Embracing Continuity: Jesus as Fulfillment in Matthew

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Matthew, we are invited to delve deeper into the profound connections between the Old and New Testaments. This exploration is not just an academic exercise but a spiritual journey to understand the continuity of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation. The Gospel of Matthew serves as a bridge, highlighting Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies and teachings of the Torah. It is a call to see the Bible as a unified narrative, not divided by the artificial separations of Old and New Testaments.

Matthew's Gospel is unique in its approach, offering a rabbinical interpretation of the Torah through the teachings of Jesus. This Gospel was likely first written in Aramaic or Hebrew, emphasizing its deep roots in Jewish tradition. It challenges us to see Jesus not as the founder of a new religion but as the fulfillment of the ancient promises made to Israel. This understanding is crucial as we navigate our faith, ensuring that our beliefs are grounded in the entirety of Scripture.

The story of Joseph and Mary exemplifies the moral dilemmas we face in life. Joseph's decision to embrace Mary despite the scandal surrounding her pregnancy is a testament to choosing a path of righteousness and mercy over societal norms and personal rights. This narrative encourages us to consider our own choices, especially when faced with decisions between what is right and what is righteous.

As we study Matthew, we are reminded of the importance of understanding our spiritual heritage and the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us. The Gospel invites us to reflect on our priorities, whether in forgiveness, mercy, or community, and challenges us to align them with God's will. It is a call to live out our faith with grace and understanding, embracing the fullness of God's truth.

Key Takeaways:

- The Gospel of Matthew serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the continuity of God's plan and the fulfillment of prophecies through Jesus. This understanding challenges us to see the Bible as a unified narrative, not divided by artificial separations. [06:38]

- Joseph's decision to embrace Mary despite societal norms highlights the importance of choosing righteousness and mercy over personal rights. This story encourages us to reflect on our own choices and align them with God's will, especially when faced with moral dilemmas. [28:12]

- Understanding our spiritual heritage and the role of the Holy Spirit is crucial as we navigate our faith. The Gospel of Matthew invites us to reflect on our priorities and challenges us to align them with God's will, whether in forgiveness, mercy, or community. [37:57]

- The teachings of Jesus in Matthew offer a profound understanding of the Torah, challenging us to see Jesus not as the founder of a new religion but as the fulfillment of ancient promises. This perspective is essential for grounding our beliefs in the entirety of Scripture. [15:31]

- As we study Matthew, we are called to live out our faith with grace and understanding, embracing the fullness of God's truth. This involves reflecting on our priorities and ensuring they align with God's will, whether in evangelism, missions, or worship. [38:37]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:18] - Introduction to Matthew
[04:24] - The Gospels as Companion Pieces
[06:38] - The New Testament as Commentary
[10:40] - The Continuity of Scripture
[11:17] - Moral Dilemmas and Righteousness
[14:28] - A Story of Faith and Conversion
[16:24] - Matthew's Audience and Purpose
[19:02] - The Birth of Jesus
[20:24] - Understanding Betrothal
[23:21] - Joseph's Dilemma
[27:03] - The Significance of Joseph's Lineage
[30:00] - Mercy, Justice, and Consequences
[35:09] - Joseph's Choice and Forgiveness
[37:57] - Prioritizing Grace and Mercy
[40:59] - Reflection and Prayer
[46:57] - Closing Blessing

