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nerdygaymormon · 1 year

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Matthew 1 & Luke 3 - Jesus’ Geneology : What does it say about found family?

The prophecy is that the Messiah would be descended from King David.

The New Testament provides two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus, one in the Gospel of Matthew and another in the Gospel of Luke.

The first verse in Matthew begins by declaring Jesus Christ is descended from King David and also from Abraham. It then begins with Abraham and gives a list of descendants down to Joseph, who was married to Mary who gave birth to Jesus.

Luke says “Jesus...being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.” In other words, people assumed Joseph was the biological dad of Jesus. It then lists Joseph’s father and his father and his father all the way back to King David, Abraham, and to Adam.

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Even though Joseph isn’t the biological father of Jesus, his forefathers are listed as Jesus’ ancestors as it makes Jesus descended from the royal line of King David.

This confirms that adoption counts. Adopted families are valid and real. In the LDS Church, we further affirm this as we seal children to their adopted parent(s). Chosen family is real family.

Many Christians say gay couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry because they can’t biologically create children with each other. Yet per the Bible, Jesus’ conception didn’t involve Joseph nor any other human male. Adoption is one way that gay couples can have kids, and the story of Jesus shows this is valid, it counts.

Queer people often have family who choose to limit contact because they have a hard time accepting someone as trans or gay or queer. The concept of ‘found family’ or ‘chosen family’ is strong in the queer community. The Bible validates this approach. The New Testament assigns Joseph’s lineage to Jesus, and in Matthew 12:50 Jesus defines family based on what someone does and not based on if we’re related by blood or DNA.

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The lists of ancestors in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 do not match up. Each assigns a different father to Joseph. Some people explain this by saying the list in Matthew is the lineage of Joseph, who married Mary, and the other is the lineage of Mary’s father, who they assume was also named Joseph.

Regardless of whether or not one of these is the lineage of Mary, she was chosen because of her character. Mary was courageous, she was faithful, she was a young woman of integrity. Who we are as a person matters more than the circumstances around our conception or birth, or who our ancestors are.

I think Matthew’s list of ancestors reinforces this idea as it includes 4 women, each of these women are associated with scandal. Tamar disguised herself as a sex worker and tricked Judah into impregnating her. Rahab was an actual sex worker who helped the Israelites conquer the city of Jericho. Ruth was a Moabite which means she’s a non-Israelite, and she is the child of an incestuous relationship. Bathsheba had an affair with the king which resulted in the death of her husband and the birth of the next king, Solomon. Actually, there’s a 5th woman listed, Mary the mother of Jesus, and she is pregnant outside of wedlock.

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People are complex. I know I only discussed the women listed in Jesus’ genealogy, but the men also are a mix of good and bad. People make mistakes, they use bad judgement, they do bad things, and yet none of their circumstances are so far gone that God couldn’t work through them. God shows this family line with adultery and murder can be redeemed. What a great way to show humans that we can be redeemed, too.

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No matter who we’re descended from or who we’re related to, what matters most is who we are, the choices we make, and how we treat others. Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Christ because of who she is.

#queer scriptures

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riszellira · 9 months

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Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reflection: A Necessary Birth

In today’s birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we read about the genealogy of Jesus based on Matthew’s account. It traces all the people who comprise the bloodline of the Messiah. It seems to be a boring reading as it involves a lot of names, which are not only difficult to pronounce but also mostly unknown to many of us. The lineup is not perfect—not one you would expect to produce the Son of God. There is a murderer, prostitute, despot, and adulterer mixed with great rulers, wise men, mother, and a virgin. It sends the message that God can write with crooked lines. Further, salvation is inclusive. Tamar slept with her father-in-law, Judah, for a quasi-incest relation.

Tamar did not bear a child from the children of Judah. To fulfill her womanhood, she deceived Judah by disguising as a prostitute so he would sleep with her. Rahab, a prostitute, helped some Israeli spies from being caught. She was made to be a part of their community. Bathsheba, the wife of David’s commander Uriah, had a child with David. To hide their adultery, David planned and succeeded in killing Uriah. Finally, we have Mary who was found pregnant with Jesus but without a husband yet. Joseph, who belongs to the bloodline of David where the Messiah would come as prophesied, was called by God through an angel to stand as the earthly father of Jesus. Mary was courageous enough to accept the responsibility of becoming the mother of Jesus. These events show that God’s ways are not man’s ways.

The birth of Mary was part of God’s plan. While she remained free, God formed her and gave her all the graces to maintain her purity and goodness to be worthy to be the mother of the Son of God. Thus, when it was time to announce her motherhood, the Angel Gabriel cited her being full of grace. On her own, she may not have consented to the offer. But because of God’s graces, she had the courage to face the consequences of conceiving even if “she knew no man.” We thank God for the gift of Mary. We also thank Mary for her willingness to take on the responsibility of being the mother of the Son of God. The celebration of her birth is also a celebration of our salvation.

~Fr. Benny Tuazon

Do you have a genealogy of your family? What is God’s message to you based on your genealogy?

My family tree is not perfect, but through Your grace, may we become a channel of Your salvation for all of us. Amen.

Prayer

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the strength and healing of the sick.

… for the healing and peace of all families.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

GOD BLESS!

#reflection #prayer

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didanawisgi · 2 years

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Below are some initial translations by Prof John FA Sawyer, following numerous requests. We have always stated that translation is just the beginning, as interpretation is equally important, as direct translations won't always make sense to the average layman. However, the below gives one a taste of what is on the depicted tablet. “Credit card” tablet- bottom three lines The three lines appear to have a similar structure, but I can’t make much of the third. I do think one of the three lines is pretty convincing not least because of the connection with my first thoughts on the text beside the menorah. Some of the letters (Gimel, Dalet, Resh) seem to be in the Old Aramaic/Square script, presumably because that was what the authors normally used. 1. שכת בלידתכם שכת בלידת גר “(If) ??? when a proselyte is born, (then) ??? when you (mpl) were born” I can’t understand שכת unless it’s a misspelling of שחת“calamity” See Below 2. במעקש ילדת מעקש ילדך “(If) your child is crooked, (it’s because) in crookedness you (fs) bore (him/her).” Cf. Prov.19:1 and 28:6 again. See also Psalm 51:5: “in sin did my mother conceive me”. 3. יך ??? דל דך יך ??? דל דך דלד “Let a ??? strike a poor afflicted (person), (then) a ??? strikes a poor afflicted (person) ???” Commentary by David Elkington The writing on the codices is not gibberish, it is meaningful ‘Temple’ text. Contrary to claims by sceptics that the writing on the codices is ‘gibberish’ and thereby fakes, the fact that they have been translated nullfies that argument. The translated lines match key lines in the Hebrew Bible. It is not a word for word match, but that’s because the Bible, as we know it today, has gone through a great deal of redaction and re-translation. However, Prof Sawyer argues that the lines on the ‘credit card’ match thematically/structurally two key and well known passages in the Bible – Proverbs 19:1 and Psalms 51:5. The third line - “Let a ??? strike a poor afflicted (person), (then) a ??? strikes a poor afflicted (person) ???” matches particularly with Prov 19:1: 'Better the Poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.' This is a Solomonic Proverb and, by virtue of being Solomonic points us in the direction of the Temple, imagery of which is to be seen all over the codices. This particular proverb is about Wisdom and folly. Again the codices make many references to the feminine figure of Wisdom (The Song of Solomon) about whom Solomon wrote the famous Song of Songs. Proverbs is here to be seen giving a schooling in Wisdom. It is based upon the laws of God and Proverbs 19 is part of a section called Solomon's Proverbs. In this section a young man (the Messiah) has been faced with a choice and urged to choose wisdom. The emphasis on the dual figures of Solomon and of Wisdom brings us back to the centre of the Great Temple of Jerusalem and the older theology of ancient Israel. The first two lines - “(If) ??? when a proselyte is born, (then) ??? when you (mpl) were born” and “(If) your child is crooked, (it is because) in crookedness you (fs) bore (him/her).” This matches Psalm 51:5 'Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.' Psalm 51 is a plea for forgiveness. This psalm was purportedly written by King David himself when confronted by the Prophet Nathan, over the adultery of David and Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. In it he is made to see himself through God’s eyes, that he has fallen into grievous sin. He is heartbroken: Various Christian commentators have added: By sin what is meant is not that conception or childbirth are sinful in themselves, but that sin is ingrained in us from the very first moment of existence. This section of the Book of Psalms (Psalms 42 -72) is linked directly to the Temple and to Temple worship, and so, like all the images on the codices, once again links the ‘credit card’ to the system of Temple symbolism. THE MISSING LETTERS OF THE HASMONEAN ALPHABET CAN ONLY MEAN THE CODICES ARE AUTHENTIC According to Margaret Barker there are on these codices letters represented for the first time. These are some of the long missing letters of the Hasmonean alphabet for which scholars have been searching for years. This has huge implications for the authenticity of the lead books. Since no forger could possibly have known the missing letters of the Hasmonean alphabet, it follows inexorably that no forger could possibly have faked the codices. The discovery of the missing Hasmonean alphabet on the codices is almost as good a measure of the antiquity of the codices as a radio carbon 14 test. Top line: 'This person belongs to...the Sons of the Law.' This is a term used in the Dead Sea Scrolls and can also be used of the early Christian movement known as the Jerusalem Church. THE TRANSLATION INDICATES THE CODICES BELONGED TO A PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN SECT . a) In the first line of translated text, the use of the word crooked means in Hebrew deviation – in other words someone who has left the way of Wisdom. 'Shakkat' should be translated as not 'calamity' but as 'unclean' – an abomination. This points to a group who are accepting people from outside the faith: this can only be the early Christians. b) It is also points to the term, ‘Messiah.’ Isaiah 59:8 and Deuteronomy 32:5 talk of they who have ‘twisted their paths.’ In other words those who have forsaken the path to Wisdom – these texts make very definite references to the coming of the Messiah. c) The focus on the subject of sin brings us clearly into the realm of the early Christian movement in Jerusalem and their claim that Jesus was the Messiah. d) The emphasis in Proverbs on 'the Poor' (proselyte) could actually be a reference to the Ebionites, called 'The Poor'. This supports the idea that the earliest Christians were the Ebionites, the famous Jewish-Christian sect branded heretical by the later Church. e) There are also very definite links in the translation to Qumran, indicating the early Christians had links to the Qumran sect who used Isaiah and Deuteronomy in their sectarian writings. If the emphasis in Proverbs on 'the Poor' (proselyte) is a reference to the Ebionites, then it supports the idea of the tablet (Credit Card) being a used as a means of identification throughout Ebionite-Essene communities throughout the Holy Land. The lettering in the top right corner of the above photograph reads: ‘He who bows down…’

