to contravene some of what I've already been taught. However the first doesn't seem to fit with the context, so I'm at a loss. Carrying on then...

Jesus comes to be baptized by John, who initially refuses, apparently on the grounds that "I am not fit to remove His sandals;" (11) though Jesus insists and John accedes (who wouldn't?). As well as being the opening to the traditional affirmation by God of His Son, my Bible (a Ryrie study Bible) points out in the notes that the baptism of Christ identifies Him with the sinners who were baptized before him (presumably those after as well, though there's the added context of following in the Lord's steps there).


Enough for one day. Hopefully chapter 4 tomorrow. Make that prayerfully.