Sermons on Matthew 1:20-23

Matthew 1:20-23 Interpretation:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by emphasizing the fulfillment of ancient prophecies, highlighting the miraculous nature of Jesus fulfilling over 300 prophecies. The sermon uses the analogy of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln predicting the listener's life to illustrate the improbability and miraculous nature of prophecy fulfillment. The sermon also discusses the Greek and Hebrew terms for "Messiah" and "Christ," explaining their meanings as "anointed one" and the roles of prophet, priest, and king in ancient Israel.

Embracing God's Presence: Hope and Salvation This Christmas (Real Life Ministries) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by focusing on the simplicity and complexity of the Christmas story. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus came to save people from their sins, not from external circumstances. It highlights the tension between the simplicity of the message and the challenge of accepting it, particularly the need to agree with God about the nature of sin and salvation.

The Incarnation: God's Love Made Flesh (TRINIMAC UMC) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by focusing on the incarnation as the embodiment of God's presence in Jesus Christ. The sermon uses a creative narrative imagining a conversation between God the Father and Jesus before the incarnation, emphasizing Jesus' dual nature as fully God and fully man. This narrative illustrates the purpose and sacrifice involved in the incarnation, highlighting the ongoing presence of God with humanity.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by emphasizing the dual fulfillment of prophecy, first in Isaiah's time and ultimately in the birth of Jesus. The sermon highlights the significance of the name "Emmanuel," meaning "God with us," and connects it to the mission of Jesus as the Savior. The pastor uses the original Hebrew context to explain the prophecy's immediate and ultimate fulfillment, drawing a parallel between the virgin birth and the creation of Adam and Eve, emphasizing the uniqueness of Jesus' birth as both fully human and fully divine.

Embracing the True Hope of Christmas (Desert Springs Church) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by focusing on the names given to Jesus: "Jesus" meaning "Jehovah is salvation" and "Emmanuel" meaning "God with us." The sermon highlights the significance of these names in understanding Jesus' mission to save humanity from sin and emphasizes the uniqueness of Christianity, where God pursues humanity rather than the other way around.

Anticipating Christ: Hope and Readiness in Advent (Oxford Church of the Nazarene) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by emphasizing the fulfillment of prophecy and the assurance that God's word never fails. The sermon draws a parallel between the anticipation of Jesus' first coming and the current anticipation of His second coming, using the prophecy in Matthew as a foundation for hope and readiness.

Emmanuel: Celebrating God's Presence This Christmas (Crazy Love) interprets Matthew 1:20-23 by emphasizing the supernatural and divine nature of the events described. The sermon highlights the extraordinary nature of an angel appearing to Joseph, urging listeners to consider the magnitude of such a heavenly encounter. It underscores the concept of God’s presence on Earth through Jesus, emphasizing the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the divine plan that spans from creation to the birth of Christ. The sermon uses the original meaning of "Emmanuel" as "God with us" to stress the profound mystery and significance of God dwelling among humans.

Matthew 1:20-23 Theological Themes:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) presents the theme of God's perfect timing and plan, emphasizing that Jesus' arrival was at the "fullness of time" when the world was ready for the gospel. The sermon discusses historical events like the Pax Romana and the spread of the Greek language as part of God's preparation for Jesus' coming.

Embracing God's Presence: Hope and Salvation This Christmas (Real Life Ministries) introduces the theme of peace as a relational and internal state rather than circumstantial. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' peace is different from worldly peace, focusing on the transformation of the heart and mind rather than external conditions.

The Incarnation: God's Love Made Flesh (TRINIMAC UMC) highlights the theme of God's ongoing presence with humanity through the incarnation. The sermon emphasizes that God did not remain distant but became one of us to demonstrate His love, focusing on the relational aspect of God's presence in our lives.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) presents the theme of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, even when humanity is unfaithful. The sermon emphasizes the importance of the virgin birth in bypassing the sin nature and highlights the continuity of God's presence from the past, present, and future.

Embracing the True Hope of Christmas (Desert Springs Church) introduces the theme of hope as an absolute assurance based on the unchanging nature of God's word and character. The sermon contrasts wishful thinking with the certainty of hope found in Jesus, emphasizing the transformative power of His presence.

Anticipating Christ: Hope and Readiness in Advent (Oxford Church of the Nazarene) focuses on the theme of waiting and anticipation, drawing parallels between the Israelites' wait for the Messiah and the church's current wait for Christ's return. The sermon emphasizes the reliability of God's promises and the hope found in the second coming of Christ.

Emmanuel: Celebrating God's Presence This Christmas (Crazy Love) presents the theme of the divine plan and eternal perspective. The sermon emphasizes that the birth of Jesus is part of a grand, eternal plan that God has orchestrated since the beginning of time. It encourages believers to view their lives within this larger divine narrative, suggesting that understanding this perspective can transform how they experience life and faith.