#Jordan Codices #early christianity #Bible #ebionites #the poor #essenes #jerusalem chuch #Christos #chrisos

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artemis-maia · 3 years

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some SMTII and SMTIV notes

救世主 Kyuuseishu

Aleph is called the true ‚Kyuuseishu‘ (Saviour of the World). That expression is used when Jesus is portrayed in the Salvator Mundi position. Kyuuseishu is also used for all the protagonists in the Diamond Realm DLC in SMTIV Final.

聖母 Seibo Hiroko is called ‚Seibo‘ (holy mother). This expression is always used in Japanese in connection to Virgin Mary.

More on the name Aleph:

The name Aleph next to being from the Hebrew alphabet also has Christian allusions as well. Namely alluding to the expression Alpha and Omega/Aleph and Tav.

Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. The first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet are, respectively, א (aleph) and ת (tav). The letter Aleph means “an ox” and symbolizes a sacrificial animal offered to God. The letter Tav means “a mark“. I am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Rev. 22:13).

Also the letter Aleph appears as IC in its cursive form looking similar to Jesus Christ. It‘s kinda cool since Aleph is so heavily modeled after Jesus that even his name might not just be randomly chosen.

There is also a different variant of the letter Tav ת. It looks like a cross.

Alpha and Omega is also often used in the Chi-Rho. Eli Eli lama sabachthani

(my god why have you forsaken me). Quoted by Jesus on the cross. It derives from psalm 22 supposedly written by King David. This psalm is often interpreted by Christians to have Messianic symbolism since some lines seem similar to Jesus‘ crucifixion (for example ’They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.‘ which resembles the Romans gambling for Jesus‘ clothes etc.) I have read that since Jesus quoted this psalm that means that Jesus basically claimed that psalm as his. Some spectators of the crucifixion mistakingly or mockingly thought that he is calling Elijah (who is responsible for saving innocents). Interestingly while the psalm starts dramatically it ends positively similar to the contrast between Jesus‘ crucifixion and later resurrection. Also small discourse on the relation between Jesus and David: Matthew 9 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. Jesus is often by side characters called Son of David as well. For example two blind men he heals call him that.

Another scene in which he famously is called Son of David (along with Messiah) is on Palm Sunday when he enters Jerusalem on a donkey. The Messiah is said to be from the House of David. Jesus‘ mother Mary is related to Prince Nathan a younger son of David and Bathsheba. Nathan never ruled though which is why Jesus‘ foster earthly father Joseph of Nazareth is important. Joseph is actually related to King Solomon the oldest surviving son of David and Bathsheba, who was actually king. Joseph basically adopted Jesus into the main Davidic branch. Why the adoption? Due to the curse of Jeconiah who is an ancestor of Joseph of Nazareth. Jeconiah was cursed by God meaning that a direct descendant of Solomon couldn‘t technically become the Messiah anymore. Henceforth why this is broken with Jesus being from the side Nathan branch + his virgin birth. I personally always thought that his Davidic lineage was what actually killed Jesus. The Sanhedrin gave him to the Romans. The Romans did not care about Son of God, Messiah etc. What they cared about was that there were people around saying he the Son of the House David should be king which leads to the crown of thorns mockery and INRI inscription on his cross.

If you read up on the House David it‘s also a really hot mess. David who uses his position to sleep with Uriah‘s wife Bathsheba and sends Uriah to his death to solve this problem, Amnon who rapes his half-sister Tamar, Absalom who turns against David and rapes ten concubines of David etc.

The relation of Jesus to Bathsheba is actually emphasized along with Jesus relation to Rahab ‚the whore of Jericho‘, Tamar ‚who disguised as a prostitute to sleep with her father in law’, and Ruth ‚the Moabite thus seen as Gentile by Jews‘ to precisely not only emphasize women like Sarah (Abraham‘s wife), Rebecca (Isaac‘s wife) and Leah (Jacob‘s wife) who are seen as paragons (they all appear in Jesus genealogy anyway) and to hide stuff.

מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin

“numbered, weighed, divided/Persia.”

“The writing on the wall”, or “the handwriting on the wall” or “Mene Mene”, is an idiom for doom and a set future.

It’s a story from the Book of Daniel (Old Testament) Chapter 5. At a banquet hosted by King Belshazzar a disembodied hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”.

Daniel was supposed to interprete this and it was seen as the end for the Babylonian kingdom. That same night King Belshazzar was killed and Babylon fell to the Persians and Medes.

Son of Man

Daniel 7

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

And to him was given dominion

and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

that shall not be destroyed.

The expression Son of Man is famously used in the book Daniel in a vision given to Daniel in which four "beasts," representing nations are judged by God. The "Ancient of Days" (God) gives dominion over the earth to "the Son of Man”.

Ancient of Days also appears in SMTIV.

Daniel as I explained in another article was chief of the Magi in Babylon (interesting to think about considering the Magi who visited Jesus) and the archangel Gabriel also appeared to him explaining the 70 weeks prophecy (which Christians believe foretold the exact timeframe in which the Messiah would appear since it fits the timeframe of Jesus)

This expression Son of Man was later used during the Second Temple era as a name for the Messiah since people understood what Jesus was referring to when he used it.

Jesus when using this term applied Daniel‘s prophecy to himself. He quoted Daniel often even supporting Daniel‘s claim that the second temple would be destroyed. It also seems like most Christians listened to Jesus’ advice regarding the temple to flee to the mountains which is why Christians abandoned Jerusalem and hid in Pella when the Temple fell.

Matthew 26:57-67

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

The most dramatic sequence in which Jesus uses this term is actually this scene.

The Sanhedrin has caught him and Caiaphas asks him to tell them whether he is the Messiah and Son of God. Jesus says that they are correct and once again makes a reference to Daniel. This makes Caiaphas so angry that he tears his clothes.

Acts 7:54-56

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.“

It‘s also once referenced in the story of St. Stephen the first Christian martyr.

Another instance where it is used is in the Book of Revelation.

#shin megami tensei ii #SMTII #smt2 #shin megami tensei iv #smtiv

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yourdailybibleverse · 6 years

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who [the Lord] redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Psalm 103:4 Four women are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (see Matthew 1:1–16). Interestingly, they are not Sarah, Rebekah, Leah or Rachel, wives of the patriarchs of the Old Testament. Instead, they are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba, women who had morally questionable backgrounds. Tamar resorted to deception and prostitution to produce children through her father-in-law. Yet, it was from her line, the tribe of Judah, that the Messiah came (see Genesis 38). Rahab was a Gentile and a prostitute in Jericho, who became a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (see Joshua 2:1–21). She also became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth (see Ruth 4:13). Ruth was morally upright. But as a Moabitess, she was a Gentile and therefore considered unclean. Yet, she became the grandmother of David (see Ruth 4:13–17), whom the Jews regard as their greatest king. Bathsheba committed adultery with David (see 2 Samuel 11:4). Later, she gave birth to King Solomon (see 2 Samuel 12:24), from whose royal line Jesus descended. So what is God saying to us here? He is saying that He is greater than our sins—where sin abounds, His grace abounds much more (see Romans 5:20). His grace is greater than our sins, so that even when the world disqualifies us, He can qualify us to receive His blessings!God is also saying that He is a God of many chances. These women’s stories show us that even when our troubles are of our own making, they are neither final nor fatal. When we turn to Him, He will turn our situations around until we see His glory upon us! Finally, God is saying that He is a God of supernatural positioning. Even when all our earthly connections are gone, the moment we turn to Him, He will find ways to turn our captivity into blessings. My friend, don’t look at your natural circumstances and be discouraged. Trust the One “who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Trust Him who qualifies the disqualified! (From josephprince.org)

#Jesus #love #God #grace #truth #mercy #you qualify #second chances #blessings #Christ #Christian #daily bible #joseph prince

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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years

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Understanding The Bible - A Practical Guide To Each Book In The Bible - Part 8

Written by: PETER KREEFT

EIGHT

________

National Happiness from Personal Holiness: First and Second Samuel

The historical books of the Bible were not designed, either by men or by God, merely to satisfy our natural curiosity about past events, but to guide our present lives and choices to ensure our future supernatural blessedness. To look for “lessons” in these books, therefore, is not an arbitrary imposition of an external, alien point of view. For God, unlike man, writes lessons not only in words but also in events. He is the primary Author of the book of history as well as of these historical books.

