Sabbath: Son of David
Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 1; Mark 12:35-37; Isa. 9:6-7, Rom. 5:8; John 2:25; Jer. 29:13; Matt. 2:1-14.
Memory Text:“He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NKJV).
Image of the Incarnate Christ Child Copyright by Lars Justinen
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Matthew began his book with a genealogy; but not with just any genealogy but with that of Jesus Christ. And he began not only with a genealogy but with one revealing some ancestors that most people would not necessarily like to claim as their own.
Perhaps, as himself somewhat of an outcast, Matthew could relate to that ancestry. After all, he was a Jewish tax collector, who had sold out to the enemy and who actually paid Rome for the opportunity to sit there and tax his own Jewish people. Surely, he would not be a man beloved of his nation.
Nevertheless, humans might look on the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. And no question, looking at Matthew’s heart, the Lord chose him, a despised tax collector, to be among His disciples. And, when called, Matthew accepted, giving up the life he had before for a new life in Jesus.
Thus, Matthew followed his Lord, kept records, and one day he would give something back to his people, and to the world. It would not be a tax receipt but, instead, a precious account of the life of Jesus.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 2
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Did God choose Matthew after looking at his heart? Is that God's method of choosing?
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/1sa.16.7.NKJV
Matthew was chosen Matt 9:9. Did Jesus have a special or unique need for Matthew to be a Disciple? I would say yes, as important as all the Disciples that were chosen. Jesus used an opportunity to be with and eat with many tax collectors and sinners as well,and to inform the Pharisees of their need to call for repentance of all sinners.
The Title of today’s lesson is SON OF DAVID. God had promised David, the first rightful King of Israel, that his throne would be established FOREVER (2 Samuel 7:12-13). Christ, the Messiah was the fulfilment of the prophecy of the seed of David. Jesus is the promised Messiah, which means He had to be of the lineage of David. The Gospel of Matthew records that various people, on six different occasions, acknowledged Jesus as the Son of David (Matthew 1:1; Matthew 9:27; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 21:9; Matthew 2:1, 2; Matthew 22:42-46) . This is a Messianic title. Jesus never denied that He was the Son of David. Hence the title SON OF DAVID is more than a statement of physical genealogy. It is a Messianic title. When people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, they were actually acknowledging that He was the long-awaited Deliverer, the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies. From today’s lesson I have also learnt that our God is faithful. Whatever He promised you, will surely come to pass. Yes it might take longer than you expected but in due season God will give to you what He has promised. Just think of it about the period it took when David was told, read (2 Samuel 7:12-13) and the fulfilment of that prophecy. Hence, we should not lose heart, let us wait upon the Lord (Psalm 27:14) and guess what God watches to see that His Word is fulfilled (Jeremiah 1:12).In fact the Lord magnified His Word above His name (Psalm 138:2).Great is thy faithfulness my Lord. Your promises are Yes and Amen (2 Corinthians 1:20)
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations. Interesting number. Everything done by Jehovah is well arranged in some form of order or pattern.