Summary Of Chapter 1-1

Matthew begins immediately in chapter 1 presenting Jesus Christ as the King and Messiah that the Jews had long been awaiting. They had been in exile and dispersed, and were under the rule of the Roman empire. They had experienced 400 years of silence since they had received any open revelation from God. It was a desperate time as they awaited the deliverer, the Messiah, the promised king of the O.T. prophesies. Many had come to the place of hopelessness, while others still faithfully prayed for this savior to come. Then hope sprang forth. The very first verse of Matthew 1 sets the stage for the theme of the book as it states, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Immediately Matthew connects Jesus

Jesus shows he not only possesses authority in this physical world but also in the spiritual kingdom. He demonstrates this power through miracles and fulfills many O.T. prophecies, and exercises authority over the devils in chapter 8. In Matt. 9 he continues to reveal his authority through miracles, and in vs. 27 two blind men cry out to him saying “Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” Then in vs. 36 we see he refers to the people as “sheep having no shepherd” and is moved with compassion on them because they were scattered abroad. This ties directly to Ezekiel 34:22-25 where it is said that one shepherd will be set up over them, and shall feed them, and he says that servant is David. This undoubtedly refers to Jesus through the lineage of David as the one shepherd, as we see him referred to the shepherd in Matt.25:32; 26;31, also Isa. 40:9-11. In Matt.10 as King he gives authority, power, and commission to the twelve to go with power backed by the authority of the King to cast out unclean spirits, and heal sickness and disease liberating people from the curse of sin. He commands them to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and not to the Gentiles or Samaritans. Why? Because they are to preach the kingdom of