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 1:18-25
- Isaiah 7:14

#### Observation Questions
1. What is the significance of Joseph's decision to embrace Mary despite societal norms, as discussed in the sermon? ([28:12])
2. How does the Gospel of Matthew serve as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments according to the sermon? ([06:38])
3. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the story of Joseph and Mary as described in Matthew 1:18-25?
4. How does the sermon describe the connection between the teachings of Jesus in Matthew and the Torah? ([15:31])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Joseph's choice to follow the angel's message reflect a deeper understanding of righteousness and mercy? ([28:12])
2. In what ways does the Gospel of Matthew challenge the perception of Jesus as the founder of a new religion? ([06:38])
3. How does the sermon suggest that understanding our spiritual heritage can impact our faith journey? ([37:57])
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of seeing the Bible as a unified narrative? ([10:40])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a moral dilemma. How did you decide between what was right and what was righteous? ([11:17])
2. How can you ensure that your understanding of Scripture is grounded in the entirety of the Bible, not just the New Testament? ([06:38])
3. In what ways can you prioritize grace and mercy in your daily interactions, as Joseph did? ([37:57])
4. How can you actively seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making decisions that align with God's will? ([37:57])
5. Consider your current priorities in life. How do they align with the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew? ([38:37])
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you can practice forgiveness and mercy this week. What steps will you take to do so? ([35:09])
7. How can you embrace the fullness of God's truth in your faith journey, especially in areas like evangelism, missions, or worship? ([38:37])

Devotional

Day 1: The Unified Narrative of Scripture
The Gospel of Matthew serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing the continuity of God's plan and the fulfillment of prophecies through Jesus. This understanding challenges us to see the Bible as a unified narrative, not divided by artificial separations. Matthew's Gospel invites us to delve deeper into the profound connections between the Old and New Testaments, highlighting Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecies and teachings of the Torah. This perspective encourages believers to view the Bible as a cohesive story of God's redemptive work, from Genesis to Revelation. By recognizing this continuity, we can better appreciate the depth and richness of Scripture, seeing how the promises made to Israel find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. [06:38]

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you begin to read the Bible as a unified story of God's plan, rather than separate books or testaments? What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of this continuity?


Day 2: Choosing Righteousness Over Societal Norms
Joseph's decision to embrace Mary despite societal norms highlights the importance of choosing righteousness and mercy over personal rights. This story encourages us to reflect on our own choices and align them with God's will, especially when faced with moral dilemmas. Joseph's actions demonstrate a profound commitment to righteousness, as he chooses to protect Mary and the unborn Jesus, despite the potential for personal scandal and loss of reputation. This narrative challenges us to consider how we respond to difficult situations, urging us to prioritize God's will and mercy over societal expectations or personal gain. [28:12]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you faced a moral dilemma. How can you choose righteousness and mercy in similar situations, even if it means going against societal norms?


Day 3: Embracing Our Spiritual Heritage
Understanding our spiritual heritage and the role of the Holy Spirit is crucial as we navigate our faith. The Gospel of Matthew invites us to reflect on our priorities and challenges us to align them with God's will, whether in forgiveness, mercy, or community. This Gospel emphasizes the importance of recognizing our spiritual roots and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. By understanding our heritage, we can better appreciate the depth of our faith and the ways in which God has been at work throughout history. This awareness helps us to prioritize our spiritual growth and align our lives with God's purposes. [37:57]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively seek to understand and embrace your spiritual heritage this week? What role does the Holy Spirit play in guiding your daily decisions and priorities?


Day 4: Jesus as the Fulfillment of Ancient Promises
The teachings of Jesus in Matthew offer a profound understanding of the Torah, challenging us to see Jesus not as the founder of a new religion but as the fulfillment of ancient promises. This perspective is essential for grounding our beliefs in the entirety of Scripture. Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus as the culmination of the promises made to Israel, emphasizing His role as the Messiah who fulfills the prophecies and teachings of the Torah. This understanding invites believers to see Jesus as the continuation and fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, rather than the beginning of a new religious movement. By grounding our beliefs in this perspective, we can deepen our faith and appreciation for the entirety of Scripture. [15:31]

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)

Reflection: How does viewing Jesus as the fulfillment of ancient promises change your understanding of His teachings? What steps can you take to deepen your appreciation for the continuity of Scripture?


Day 5: Living Out Our Faith with Grace and Understanding
As we study Matthew, we are called to live out our faith with grace and understanding, embracing the fullness of God's truth. This involves reflecting on our priorities and ensuring they align with God's will, whether in evangelism, missions, or worship. The Gospel of Matthew challenges believers to embody the teachings of Jesus in their daily lives, prioritizing grace, mercy, and understanding in all interactions. By aligning our priorities with God's will, we can live out our faith in a way that reflects His love and truth to the world. This call to action encourages us to examine our lives and make intentional choices that honor God and further His kingdom. [38:37]

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to align your priorities with God's will? How can you intentionally live out your faith with grace and understanding this week?