There are many memorable “lessons” in First and Second Samuel (How naive, unfashionable, and “moralistic” the very word “lesson” sounds to our modern ears! In that psychological fact itself there lies a lesson.) Among them, one of the most prominent and relevant to our own time is the dependence of a nation’s happiness on its leaders’ personal holiness.

First and Second Samuel contrast the personalities of good but weak Eli with good and strong Samuel, strong but selfish Saul with idealistic David, David as obedient with David as disobedient; and they show how these contrasts, these choices, will determine all of Israel’s subsequent history. The difference between a two-degree angle and a three-degree angle is perhaps only a fraction of an inch in the beginning, close to its origin. But when the lines are extended through space, as history is extended through time, the difference becomes a matter of many miles.

First Samuel traces Israel’s history from the birth of Samuel, last of the judges, to the death of Saul, Israel’s first king. Second Samuel traces the rule of David, Israel’s greatest king.

First Samuel: The Age of Kingship Emerges

Samuel, the last judge, anoints Saul, the first king. A new age emerges through this transition. “Anointing” was a quasi-sacramental, symbolic pouring of oil onto the head of the man God chose. It publicly signified and certified God’s choice. The title Christ or Messiah means “the anointed one” or “the chosen one”. The Jewish kings as God’s chosen ones and the Jews as God’s “chosen people” foreshadow and prepare for Christ, God’s Chosen Person.

Before the transition from Samuel to Saul, we see a transition from Eli, the old priest, to Samuel, the young prophet. At a time when “the word of the LorD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision” (3:1), God called Samuel, dramatically but quietly, in the night. And Samuel gave the perfect, classic response to God’s call, just as Mary was to do a thousand years later with her fiat. Samuel said simply, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears” (3:9). Only because Samuel first listened to God, did Israel listen to Samuel: “When Samuel spoke, all Israel listened” (3:21, TEV). This is the key to all effective preaching, pastoring, and priestly work.

The people asked Samuel for a king, “like all the nations” (8:5). Like us modern Americans, they didn’t want to be different. This disappointed God (God is not an American), but God let them have their foolish way (8:6-9) to teach them—the hard way.

They chose Saul as their king, not for his wisdom or holiness but for his “image”, as we would put it today: “There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he . . . he was taller than any of the people” (9:2).

The time of Saul, like most times, was full of corruption. Eli’s wicked sons, ruling at Shiloh, were so bad that God sent terrible judgment on the nation. Israel was defeated in battle by the Philistines (chap. 4). Eli’s sons were killed. And Eli died in grief and horror at hearing that the ark of the covenant, God’s visible throne in Israel and the holiest object in the world, was captured. It was almost as if a Satanist were to steal the Eucharist for a Black Mass. Eli’s daughter-in-law died in childbirth upon hearing the news, and named her son Ichabod, which means “the glory has departed”.

But Saul was not the answer to the departed glory. Though for a time he gave Israel military glory and victory, he proved to be an evil king (13:8-14; 15:10-23; 28:3-17). He was envious of David and sought to murder him, even though David was God’s anointed.

David was protected from Saul by his friend Jonathan, Saul’s son and heir. The friendship between David and Jonathan is a classic, model friendship. Jonathan gave up to David his legitimate claim to be king (20:30-31) because of his loyalty to David and because of his loyalty to God, for he knew God had chosen David to be king (chap. 18).

The crisis and culmination of Saul’s dissolution and self-destruction came when he played with the occult—something God had forbidden with frightening strictness (Ex 22:18; Deut 18:9-12). Once Saul conjured up the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel through the mediumship of the Witch of En-Dor (chap. 28), it was too late: Saul lost his kingdom, his life, and probably his soul. Samuel told him, “The LorD has turned from you and become your enemy” (28:16; compare Mt 7:23). Saul’s story is a story of crime and punishment, a moral tragedy.

Second Samuel: Israel’s Brief Golden Age

But David’s story is one of glory. David is Israel’s model king, the standard by which all subsequent kings are judged. David is one of the primary Old Testament types or symbols for Christ:

1. He is a king.

2. He is born in Bethlehem.

3. He is anointed (“Christ”).

4. He is “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14).

5. He experiences rejection and danger, and out of it composes some of the great messianic psalms, such as the one (Ps 22) Jesus quoted on the Cross.

6. He is the literal ancestor of Christ, who is frequently called “the son of David” and “descended from David according to the flesh” (Rom 1:3).

7. Like Christ, David forgives and spares his enemies. On two occasions, he spared Saul’s life when Saul was seeking his (chaps. 24-26).

King David is a type of Christ the King. It is difficult for us Americans to love kings, for our nation was born in a rebellion against a bad king. Yet Christ is a king as well as prophet and priest. The Church has not designed for us “the Feast of Christ the President”, but the Feast of Christ the King. Christ did not preach “the administration of God”, but “the Kingdom of God”.

God promised David through Nathan the prophet that the Messiah would be descended from him. This hope for an even greater king than David was kept alive in Israel during the dark times of decline, corruption, civil war, exile, and captivity that were to follow for many long generations after David. The New Testament refers to Nathan’s prophecy and Christ’s fulfillment of it three times (Acts 2:30; 2 Cor 6:18; and Heb 1:5). David is the connecting hinge between Abraham, who first received the promise, and Christ, who finally fulfilled it; he is halfway between Abraham (about 2000 B.C.) and Christ.

David wanted to build God’s house, the temple, but God decreed that it should be built instead by David’s son Solomon, a man of peace. David wanted to build a house for God, but instead God built a house for David. The “house of David” is a dynasty divinely guaranteed to produce not just a great temporal kingdom but an eternal one (see Lk 1:32-33). The prophecy was fulfilled: David’s dynastic line was preserved right down to the time of the Messiah, who was David’s great-great-great-etc.-grandson. In the northern kingdom of Israel, there were nine different family dynasties, but in Judah only one. Judah and Benjamin were the only tribes that remained until the time of Christ; the other ten were scattered and lost.

The characters of Eli, Samuel, Saul, Nathan, and David are vivid and memorable because they are realistic. Though David is Israel’s greatest king and a type of Christ, Second Samuel does not idealize him or gloss over his sins.

Second Samuel tells David’s story as both history and biography. For the fate of the nation and of David are intertwined. The spiritual law of cause and effect is not only individual but also social. David’s spiritual success brought about God’s blessing not only in his private life, but also in the life of the nation; and David’s spiritual failures necessarily brought down God’s judgment not only on him and his family, but also on his nation.

David’s remarkable political “rags to riches” story (from shepherd boy to king) and his remarkable military success in quenching civil war and enforcing peace stemmed from his personal friendship with God and obedience to God’s will. Then came the turning point in his life: his adultery with Bathsheba and his arranging the murder of her husband Uriah. The book then chronicles the tragic consequences of these sins for his family and for the nation.

These consequences start to unravel when Bathsheba’s new baby by David dies shortly after birth. Later one of David’s sons, Amnon, commits incest with his half-sister Tamar. Then David’s beloved son Absalom, the full blood-brother of Tamar, murders his half-brother Amnon to avenge his sister, leads a military revolt against his father David, and is killed by David’s general Joab. One of the most poignantly agonizing passages in the Bible is David’s grief over Absalom: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (18:33).

Nathan’s prophecy is fulfilled: God sends a sword into David’s house. Not only family disaster but also national disaster come: famine, war with Philistia, and, later, the renewed civil war under Solomon’s sons that would split Israel forever.

The brief “Golden Age” Israel enjoyed lasted only one or two generations: part of David’s rule and part of Solomon’s. The rest is troubled times. Saul began in glory but ended in ruin. So did Solomon. Only David remained God’s man, through repentance. David did not attain the best thing, personal purity and perfection, but he attained the next best thing, repentance. This was crucial for the nation. David’s repentance held Israel together and staved off God’s judgment for another generation.

One of the most arresting passages in Scripture is the scene of this repentance. Nathan the prophet confronts David with his crimes by his parable of the rich man who stole the poor man’s single sheep. David is impaled by its stunning punch line: “You are the man.” After reading 2 Samuel 12:1-15, read Psalm 51, the great prayer of repentance that David wrote after this sudden self-knowledge. It is a favorite of many of the saints, for all saints know themselves to be sinners, and this is the great sinner’s Psalm.

Here are four short and simple lessons for our time and our nation from First and Second Samuel.

1. Most times are times of trouble. Prosperity and peace are the exception, not the rule.

2. Personal sins produce national tragedies. Just as the sins of the fathers have consequences in the lives of their children (Ex 20:5-6), the sins of the rulers have consequences in the life of the nation. This law does not change when kings change to presidents.

3. There exists an unavoidable law of spiritual cause and effect, as universal and as objective as the law of gravity: the only road to blessing is obedience, and the road to judgment is disobedience to God’s laws.

4. But it’s never too late. David’s repentance restored him to God’s favor, and although the sword remained in his house as a purgatorial punishment, David remained God’s man. He weakened his relationship with God by sin, but did not destroy it, and restored it by repentance. If even a murderer and adulterer could be a great king and a great man of God, what can you be?