Matthew 1:20-23 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) provides historical context by explaining the concept of an "adventus" ceremony in the Roman Empire, which was a grand parade to welcome an emperor. This context is used to contrast the humble arrival of Jesus with the expectations of a messianic advent. The sermon also discusses the historical significance of the Pax Romana and the spread of the Greek language as factors that facilitated the spread of the gospel.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) provides historical context by explaining the political alliances and religious climate during the time of King Ahaz and Isaiah. The sermon highlights the immediate fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah's time and its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus' birth.

Anticipating Christ: Hope and Readiness in Advent (Oxford Church of the Nazarene) offers insights into the historical context of the Israelites' anticipation of the Messiah, describing the social and political upheaval they faced. The sermon draws parallels between their situation and modern times, emphasizing the enduring hope in God's promises.

Emmanuel: Celebrating God's Presence This Christmas (Crazy Love) provides historical context by discussing the fulfillment of prophecies that were made thousands of years before Jesus' birth. The sermon references the promise made to Abraham and the lineage through which the Messiah would come, highlighting the continuity and faithfulness of God's promises throughout history.

Matthew 1:20-23 Cross-References in the Bible:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) references several Old Testament prophecies, including Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, and Hosea 11:1, to illustrate the fulfillment of prophecies in Jesus' life. These references are used to support the claim that Jesus is the Messiah and to highlight the miraculous nature of prophecy fulfillment.

Embracing God's Presence: Hope and Salvation This Christmas (Real Life Ministries) references John 1:1, 14, and 17 to emphasize the pre-existence of Jesus and His incarnation. The sermon also references Philippians 4:6-7 and John 14:27 to discuss the nature of peace that Jesus brings, contrasting it with worldly peace.

The Incarnation: God's Love Made Flesh (TRINIMAC UMC) references John 1:1, 14 to explain the incarnation as the Word becoming flesh. The sermon also references Matthew 28:20 to emphasize the ongoing presence of Jesus with His followers.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) references Genesis 3:15, highlighting the foreshadowing of the virgin birth and the Messiah's victory over sin. The sermon also references Hebrews 13:8 and Revelation 4:8 to emphasize the eternal nature of Jesus as "God with us."

Embracing the True Hope of Christmas (Desert Springs Church) references Ephesians 1:18-19, Hebrews 6:19, and Titus 2:11-14 to emphasize the hope and assurance found in Jesus. The sermon uses these passages to highlight the transformative power of hope and the anticipation of Christ's return.

Anticipating Christ: Hope and Readiness in Advent (Oxford Church of the Nazarene) references Acts 1, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and Hebrews 9 to emphasize the promise of Christ's return and the hope it brings. The sermon uses these passages to draw parallels between the anticipation of Jesus' first and second comings.

Emmanuel: Celebrating God's Presence This Christmas (Crazy Love) references Hebrews 12:1-2 to encourage believers to fix their eyes on Jesus and live with an awareness of the spiritual realm. The passage is used to illustrate the idea of a "great cloud of witnesses" and the spiritual reality that surrounds believers, reinforcing the sermon’s theme of living with an eternal perspective.

Matthew 1:20-23 Christian References outside the Bible:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) references apologist Josh McDowell and his book "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" to discuss the fulfillment of prophecies as a reason for his conversion from atheism to Christianity. The sermon also mentions Dr. Peter Stoner's statistical analysis of prophecy fulfillment, highlighting the improbability of one person fulfilling multiple prophecies by chance.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) references the O Antiphons, a series of liturgical chants used in Western church liturgy, to explain the historical significance of the carol "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and its connection to the prophecy in Isaiah.

Embracing the Living Hope of Christmas (The Father's House) references a prolific writer's perspective on the significance of Jesus' coming. The writer is quoted as saying that if humanity's greatest need had been different (e.g., information, technology, money), God would have sent a corresponding figure (e.g., an educator, scientist, economist). However, because humanity's greatest need is forgiveness, God sent a Savior. This perspective is used to highlight the unique and essential role of Jesus as the Savior.

Matthew 1:20-23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Advent: The Divine Arrival and Fulfillment of Prophecy (Summit Church) uses the analogy of Abraham Lincoln writing a letter predicting the listener's life to illustrate the improbability of prophecy fulfillment. The sermon also references the movie "Gladiator" to explain the concept of an "adventus" ceremony in the Roman Empire, drawing a parallel to the arrival of Jesus.

Emmanuel: God's Promise and Presence with Us (Liberty Live Church) uses a personal story about attending a football game in cold weather to illustrate the concept of "God with us" in everyday situations. The pastor humorously recounts praying for God's presence during the game, drawing a parallel to the assurance of God's presence in all aspects of life.

Embracing the True Hope of Christmas (Desert Springs Church) uses the analogy of an anchor on a warship to illustrate the concept of hope as an anchor for the soul. The sermon describes the massive anchor of the USS Ford aircraft carrier to emphasize the security and stability of hope in Jesus amidst life's storms.

Embracing the Living Hope of Christmas (The Father's House) uses the story behind the Christmas carol "O Holy Night" as an illustration. The sermon recounts how a non-devout wine shop owner in France wrote the poem that became the carol, inspired by the biblical narrative of Christ's birth. This story is used to illustrate the enduring power and inspiration of the Christmas message, even for those who may not initially be devout believers.