Quotes



Because the Bible says, this year he told us that he wants us to go deeper in the Holy Spirit. He wants us to go deeper in the Word. That God has given us a foundation, so therefore we can actually do more. We can learn more. We can grow more. We can express more. And I'm hoping that during this study of Matthew, you will grow in your confidence in the faith. [00:00:56]

And Matthew very much will highlight that, that this is Jesus's understanding, teaching, and explanation of Torah. He goes to great extents to show how all of the different prophecies, prophets, and Torah passages, how they all point and are fulfilled slowly, one by one, in who Jesus actually is. And so this is an important connection and combination. It is most likely the gospel which was originally written in Aramaic or Hebrew, and then later translated to Greek. [00:02:48]

All of these letters, all of these things put together are not to just, it is one, is to establish the fact of who Jesus is in terms of being the fulfillment of the coming of the Messiah prophesied since Genesis. Everything was to point to the fulfillment of what God did and the furthering, not a replacement, not a cutting off, not something brand new. It is not a new religion. It is the original path that God has had since the very beginning when he made Adam and Eve. [00:06:47]

However, if you look at our paper Bibles, and I used to do this, and I would ask people like, how many pages do you have that are separating your Old Testament and your New Testament? And so people would start counting. And then we'd see who in the room has the Bible that has the most pages. And so the average was anywhere from three to five, three to five pages. But some go up to 16. And one person at one point had more than 40 pages. [00:09:13]

So this week, I really, as I began to read through, I had this question. How do you know what is right to do in a situation? How do you know what to do? When you're in a dilemma, then this is a moral dilemma, not what's for dinner tonight. But you have a moral dilemma. How do you know? Are you waiting for the answer? Am I here to tell you? How do you know? I just get that feeling. [00:11:17]

And he was like, this is real, okay, for all the young people that have no idea what I'm talking about, but there was a time in which when, like, people who were bored or things like that, there were party lines, and you could, like, call and just, like, randomly talk to people on, like, party lines and things like that. And so he just, he was, kind of, like, lonely one day, and he did this, and he ends up talking to a blind guy. [00:13:23]

And as he was reading through Matthew and he was starting to read the teachings of Jesus, he was hit with the profound understanding of Torah that he has never seen nor heard in his entire life. He said this was the most perfect teaching of Torah that he had ever heard. Why have the teachings of this rabbi been broken? Kept from him. And it was through that he ended up giving his life to Yeshua. [00:15:40]

Joseph was in his own rights to put her away, to put her on the side, to marginalize her. He was within his rights. And he took on faith in a dream through an angel, a messenger of God, that there was an essence, there was something that was speaking from spirit to spirit about choosing a higher, more divine, more difficult path. And what are you going to do? [00:28:52]

And here at the very beginning, at the very beginning, we see this story. Forgiveness. Joseph had to forgive. So what did he have to forgive? It was God who impregnated Mary. But did he know that? he had to release it in his heart. Can you imagine? He was thinking, this is my bride, my beloved. We're going to get married. And she's pregnant. [00:34:31]

You might have to make tough choices that don't make sense. That won't make sense to the community. That won't make sense to people. I know that when I gave up. I gave up my right to move to Israel. And I started working with Koreans. Everybody like, what is wrong with him? What is wrong with him? He was trained to be a rabbi. Why is he serving Korea? [00:37:09]

And it took all those thousands of years to prepare a man to be able to release his dreams, his hopes, his accusations, and the appearance of something, to humble himself, to forgive and extend grace and mercy, that the king of mercy could be born. As you walk out the principles of God, what is going to be your highest priority? [00:38:37]

It's better for you to understand. Where is my priorities? What's my priority forgiveness? What's my priority? What's my priority of mercy? What's my priority of helps? What's my priority of giving? What's my priority of community? What's my priority of coming together? What's my priority of desiring the prophetic? What's my priority of wanting to see God move? [00:39:27]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?