#understanding the bible

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dfroza · 4 years

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sex matters.

what we do with the body sexually matters. it matters to our Creator who designed the human body and its sexuality.

and this is something Paul wrote of in his Letter to correct an issue of someone having sex that is against the way our Creator made it to be with Today’s chapter from First Corinthians:

I also received a report of scandalous sex within your church family, a kind that wouldn’t be tolerated even outside the church: One of your men is sleeping with his stepmother. And you’re so above it all that it doesn’t even faze you! Shouldn’t this break your hearts? Shouldn’t it bring you to your knees in tears? Shouldn’t this person and his conduct be confronted and dealt with?

I’ll tell you what I would do. Even though I’m not there in person, consider me right there with you, because I can fully see what’s going on. I’m telling you that this is wrong. You must not simply look the other way and hope it goes away on its own. Bring it out in the open and deal with it in the authority of Jesus our Master. Assemble the community—I’ll be present in spirit with you and our Master Jesus will be present in power. Hold this man’s conduct up to public scrutiny. Let him defend it if he can! But if he can’t, then out with him! It will be totally devastating to him, of course, and embarrassing to you. But better devastation and embarrassment than damnation. You want him on his feet and forgiven before the Master on the Day of Judgment.

Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it’s anything but that. Yeast, too, is a “small thing,” but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this “yeast.” Our true identity is flat and plain, not puffed up with the wrong kind of ingredient. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed for the Passover meal, and we are the Unraised Bread part of the Feast. So let’s live out our part in the Feast, not as raised bread swollen with the yeast of evil, but as flat bread—simple, genuine, unpretentious.

I wrote you in my earlier letter that you shouldn’t make yourselves at home among the sexually promiscuous. I didn’t mean that you should have nothing at all to do with outsiders of that sort. Or with crooks, whether blue- or white-collar. Or with spiritual phonies, for that matter. You’d have to leave the world entirely to do that! But I am saying that you shouldn’t act as if everything is just fine when a friend who claims to be a Christian is promiscuous or crooked, is flip with God or rude to friends, gets drunk or becomes greedy and predatory. You can’t just go along with this, treating it as acceptable behavior. I’m not responsible for what the outsiders do, but don’t we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers? God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house.

The Letter of 1st Corinthians, Chapter 5 (The Message)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is chapter 11 of 2nd Samuel where David chose sex with a woman who was already married. sex is actually a sacred act that joins a man’s body with a woman to become as “One” body. it is the consummation of the marital bond.

[David’s Sin and Sorrow]

When that time of year came around again, the anniversary of the Ammonite aggression, David dispatched Joab and his fighting men of Israel in full force to destroy the Ammonites for good. They laid siege to Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem.

One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful. David sent to ask about her, and was told, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?” David sent his agents to get her. After she arrived, he went to bed with her. (This occurred during the time of “purification” following her period.) Then she returned home. Before long she realized she was pregnant.

Later she sent word to David: “I’m pregnant.”

David then got in touch with Joab: “Send Uriah the Hittite to me.” Joab sent him.

When he arrived, David asked him for news from the front—how things were going with Joab and the troops and with the fighting. Then he said to Uriah, “Go home. Have a refreshing bath and a good night’s rest.”

After Uriah left the palace, an informant of the king was sent after him. But Uriah didn’t go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance, along with the king’s servants.

David was told that Uriah had not gone home. He asked Uriah, “Didn’t you just come off a hard trip? So why didn’t you go home?”

Uriah replied to David, “The Chest is out there with the fighting men of Israel and Judah—in tents. My master Joab and his servants are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and eat and drink and enjoy my wife? On your life, I’ll not do it!”

“All right,” said David, “have it your way. Stay for the day and I’ll send you back tomorrow.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem the rest of the day.

The next day David invited him to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. But in the evening Uriah again went out and slept with his master’s servants. He didn’t go home.

In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote, “Put Uriah in the front lines where the fighting is the fiercest. Then pull back and leave him exposed so that he’s sure to be killed.”

So Joab, holding the city under siege, put Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce enemy fighters. When the city’s defenders came out to fight Joab, some of David’s soldiers were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.

Joab sent David a full report on the battle. He instructed the messenger, “After you have given to the king a detailed report on the battle, if he flares in anger, say, ‘And by the way, your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.’”

Joab’s messenger arrived in Jerusalem and gave the king a full report. He said, “The enemy was too much for us. They advanced on us in the open field, and we pushed them back to the city gate. But then arrows came hot and heavy on us from the city wall, and eighteen of the king’s soldiers died.”

When the messenger completed his report of the battle, David got angry at Joab. He vented it on the messenger: “Why did you get so close to the city? Didn’t you know you’d be attacked from the wall? Didn’t you remember how Abimelech son of Jerub-Besheth got killed? Wasn’t it a woman who dropped a millstone on him from the wall and crushed him at Thebez? Why did you go close to the wall!”

“By the way,” said Joab’s messenger, “your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead.”

Then David told the messenger, “Oh. I see. Tell Joab, ‘Don’t trouble yourself over this. War kills—sometimes one, sometimes another—you never know who’s next. Redouble your assault on the city and destroy it.’ Encourage Joab.”

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she grieved for her husband. When the time of mourning was over, David sent someone to bring her to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son.

The Book of 2nd Samuel, Chapter 11 (The Message)

my personal reading of the Scriptures for Saturday, October 31 of 2020 with a paired chapter from each Testament along with Today’s Psalms and Proverbs

A post by John Parsons about clinging to the good:

Contrary to the vain philosophy of this fallen world, the essence of love hates what is evil; just as it is hateful to be “tolerant” of what is wicked... Followers of Yeshua must love the truth and abhor the lie. Tolerating sin in a world ripe for judgment is a tacit form of "collaboration" with the enemy... Indeed, the only thing regarded as intolerable in the devil's world is the objection that people have a supposed "liberty" to sin. But the LORD is clear on this point: those who call evil good and good evil are subject to divine wrath and judgment. Therefore we are enjoined: “O you who love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). Yes, hate what is evil and love what is good (Amos 5:15). As King David said, "Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies" (Psalm 139:21-22). The connection between loving God and hating evil is repeated in the New Testament: “Let your love be genuine (ἀνυπόκριτος, without a “mask” put on): abhor what is evil; cling to what is good (Rom. 12:9). If we truly love the LORD, let us walk in the awe of His great Name by hating what is evil.

Every day we make decisions regarding good and evil, and therefore every day we are deciding (i.e., proclaiming, teaching, attesting) what we love and what we hate. Choosing not to chose is itself a choice.... The issue is not whether we love or whether we hate, but what we love and what we hate.

The Scriptures do not mince words with this issue. "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers" (Prov. 6:16-19). "I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your law" (Psalm 119:163). “Take no part in the works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Eph. 5:11). The cross of Messiah is meaningless if God does not really hate sin, violence, and evil... The heart cry of the tzaddik adjures: “O you who love the LORD, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10). [Hebrew for Christians]

10.30.20 • Facebook

Today’s message from the Institute for Creation Research:

October 31, 2020

Whom to Pray For

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” (1 Timothy 2:1)

Let no one ever say that he has nothing to pray about, or that he doesn’t know how to pray in God’s will, for it is always in the will of God to pray for other people! This is a great gift that any Christian can give, even if he is penniless or bedridden. There are none so poor as to be unable to afford such a gift, nor can even the wealthiest give a finer gift.

Note just a few of the relevant commandments to believers. First, we are to pray for all fellow Christians: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). We should also pray for the lost. Jesus commanded, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2).

There is a special command to pray for sick disciples. “Pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16). We are even told to pray for our enemies. “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:28).

We are told to pray for Christian brethren who “sin a sin which is not unto death” (1 John 5:16), though if the sin has already led to physical death (as in 1 Corinthians 11:30), there is no warrant for further prayer in that case. Finally, we are especially admonished to pray “for kings, and for all that are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2), and for the ministries of those who proclaim the gospel (Colossians 4:2-4). In short, in the words of our text, we should offer up supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving for all people everywhere, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). HMM

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ddstantheman · 4 years

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Matthew 1

Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Christ firmly establishing His inheritance. Showing the link to the Davidic throne fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy of an eternal kingdom. [2Samuel 7: 13–17] This is an incomplete genealogy written to establish a point not a historical chronology. E. Raymond E. Brown, An Introduction to the New Testament (p. 175), makes a great comment about how Matthew's genealogy is structured. 1. the Patriarchs – first fourteen names 2. Israelite kings – second fourteen names 3. unknown ancestors – third fourteen names

Right out of the gate Levi drops the proverbial bomb on his Jewish audience with the phrase "the son of David". "Messiah" The heart in each Jewish breast would be beating wildly. The promised King that would free Israel. This pronouncement alone would shake the foundations and send the Nazarene to the cross. These few lines of text say it all: The Christ, the Anointed one, the root of David and Messiah! I could go on forever, however let us turn back to the genealogy and see what other goodies God has for us.

What is also interesting in my mind is the invasion of gentiles, women and sin into the heritage of Christ. If I were crafting a story to portray a historical saviour I would not include such loathsome details to a Jewish audience. Thankfully the Holy Spirit guides the pen of Matthew. Three of the women listed―Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth―were gentiles and the fourth, Bathsheba, was married to a Hittite. Making things worse, we have Rahab the Canaanite prostitute and Ruth a Moabitess. Moabites were forbidden from entering the congregation of Israel (cf. Deut. 23:3). The wife of Uriah refers to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon (cf. 2 Samuel 11 and 12), who, like Rahab and Ruth, was not Jewish. To make matters even worse, Matthew reminds the readers of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah who was reputed to be the most evil king in Judah's history (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:2-7). Interestingly, He also reigned the longest-fifty-five years (cf. 2 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 33).

