<\/p>\n
Luke 1:39-80; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-40<\/strong><\/span> Yesterday we began the New Testament! I\u2019ll highlight each of the 4 Gospels overviews these first 4 days, with Matthew today. Below is Northern Renaissance painter Jan Sanders van Hemessen\u2019s \u201cJesus Summons Matthew to Leave the Tax Office\u201d from the year 1536:<\/span><\/p>\n ~Matthew~<\/strong> Matthew chapter 1 verse 23 is certainly a huge prophecy from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah being fulfilled through the birth of Jesus: \u201cLook! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and he will be called Immanuel (meaning, God is with us).\u201d <\/em>Jesus is God and came to literally be with us.\u00a0 To experience our human sufferings and temptations \u2013 and joys and triumphs.\u00a0 The importance of this birth of Immanuel cannot be overstated.\u00a0 God came to be with us in flesh and blood.<\/span><\/p>\n In Luke chapter 1 verses 46 through 55 we read an amazing hymn known as Mary\u2019s Song or the Magnificat, which means \u201cglorifies\u201d in the Latin Vulgate translation. This is indeed a song from the mother of Jesus that glorifies God in a beautiful way. As you read through this song, below, please meditate upon its words. And maybe ask yourself this \u2013 are there ways in your life that you \u201csing songs\u201d like this to God? Maybe it\u2019s not through literal song \u2013 but maybe you praise God through loving others, through serving others, through art, through prayer, through your church, and this list could go on\u2026 What is your unique way of glorifying God? Do you want to glorify God with all you do in your life?\u00a0 Please take a few moments to mediate upon the glorious words of Mary\u2019s Song:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy soul glorifies the Lord Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Luke chapter 1 titled \u201cThe Worship of Two Women\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I love Zechariah\u2019s prophecy in today\u2019s readings in Luke chapter 1!\u00a0 In particular verses 76-79 when speaking about his son John the Baptist: \u201cAnd you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God\u2019s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Amen!\u00a0 Below is Leonardo Da Vinci\u2019s portrait of John the Baptist from the year 1516:<\/span><\/span><\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings in Luke today titled \u201cWhy John Was Not Named \u2018Little Zach\u2019\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Okay, any fans out there of Charlie Brown\u2019s Christmas Special recognize anything here from Luke chapter 2?? \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Yes, indeed, Linus\u2019 speech to Charlie Brown about the meaning of Christmas comes straight from the KJV of this chapter, Luke 2:8-14.\u00a0 <\/span>Great speech Linus!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span> One thing that seems to be standing out to me quite a bit in reading Luke this year is how much Luke writes about Mary.\u00a0 \u00a0I like how Luke gives us a little bit more of a glimpse of the mother of Jesus in his Gospel.\u00a0 We saw this obviously in our readings 2 days ago about the Magnificat.\u00a0 And then today we read about Mary listening to the shepherds\u2019 words in verse 19: \u201cMary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And then in verses 34 & 35 today we read: \u201cThen Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, \u201cThis child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This last sentence of Simeon\u2019s seems to be the first glimpse of Jesus\u2019 suffering and death that will come later in his life\u2026.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a nice image of Simeon holding Jesus:<\/span><\/span><\/span> Bible.org commentary on Luke chapter 2 titled \u201cThe Birth of the Messiah\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>, and \u201cAcclamations of the Birth of Christ\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n YouTube \u2013 <\/strong>Based on my reference above to Linus telling Charlie Brown about the true meaning of Christmas in Luke Chapter 2, here\u2019s the clip:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n
Author<\/span>: Matthew
Place<\/span>: Perhaps Antioch
Date<\/span>: A.D. 60-70
Content<\/span>: Matthew was a tax collector, called by Jesus to follow him early in his public ministry; hence, he was an eyewitness of most of the events he describes. He begins with a detailed account of Jesus\u2019 birth of the virgin Mary, his baptism, and temptation in the wilderness. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God, entrance into which meant eternal life. One entered by repentance and faith. Matthew blocks the teaching of Jesus together into five discourses in which may be seen the ethics, the proclamation, the parables, the fellowship, and the consummation of the kingdom. Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection end the Gospel with the command to go into all the world with the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ.
Theme<\/span>: Matthew\u2019s main purpose in writing his Gospel is to show that Jesus fulfills the promise of God in the Old Testament. For this reason Jesus is introduced as a \u201cdescendant of King David and of Abraham,\u201d and Matthew makes use of numerous Old Testament prophecies and quotations to explain Jesus\u2019 life. Jesus came to be the Savior of the Jews, the Gentiles, and ultimately the world. The ethics required by members of God\u2019s kingdom are found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) where the world\u2019s values are rejected and the Kingdom of God and his righteousness become supreme. (Above commentary is from <\/em><\/span>Tyndale Publishers \u201cThe One Year Bible Companion\u201d<\/span><\/em> p. 21)<\/em>\u00a0 A wonderful commentary on the book of Matthew by Daniel Wallace is <\/strong><\/span>at this link<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 Below is a painting (I absolutely love this painting!) titled \u201cThe Inspiration of St. Matthew\u201d by the Baroque Italian artist Caravaggio, circa 1602:<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0for the Mighty One has done great things for me\u2013
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0even as he said to our fathers.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span>