Why would Matthew include these unsavoury details in his manuscript? We begin at the apex of the mountain and are dropped off the cliff of humanity! Why?

Now, shut the screen off and open your Bible, yes it's that book that statisticians report that only a very few believing Christians actually open it. Invite the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to His word. Prepare to hear from your Holy Father! Chronicle what you have received and add it to your comments on my blog. If you are like me when the Holy Spirit speaks the ink just flows from my pen.

Here are some of the thoughts I received: (A) You have heard it said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. God shows us that He can use the most messed up, degenerate human beings to bring heaven to earth. I look back on my life and I see the tangled web of sin, yet God loved me so much that he selected me to be his son, adopted into the royal priesthood. He washed me clean by the blood of the Lamb. (B) My earth Dad is a bit of a genealogy buff. We can trace our heritage back to earls and lords in England. We used to half joke that blue blood ran through our veins. However what struck my wife and I as we gazed at the family tree was the number of suicides and illegitimate offspring. It seems like the earl was busy doing other things instead of taking care of the affairs of the state. Our families are unsaved and yet here I blog about the Creator of the universe at 6 AM. Who would have ever guessed? (C) A day to the Lord is a 1000 years to man our Heavenly Father uses everything to the good of his people. He steps into time to call his people Israel to make their paths straight. Follow him and you shall be a lamp, a city on a hill and your salt shall season the mind and the hearts of men. Spread the good news; the bread of life is born in Bethlehem, "The House of Bread". All to His glory, He directs the path of the Saints [that's you and me by the way] that we would come to the realization of ESV Job 42: 2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted".

(D) This genealogy speaks to the truth of the manuscript. It is easily tested historically. Levi does not concoct a complex argument but merely and plainly states the truth. Jesus the Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham is the declaration of who He is similar to Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God". The foundational concept inherent in the text is the understanding of who He is without that the text is just a novel. The Trinitarian doxology states it well "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen."

As the reader you must decide what to believe.

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womeninministry · 7 years

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A Lineage of Redemption

by Anne Resler

“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:17)

Throughout the lineage of Christ, we see His redeeming blood flowing from the top down. He redeems and restores the lost and the broken and uses their lives to bring Him glory. The redeeming love of the Messiah is evidenced throughout His lineage. In a patriarchal culture, five extraordinary women make the genealogical records in Matthew 1. Their stories testify of the Messiah’s redemption. The blood of Christ flowed through the veins of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary, ultimately flowing straight to the cross, where His blood was poured out for the redemption of all who would choose to be grafted into His family line.

God went to great lengths to highlight the stories of these 5 women and spotlight their names. What do they tell us about our Savior? What do they represent for us as women? They left their mark on history; God left His mark on them.

Tamar “and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar” Matthew 1:3.

Tamar’s story, found in Genesis 38, describes a woman deeply acquainted with pain and grief. She knows the depths of suffering, abuse, mistreatment, barrenness, rejection, deception and loss. Tamar gives us a glimpse into our wounds and shares a story of healing and redemption.

Rahab “and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab” Matthew 1:5

Five generations later, God looked straight into Canaan, fixed his eyes on a prostitute named Rahab and called her to faith in Him.

God has a way of coloring outside the lines, doesn’t he? When God looked at Rahab he didn’t see her scarlet letter, He saw her heart. He knew the sexual abuse she suffered; He knew the depths of her pain and her shame. He saw her and loved her and invited her into relationship with him. Rahab made a bold declaration of faith in the God of Israel (Joshua 2:11). She is a beautiful picture of the power of redemption and transformation. (Joshua 2 and 6).

Ruth “Boaz, the father of Obed by Ruth” Matthew 1:5

One generation later, God used an unlikely woman with extraordinary hope, a foreigner, a widow, a woman walking through great pain and loss. Ruth experienced life’s deepest struggles, hurt and pain; yet standing at the crossroads of her life, Ruth chose to believe God.

Boaz’ own mother was a foreigner with a past, redeemed by the Most High God. Surely her story of redemption was woven into his heart as he looked with favor on Ruth. Rahab’s son grew up to be Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. Boaz and Ruth had a son, Obed, who fathered Jesse. Jesse fathered King David. Through this line, God would ultimately bring the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

Bathsheba “And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6).

Bathsheba walked through unimaginable trauma and loss in a short period of time. In a nine-month period, she was essentially raped, became pregnant illegitimately, lost her husband, married David and lost her child. Excruciating trauma, pain and grief. God saw her. He knew she had been “taken” from her husband, treated wrongly and she was desperately grieving. God was working in David’s heart and used Bathsheba to provoke a turning back to God. (2 Samuel 11 and 12)

After Bathsheba, not another woman is named for twenty-eight generations. The fifth and final woman named in the lineage of Christ is the woman who bore Him, the beloved, Mary.

Mary “And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16

I fear perhaps we have grown cold to Mary’s story. We romanticize her as if she walked through life in a superhuman kind of way, the virgin mother. How often do we look at Mary in light of the reality of her circumstances, a 13-14 year old girl, with a heart of undeniable faith, unshakable courage and unwavering obedience?

While Matthew lists Joseph’s genealogy, Luke lists Mary’s (Luke 3:23-38).[i] Both Joseph and Mary descended from the line of David. Joseph descended from the royal line, through Solomon. Mary’s branch can be traced through David’s son, Nathan. Both were sons of David and Bathsheba. Not a woman is named between Bathsheba and Mary. Mary and Joseph would have shared the lineage of the prior four women, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. What a beautiful picture of the scarlet thread of redemption that was woven through the family lines.

What is God speaking to you through the lives of these five courageous women?

How does God see you and the struggles you are facing? Ask him to show you.

How is he asking you to respond to him in the midst of your current circumstance?

Whatever you are going through, wherever you are, your circumstances do not preclude you from the love of God. Allow the brokenness to usher you into His Presence that you may experience His fullness.

[i] MacArthur, J. (2005). Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

#womensdevotional

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 4 years

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17th December >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Matthew 1:1-17 for the 17th December: ‘Of her is born Jesus who is called Christ’.

17th December

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Matthew 1:1-17

The ancestry of Jesus Christ, the son of David

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother,

Perez was the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram was the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother,

Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother,

Obed was the father of Jesse;

and Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

Joram the father of Azariah,

Azariah was the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah;

and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.

Then the deportation to Babylon took place.

After the deportation to Babylon:

Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

Azor was the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Achim,

Achim the father of Eliud,

Eliud was the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob;

and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary;

of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.

Gospel (USA)

Matthew 1:1-17

The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph. Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah became the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

Reflections (8)

(i) 17th December

It has been said that the genealogy of Jesus appearing in today’s gospel reading is a preacher’s nightmare. What is to be said about this list of Hebrew names? There is a great interest in genealogy today. There is a television programme given over to the search for one’s ancestors entitled, ‘Who do you think you are?’ That question gives us a clue to what Matthew was doing in giving his version of the genealogy of Jesus. He was inviting us to ask the question, ‘Who do you think Jesus is?’ Matthew is not so much interested in past history as in the present identity of Jesus. The two key names in that list are found together at the very beginning of the list, almost as an introduction to it, Abraham and David. When Matthew tells us that Jesus is the son of Abraham he is stating that Jesus is a Jew and that his story is woven into the larger story of the Jewish people. When Matthew says that Jesus is the son of David he is establishing his credentials as the long awaited Jewish Messiah. We are being reminded that our own Christian faith emerged from the Jewish faith. As Jesus had Jewish roots, so our spiritual and religious roots are to be found in the Jewish faith, which is why the Jewish Scriptures remain important for us as followers of Jesus. Another feature of the genealogy is that four woman are to be found in the otherwise relentlessly male list, and all four woman are non-Jewish in origin, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Jesus may be son of Abraham and son of David, but Matthew wants to see that Jesus’ ancestry already shows an ancestry to the non-Jewish, Gentile, world. The Saviour may be from the Jews but he is intended for all nations, as is clear from the final words of Jesus to his disciples in this gospel of Matthew, ‘Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…’ It is because Jesus’s disciples were faithful to that mission that we are here this morning. As Israel was to be a light to the nations, Jesus, the Jew, was a light to the nations. As his disciples we continue his light bearing mission to all we encounter. This role is at the core of our identity and needs to be part of how we would answer the question, ‘Who do you think you are?’

And/Or

(ii) 17th December

The gospel reading we have just read is probably one of the strangest gospel readings of the church’s liturgical year. We might ask, ‘Why bother with that long list of names?’ It was clearly important for the evangelist Matthew to communicate some sense of Jesus’ family tree. There seems to be an increasing interest in family trees in recent times. More and more people want to know ‘Where have I come from?’ and ‘Who are the people who have helped to make me the person I am?’ Each of us is very aware that the story of our ancestors is an important part of our story. It is the part of our story that is below ground, like the roots of a tree. And where would a tree be without its roots? In a similar way, Matthew knew that the story of Jesus’ ancestors was a very important chapter in his own story. In Jesus’ genealogical tree that Matthew gives us there are a number of people who were anything but paragons of virtue. Many of them had what we would call today a dark side. Yet, Matthew is declaring that God worked through all of these people, including those whose character left a lot to be desired, to give the world its Saviour. Matthew’s genealogy reminds us that, in the words of Saint Paul, God’s power can be made perfect in weakness. Even when we are not at our best, God’s purpose for our lives and for the lives of others continues to work itself out.

And/Or

(iii) 17th December

The gospel reading we have just read is probably one of the strangest gospel readings of the church’s liturgical year. We might ask, ‘Why bother with that long list of names?’ It was clearly important for the evangelist Matthew to communicate some sense of Jesus’ family tree. There seems to be an increasing interest in family trees in recent times. More and more people want to know ‘Where have I come from?’ and ‘Who are the people who have helped to make me the person I am?’ Each of us is very aware that the story of my ancestors is an important part of my story. It is the part of my story that is below ground, like the roots of a tree. And where would a tree be without its roots? In a similar way, Matthew knew that the story of Jesus’ ancestors was a very important chapter in his own story. The genealogy, the family tree, of Jesus that Matthew presents in this morning’s gospel reading stresses in the very first line that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and a descendant of David. As son of David, he is the promised Messianic King of the Jews; as son of Abraham he fulfils the God’s promise to Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Jesus, the long awaited Messianic king of the Jews has come, not just for the sake of Israel, but for the sake of all the nations, and that includes all of us. Jesus may be a Jew, but he is the light of the nations.

And/Or

(iv) 17th December

This morning we begin the octave of Christmas. The readings for these eight days are very specially chosen. The first reading invariably consists of one of the great Messianic promises in the Jewish Scriptures. The gospel acclamation on each of these eight days is also very significant. Each one is a beautiful prayer, a variation on the simple, ‘Come Lord Jesus’. You may have noticed the gospel acclamation for this morning’s Mass, ‘Wisdom of the Most High; ordering all things with strength and gentleness, come and teach us the way of truth’. The gospel readings for these eight days, apart from tomorrow Sunday, are all taken from the first chapter of the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Luke. This morning’s gospel reading consists of the opening seventeen verses of the gospel of Matthew. It is an unusual gospel reading; it is tempting to ask ‘what is the point of that long list of names’. What was Matthew doing by beginning his gospel in this particular way? He wanted to show that Jesus was rooted in the Jewish people; his family tree included Abraham and Isaac, David and Solomon, and many others. Jesus was hewn from the rock of Abraham, like the remainder of the people of Israel. We are being reminded that the deepest roots of our own Christian faith are to be found in the story of the people of Israel. That list of names is anything but a list of saints; there are plenty of people whose lives left a lot to be desired; we only have to think of David. Yet, Matthew is saying that in some mysterious way, God worked through all of those characters to bring Jesus to humanity. Matthew is reminding us there that God can bring great good out of human sin and brokenness. That realization is not an encouragement to sin but it gives us hope that even when we fall short of our calling the Lord’s saving purpose continues to work itself out.

And/Or

(v) 17th December

Matthew’s gospel opens with the genealogy of Jesus. You may wonder why it is given to us as a gospel reading at the beginning of this novena of days before Christmas. After all, it is only a long list of mostly unpronounceable names. We are being reminded that the child whose birth we are soon to celebrate did not just drop out of the sky. He was fully human and like all humans, all of us, he had an ancestry, he had a family tree. He had roots and he was shaped by those roots. When you look at that list of names, they are a very mixed bag. Many of them are far from being paragons of virtue. Yet, each of them played a part in the making of Jesus. Each of them ultimately served God’s good purpose. There will be good and bad in our own family tree just as there will be good and bad in our own personal lives. Yet, God can work in a life-giving way even through the darker and what we would think of as the more negative experiences of our lives. Every experience can serve God’s purpose if we remain to God’s presence to us. He is constantly at work in our lives bringing new life out of death and great good out of failure.

And/Or

(vi) 17th December

Today we begin the octave of Christmas. The gospel readings from the 17th December up to and including Christmas Eve are all taken from the first chapter of the gospel of Matthew and of the gospel of Luke. This morning’s gospel gives us the opening seventeen verses of Matthew’s gospel, the genealogy of Jesus. You might be tempted to ask, ‘Why do we read these verses at all in our liturgy?’ What are we to make of this long list of unpronounceable names? At the very beginning of his gospel Matthew is telling us that Jesus is a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and of David. His roots and our roots as his followers are to be found in Judaism. Matthew was aware that many of those listed in the genealogy of Jesus were anything but paragons of virtue. Yet they had a role to play in the coming of Emmanuel, God with us, to all men and women, Jew and pagan. Matthew may be reminding us that God can work powerfully in and through flawed human beings. Our own personal frailties and weaknesses do not prevent God from working through us. Even though we may be far from perfect, we can still have a role to play in bringing Jesus, Emmanuel, to all those who continue to long for his coming.

And/Or

(vii) 17th December

Today, the first day of the Octave of Christmas, we traditionally read Matthew’s account of the genealogy of Jesus. At one level it seems like a rather dry list of names. Yet, this is how Matthew has chosen to begin his gospel and this list of names clearly had great significance for him. It tells us that Jesus had an ancestry; he did not just drop out of the sky, as it were. This ancestry was solidly Jewish. As the first line of the gospel reading states, Jesus was ‘son of David, son of Abraham’. Matthew is reminding us that Jesus, and the church that emerged from him, have their roots in the story of God’s dealings with the people of Israel in the Jewish Scriptures. In this solidly male list of names, four women are mentioned, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and the wife of Uriah. They are all non-Jewish in origin. Matthew is suggesting that Jesus’ heritage line brought in Gentiles as well. Jesus’ initial concern during his public ministry was for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but he as risen Lord he sent his disciples to go out and make disciples of all the nations. The church, like Jesus, has deep Jewish roots, but is open to the world. Many of the named people in Jesus’ genealogy, both the men and the women, were anything but paragons of virtue. Matthew suggests that there were plenty of skeletons in Jesus’ cupboard. Yet, God worked through them all to bring us Jesus. The same can be true of our own ancestral story. Even out own personal story will not always be one of pure virtue. Perhaps one of the messages of this gospel reading is that the Lord can turn all of our experiences to a good purpose, both the sinful and the virtuous ones, both the darkness and the light. As Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘all things work together for good for those who love God’.

And/Or

(viii) 17th December

Today, 17th December, we begin the octave of Christmas. The readings these days are special to each day. The Alleluia verse for these days is a special verse relating to the coming of the Saviour. They are lovely prayers in their own right, and would make a perfect prayer programme for these eight days. The Alleluia verse or antiphon for today is, ‘Wisdom of the Most High, ordering all things with strength and gentleness, come and teach us the way of truth’. The gospel readings for these eight days are all taken from the opening chapters of the gospel of Matthew and Luke, the story of the birth and infancy of Jesus. Today’s gospel reading is probably the strangest of all. Why do we read this long list of names on 17th of December? It is the genealogy of Jesus according to Matthew. This evangelist gives his version of the generations that led up to the birth of Jesus. In this way, he reminds us that this special child who has the unique name ‘God-with-us’, has a human ancestry. Like every human being, he has a family tree, a Jewish family tree. Jesus, the Son of God, is also the son of Abraham. Some of his Jewish ancestors mentioned in this list left a lot to be desired. Yet, God worked through them all to bring Jesus, God’s Son, to the human race in the fullness of time. The evangelist may be reminding us that God can always bring good out of what falls short of his desire for us. That is true of our own personal lives, as well. Even the darker experiences of our lives can serve God’s purpose for us, if we keep entrusting ourselves to God in love through it all. As Saint Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘all things work together for good, for those who love God’.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

Facebook: St John the Baptist RC Parish, Clontarf.

Tumblr: Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin.

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troybeecham · 5 years

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St. Joseph

Today the Church remembers St. Joseph.

Ora pro nobis.

Joseph is a figure in the Gospels who was married to Mary, Jesus' mother, and was Jesus' legal father.

The Pauline epistles make no reference to Jesus' father; nor does the Gospel of Mark. The first appearance of Joseph is in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Each contains a genealogy of Jesus showing ancestry from King David, but through different sons; Matthew follows the major royal line from Solomon, while Luke traces another line back to Nathan, another son of David and Bathsheba. Consequently, all the names between David and Joseph are different. Some scholars, such as Harry A. Ironside reconcile the genealogies by viewing the Solomonic lineage in Matthew as Joseph's major royal line, and the Nathanic lineage in Luke to be Mary's minor line.

The epistles of Paul are generally regarded as the oldest extant Christian writings. These mention Jesus' mother (without naming her), but do not refer to his father. The Book of Mark, believed to be the first gospel to be written and with a date about two decades after Paul, also does not mention Jesus' father. Joseph first appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The issue of reconciling the two accounts has been the subject of debate.

Like the two differing genealogies, the infancy narratives appear only in Matthew and Luke and take different approaches to reconciling the requirement that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem with the tradition that Jesus in fact came from Nazareth. In Matthew, Joseph obeys the direction of an angel to marry Mary. Following the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, Joseph is told by an angel in a dream to take the family to Egypt to escape the massacre of the children of Bethlehem planned by Herod, the ruler of the Roman province of Judea. Once Herod has died, an angel tells Joseph to return, but to avoid Herod's son he takes his wife and the child to Nazareth in Galilee and settles there. Thus in Matthew, the infant Jesus, like Moses, is in peril from a cruel king, like Moses he has a (fore)father named Joseph who goes down to Egypt, like the Old Testament Joseph this Joseph has a father named Jacob, and both Josephs receive important dreams foretelling their future.

In the Gospel book of Luke, Joseph already lives in Nazareth, and Jesus is born in Bethlehem because Joseph and Mary have to travel there to be counted in a census. Subsequently, Jesus was born there. Luke's account makes no mention of him being visited by angels (Mary and various others instead receive similar apparitions), the Massacre of the Innocents, or of a visit to Egypt.

The last time Joseph appears in person in any Gospel book is in the story of the Passover visit to the Temple in Jerusalem when Jesus is 12 years old, found only in Luke. No mention is made of him thereafter. The story emphasizes Jesus' awareness of his coming mission: here Jesus speaks to his parents (both of them) of "my father," meaning God, but they fail to understand.(Luke 2:41–51).

Christian tradition represents Mary as a widow during the adult ministry of her son. Joseph is not mentioned as being present at the Wedding at Cana at the beginning of Jesus' mission, nor at the Passion at the end. If he had been present at the Crucifixion, he would under Jewish custom have been expected to take charge of Jesus' body, but this role is instead performed by Joseph of Arimathea. Nor would Jesus have entrusted his mother to the care of John the Apostle if her husband had been alive.

While none of the Gospels mentions Joseph as present at any event during Jesus' adult ministry, the synoptic Gospels share a scene in which the people of Nazareth, Jesus' hometown, doubt Jesus' status as a prophet because they know his family. In Mark 6:3, they call Jesus "Mary's son" instead of naming his father. In Matthew, the townspeople call Jesus "the carpenter's son," again without naming his father. (Matthew 13:53–55) In Luke 3:23 "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was [the son] of Heli."(Luke 4:16–30) In Luke the tone is positive, whereas in Mark and Matthew it is disparaging. This incident does not appear at all in John, but in a parallel story the disbelieving neighbors refer to "Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know" (John 6:41–51).

In the Gospels, Joseph's occupation is mentioned only once. The Gospel of Matthew[13:55] asks about Jesus:

Is not this the carpenter's son (ho tou tektōnos huios)?

Joseph's description as a "tekton" (τέκτων) has been traditionally translated into English as "carpenter", but is a rather general word (from the same root that gives us "technical" and "technology"that could cover makers of objects in various materials. The Greek term evokes an artisan with wood in general, or an artisan in iron or stone. But the specific association with woodworking is a constant in Early Christian tradition; Justin Martyr (died c. AD 165) wrote that Jesus made yokes and ploughs, and there are similar early references.

Other scholars have argued that tekton could equally mean a highly skilled craftsman in wood or the more prestigious metal, perhaps running a workshop with several employees, and noted sources recording the shortage of skilled artisans at the time. Geza Vermes has stated that the terms 'carpenter' and 'son of a carpenter' are used in the Jewish Talmud to signify a very learned man, and he suggests that a description of Joseph as 'naggar' (a carpenter) could indicate that he was considered wise and highly literate in the Torah.

At the time of Joseph, Nazareth was an obscure village in Galilee, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from the Holy City of Jerusalem, and is barely mentioned in surviving non-Christian texts and documents. Archaeology over most of the site is made impossible by subsequent building, but from what has been excavated and tombs in the area around the village, it is estimated that the population was at most about 400. It was, however, only about 6 kilometres from the city of Sepphoris, which was destroyed and depopulated by the Romans in 4 BC, and thereafter was expensively rebuilt. Analysis of the landscape and other evidence suggest that in Joseph's lifetime Nazareth was "oriented towards" the nearby city, which had an overwhelmingly Jewish population although with many signs of Hellenization, and historians have speculated that Joseph, and later Jesus too, might have traveled daily to work on the rebuilding. Specifically the large theatre in the city has been suggested, although this has aroused much controversy over dating and other issues. Other scholars see Joseph and Jesus as the general village craftsmen, working in wood, stone and metal on a wide variety of jobs.

O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #troy beecham episcopal #christianity #saints #father troy beecham episcopal

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seekfirstme · 4 years

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Meditation: Do you know who your ancestors were, where they came from, and what they passed on from their generation to the next? Genealogies are very important. They give us our roots and help us to understand our heritage. Matthew's genealogy of Jesus traces his lineage from Abraham, the father of God's chosen people, through the line of David, King of Israel. Jesus the Messiah is the direct descent of Abraham and David, and the rightful heir to David's throne. God in his mercy fulfilled his promises to Abraham and to David that he would send a Savior and a King to rule over the house of Israel and to deliver them from their enemies.

The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises

When Jacob blessed his sons he foretold that Judah would receive the promise of royalty which we see fulfilled in David (Genesis 49:10). We can also see in this blessing a foreshadowing of God's fulfillment in raising up his anointed King, Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's promises. He is the hope not only for the people of the Old Covenant but for all nations as well. He is the Savior of the world who redeems us from slavery to sin and Satan and makes us citizens of the kingdom of God. In him we receive adoption into a royal priesthood and holy nation as sons and daughters of the living God (see 1 Peter 1:9). Do you recognize your spiritual genealogy and do you accept God as your Father and Jesus as the sovereign King and Lord of your life?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Messiah and Savior of the world, the hope of Israel and the hope of the nations. Be the ruler of my heart and the king of my home. May there be nothing in my life that is not under your wise rule and care."

MEET YOUR FOLKS

"Listen to Israel, your father." Genesis 49:2

When a young man falls in love and gets serious about a young woman, the time soon comes to bring her home to meet his family. Often this is a time of some anxiety. His worst fear might be: I'm afraid she'll leave me because she doesn't like my folks.

Jesus is the Groom (Mk 2:19) and we are the prospective bride. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus introduces His ancestors before we get serious about our relationship with Him. It's as if He is saying that we won't be able to love Him unless we also love His family.

Imagine Jesus bringing you home to introduce you to His ancestors: "Come in! First, I'd like you to meet Jacob (Mt 1:2), a master deceiver (Gn 27:5ff). Next, I want you to meet Judah and Tamar (Mt 1:3). They aren't married, and conceived their son through prostitution (Gn 38:18). In this room, I'd like you to meet another prostitute, Rahab (Mt 1:5; Jos 2:1). Now here's a wonderful lady, Ruth (Mt 1:5). We had to go outside of the immediate family to find a worthy one like her (Ru 1:4). Over here is one of my favorites, David (Mt 1:6), a man after My Father's heart. Well, he did have a child through adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sm 11:4), and he did kill her husband Uriah and many others. Meet Solomon (Mt 1:7), the wise one of My family. He set a world record for lust, and his son Rehoboam (Mt 1:7) caused a civil war (1 Kgs 11:4; 12:13ff). Did you get to meet Manasseh? (Mt 1:10) He'd fit right in with today's 'culture of death' (see 2 Kgs 21:16)..."

Will you decide to walk out on Jesus? Or do you love Him enough to stay and love those He loves (1 Jn 4:20-21)? Stay with Jesus, and then He will adopt you into His family (Mk 3:34-35).

Prayer: Father, I love all of Your children, the family You have redeemed through my older Brother Jesus. Promise: "Justice shall flower in His days." —Ps 72:7 Praise: "O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, You govern all creation with Your strong yet tender care. Come and show Your people the way to salvation." (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2019 through January 31, 2020.

Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 2, 2019.

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements

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mrlnsfrt · 5 years

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Christmas Family Drama

Family

Have you ever tried to define what family is? Its one of those words we use often but we each have a different way of interpreting it. I struggled with defining it on my own so I decided to look it up.

According to Merriam-Webster.com family is

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family a single-parent family

b : spouse and children want to spend more time with my family

2 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head : household

3a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan

b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race

4a : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation : fellowship

b : the staff of a high official (such as the President)

5 : a group of things related by common characteristics: such as

a : a closely related series of elements or chemical compounds

b : a group of soils with similar chemical and physical properties (such as texture, pH, and mineral content) that comprise a category ranking above the series and below the subgroup in soil classification

c : a group of related languages descended from a single ancestral language

6a : a group of related plants or animals forming a category ranking above a genus and below an order and usually comprising several to many genera

b in livestock breeding

(1) : the descendants or line of a particular individual especially of some outstanding female

(2) : an identifiable strain within a breed

7 : a set of curves or surfaces whose equations differ only in parameters

8 : a unit of a crime syndicate (such as the Mafia) operating within a geographical area

Good job Merriam-Webster! You were much more thorough than I would have been. But even though Merriam-Webster give us 8 different definitions, there are many more, just look it up online.

I know that these challenges with defining family can lead to some drama. For example, we will have a small wedding, we will only invite family members, or we will spend the holidays with family. Who gets included? Who will be excluded? How will that go over?

Maybe you have a perfectly balanced family and never have to struggle with this, or maybe you’re from a different country and you have a solution to these types of situations. I know plenty of people that dread the holidays because of their relationship with their “family.” Maybe you feel bad talking about it, perhaps you feel like everyone else has perfectly happy families, and you’re the only one walking on eggshells afraid of offending someone or setting someone off.

Maybe you wonder about peace on earth, and how the holidays are supposed to bring people together. But you’re not the first one to have family issues, and you’re not the last one. I always find comfort when I read a Bible story that helps guide me through challenging situations, and the first chapter of Matthew has some great ones!

Matthew chapter 1

Matthew begins with something many just skip right over, a genealogy. Matthew begins that way because it is important to establish Jesus as a direct descendant of Abraham and David in order for his Jewish audience to accept Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:23-38) traces Jesus’ ancestry all the way back to Adam making Jesus the universal Savior. Though in modern days where you came from seems to matter less, at least in some parts of the world, in the time of Jesus it made all the difference. Jesus’ lineage was part of His claim to legitimacy so it would make sense to highlight all the great men in his family line all the people that would be admired by others.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Matthew 1:1-3 NKJV (bold mine)

If I was writing the genealogy of Jesus, in an effort to convince Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, I would have tried to make it as impressive as possible. Don’t politicians do that? Don’t they try to cover up any potentially embarrassing part of their past? Why would Matthew include a woman, which was unusual, but to make things more surprising, why would he choose to include Tamar?

Tamar

The story of Tamar can be found in Genesis 38:1-30. I want to one day do a whole post just on Genesis 38, it is a fascinating chapter, especially in its context (literary and historical). But for now, I will only hit some of the key points of the story of Tamar.

Judah moves away from the main compound of Jacob, marries a Canaanite woman, and becomes the friend of a Canaanite leader.

Tamar is the Canaanite wife of Judah’s oldest son Er. (Canaanite = outside God’s special blessings promised to Abraham and his descendants)

Er is so wicked in the sight of the LORD that the LORD kills him. (Genesis 38:7)

Onan is Er’s younger brother and he now has the responsibility of marrying his brother’s wife and raising an heir to his brother. Onan refused to raise an heir for his brother and the LORD killed him also. (Genesis 38:8-10)

Judah then sends Tamar back to her father’s house as a widow to wait until his youngest son is grown. (verse 11)

If the story was not odd enough, it gets worse.

Tamar covers herself and sat by the road. Judah sees her and thinks she’s a harlot and gets her pregnant. She holds on to the equivalent of his ID until he sends payment. (verses12-19)

Soon after, Judah sends a servant to pay the harlot and his servant is unable to find her. (verses 20-23)

Three months later Judah hears that Tamar is pregnant. Judah wants to literally burn her when she shows him his ID saying that the man who owned it is responsible for getting her pregnant. (verses 24-25)

From that pregnancy she gave birth to twins Perez and Zerah as mentioned in Matthew 1:3.

I imagine you have many questions about Genesis 38, it is a fascinating story, but that will have to wait until it gets its own post.

Why would Matthew bring up the story of Tamar? Imagine if that was your family, would you talk about the past?

Rahab

4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.

Matthew 1:4-6 NKJV (bold mine)

Matthew continues his genealogy and things seem normal for a while until he mentions Rahab. To learn more about Rahab we need to read Joshua 2,6.

Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. Joshua 2:1 NKJV (bold mine)

Yep. Rahab the harlot. Rahab lived int he city of Jericho, she was part of a community that God had ordered Israel to completely wipe out. So it ought to make you wonder how a prostitute, from a wicked city, who was not part of God’s chosen people (she was not born a Jew), finds herself in the genealogy of the Messiah!?

A brief overview of who Rahab was:

Rahab was a harlot who lived in a house in the wall Jericho. She knew that God had given the city to the Israelites and she lied to save the lives of the spies from Israel who were staying at her house. The day that Israel attacked Jericho Rahab and her family were the only ones who were spared. (For more information read Joshua 2, 6)

Ruth

5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,

Matthew 1:5 NKJV (bold mine)

I have several posts on the book of Ruth (Love is series, first one here), and I would encourage you to read/listen to those messages. In essence:

Ruth is a Moabitess who decides to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel and worship her God (the LORD).

Bathsheba?

and Jesse begot David the king.

David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Matthew 1:6 NKJV (bold mine)

To learn more about Bathsheba we need to read 2 Samuel 11-12.

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. We don’t know what nationality she was. But David had Uriah killed and married Bathsheba.

This was the lowest point, morally speaking, of David’s life. Why would Matthew bring up Uriah’s wife? Why not just mention that David was the father of Solomon?

A less than perfect family

Matthew does not mention any other women besides these four, and Mary the mother of Jesus, at the very end. (Matthew 1:16)It is unusual to mention women in genealogies, and why would Matthew choose mention especially the women who don’t seem to belong?

Why mention the family members that people would rather forget?

Why bring up stories that make everyone feel uncomfortable?

Why would Matthew bring up these characters that remind us of how messy life can get?

Could it be to keep us from thinking that our life is too messy for Jesus to accept us?

Perhaps to remind us that Jesus was born into a chaotic world surrounded by messy people with less than perfect lives?

Jesus came to bring healing, harmony, peace, salvation to a world that desperately needs Him. We still need Him today. Out life is not too messy. Look at His earthly lineage!

An Inclusive Family

Keep in mind that Tamar was a Canaanite. Rahab the harlot lived in Jericho, a city doomed to destruction, full of enemies of Israel. Ruth was a Moabitess, and a widow. Bathsheba was the wife of a Hittite, who became pregnant by King David while she was still married to Uriah.

These women were mostly outsiders, yet they were not only included in God’s special people, but they also had the privilege of playing a role in the lineage that eventually led to the coming of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Mary

The last woman mentioned by Matthew in the genealogy of Jesus is Mary, the mother of Jesus. But even that had some drama involved. t was so bad that Matthew tells us that Joseph had plans to divorce her. (Matthew 1:19) In those days, though the marriage was not fully consummated during the betrothal period, the betrothal couple was legally binding and could only be dissolved by a certificate of divorce.

Joseph could have had Mary stoned (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), but he was kind and preferred to get a private divorce. When Mary agreed to be the mother of Jesus she literally put her life on the line. (Luke 1:26-38) A careful reading of Luke 2:5 reveals that when Mary and Joseph made their trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem they were still not married. There is a possibility that Joseph had intended to divorce Mary in Bethlehem so that she would not be ostracized by her community. At least in Bethlehem no one knew her, as opposed to the place where she grew up and was well known.

The timeline is tight in Luke 2. There is a possibility that when Jesus was born Mary was betrothed to Joseph but not yet married. Even nowadays, when someone has a child out of wedlock, people talk, imagine back then, in small communities where everyone likely knew everyone else.

Besides the humbling place where Jesus was born, He was also born in a less than ideal social setting. There was drama. That first Christmas was not without drama. Jesus’ family was dysfunctional, when you look at His genealogy you see people mentioned that don’t seem to belong. But Jesus intentionally came into a messy world to bring harmony, peace, and salvation to all of us and our messy lives.

#Jesus #Christmas #Genealogy #Matthew #Family #Drama

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his-word-blog · 6 years

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Here’s 5 Lessons We Learn From the book of 2 Samuel

1.) God has not forgotten you.

(2 Samuel 1-5)

David was anointed King around the age of 15 but he did not take the throne until he was 30! And during that waiting period David faced a lot of hardship. I’m sure there were days that David felt forgotten by God.

I don’t know what you are waiting for – but this I know – during your season of waiting…

God has not forgotten you.

2.) God has treated us not as guests – but as part of the family.

(2 Samuel 9)

Typically, a new king would wipe out the previous king’s family so there would be no threat to his throne. But instead, David seeks out the son of Jonathan, who was crippled at the age of 5, named Mephibosheth.

David invited Mephibosheth to eat at his table like one of his own sons…forever.

This is a beautiful picture of Jesus’ love for us! We are the crippled man in this story and Jesus has not only restored us from judgement but he has invited us to eat at his table – as part of the family of God – forever!

Freely we have received – now freely we must give.

3.) No family is perfect.

(2 Samuel 11-15)

David failed as a Husband, when he was unfaithful through his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. David failed as a King, when he had Bathsheba’s military husband killed. And David failed as a father, when he did not discipline his own son for violating his sister.

As a result of David’s failures, David’s family was a royal mess.

David humbled himself and repented and his writings in Psalms show how deeply he understood his need for God.

All of us fail and fall into sin. No family is perfect.

Jesus is the only one who is perfect!

4.) Ambition mixed with bitterness and revenge is a deadly snare.

(2 Samuel 14-18)

David’s handsome son, Absalom, wanted his father’s throne so badly, he was willing to kill his father to get it!

Absalom allowed his bitterness and anger, along with a lack of patience, some bad counsel, pride about his good looks, and an insatiable ambition to be the King – lead to his own death.

While Absalom was hurt by his father’s life choices, he did not have to choose rebellion.

May we beware of any pride, anger or revenge that may be hidden in our hearts. It will always be a snare, if we do not deal with it.

5. God offers more mercy than man. (2 Samuel 24)

In the end, David disobeyed God once more when he counted his people. God’s anger burned towards David and so God gave David a choice of 3 different consequences.

“Shall three years of famine come to you in your land?

Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you?

Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land?

14 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (2 Samuel 24:13-14)

Are you a merciful person?

It is better to fall into the hands of our merciful God than into the hands of man.

Final Conclusion:

David was a good king, who loved the Lord and loved his people. He was patient, humble, and courageous. God blessed David with military victories and successes. God made a covenant with David that he would establish his house, kingdom and throne forever. It is through the line of David that the Messiah would come!

But David also had many failures. He was far from perfect. David’s failings show us that we are all capable of falling into many sins. Even when we have a heart hot for Jesus, we are susceptible to temptation. We must be on guard and never think we are above falling.

And remember…as 2 Samuel has shown us, we have a God who never forgets us, who calls us His children, and who is full of mercy.

#his-word

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