What’s in a Name? • | Messianic Livestream | Founded in Truth Fellowship

The Importance of Origins and Names: An Exploration of Matthew Chapter 1

In this Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els delves into the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing the significance of origins and names, particularly in relation to Jesus Christ. He begins by noting the intention to explore this foundational text, drawing parallels to his usual focus on the Old Testament, or Hebrew Scriptures, and highlighting the importance of understanding the New Testament. He mentions that he initially felt overly familiar with the gospel narratives due to traditional Christmas and Easter stories but realized a deeper study was necessary.

The core message, titled “What’s in a Name?”, centers around the claims Matthew makes about Jesus through his genealogy and the circumstances of his birth. Vander Els points out that Matthew starts his account with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, tracing his lineage back to Abraham and David. This genealogy isn’t merely a list of names; in the ancient world, genealogies were vital for establishing a person’s identity and origins. It connects Jesus to the promises God made to Abraham and the Davidic line of kings, fulfilling prophecies within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Vander Els highlights that the Greek word translated as “genealogy” in Matthew 1:1 is related to “genesis,” the beginning. Interestingly, the word translated as “birth” in Matthew 1:18 is also “genesis” in Greek. This connection suggests that Matthew isn’t just concerned with Jesus’ physical birth or family tree but with his fundamental origins and the new beginning he represents. Just as a therapist needs to understand a person’s origins to understand their present, Matthew highlights stories from the past to communicate who Jesus is.

The teaching then shifts to the narrative of Jesus’ birth. Mary, engaged to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit before they had been intimate. Joseph, being a righteous man, initially planned to divorce her quietly to avoid public disgrace. However, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to take Mary as his wife because the child conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit. The angel declared that Mary would give birth to a son, and Joseph was to name him Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.”

Vander Els emphasizes the strangeness of this story from a first-century Jewish perspective. It wouldn’t be a story someone would invent to make Jesus look impressive, as it begins with scandal and shame. He contrasts this with popular Greek and Roman stories of heroes born from the union of a god or goddess with a human, noting that Matthew carefully specifies the divine agent as the Holy Spirit, emphasizing creation rather than a sexual act. This echoes the creation story in Genesis 1, where the Spirit was involved in bringing life out of chaos.

The focus then turns to the significance of Jesus’ name. In Hebrew, Jesus is Yehoshua or Yeshua in Aramaic, which means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh rescues.” Therefore, the angel’s instruction to name him Jesus reveals his very purpose and identity: Yahweh himself is the one who saves. This is the first major claim Matthew makes about Jesus: he is not just a savior but embodies the saving power of God.

The teaching addresses the question of whom Jesus will save, pointing to the phrase “his people.” The genealogy provided by Matthew establishes that “his people” are the family of Abraham, the people of Israel. The genealogy, in a condensed form, tells the story of the Hebrew Scriptures: humanity’s initial failure, God’s calling of Abraham’s family, their deliverance from Egypt, their kingship under David, their exile, and the subsequent periods of foreign rule. This history is presented as an unfinished story, a “story in search of an ending.” Matthew presents Jesus as the one who comes to solve the problem of Israel’s sin, paving the way for the salvation of all humanity.

Vander Els defines sin as a moral failure, a condition that afflicts all humanity. Jesus’ mission isn’t simply to tell people to be better but to do something for them that they cannot do themselves: to save them from this inherent failure. Human history, as depicted in the Hebrew Scriptures, is a cycle of failure despite God’s initiatives. Recognizing this human condition is crucial for understanding the need for a savior.

The teaching further explores the second name given to Jesus in Matthew 1:23, quoted from Isaiah 7:14: Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” This second name reinforces the claim about Jesus’ identity. If his name means “Yahweh saves,” then calling him Emmanuel declares that God himself is with his people in the person of Jesus. This signifies that God is not distant but actively involved in the hopeless situation of sinful humanity, offering hope and rescue through his binding himself to them.

Finally, Vander Els reflects on the role of Joseph. Despite the focus on Mary and Jesus, Joseph’s obedience and faith are highlighted. He believed God’s message delivered by the angel and acted accordingly, marrying Mary and naming the child Jesus. This echoes Abraham’s faith, which was credited to him as righteousness. Matthew presents both Abraham and Joseph as righteous men who believed God, playing crucial roles in bringing forth the Messiah. This underscores another claim of Matthew: those who believe God are considered righteous, even when it goes against conventional understanding. The entire Gospel of Matthew, Vander Els concludes, is a biography demonstrating that Jesus is the Messiah who has come to save his people. The book ends with the resurrected Jesus instructing his disciples to make disciples of all nations. Just as the first chapter speaks of origins (Genesis), the entire book frames God’s plan from the beginning for all humanity to know him and be part of his family.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Reflect on your own origins: Just as understanding Jesus’ origins is crucial, reflecting on your own experiences and background can provide insight into who you are today.
• Recognize the reality of human failure: Acknowledge the inherent human tendency towards moral failure (sin) in both yourself and the world around you.
• Embrace the saving power of God: Understand that true rescue from this human condition comes from God through Jesus Christ, not solely from personal effort.
• Find comfort in God’s presence: The name Emmanuel reminds us that God is not distant but actively present with humanity in Jesus, offering hope and deliverance in difficult circumstances.
• Respond in faith and obedience: Like Abraham and Joseph, choose to believe God’s word and act in obedience, even when it seems challenging or unconventional.
• Participate in God’s global plan: Recognize that God’s saving plan extends beyond a single group to all humanity, and consider how you can contribute to this mission.

References

Bible Verses:

• Matthew 1:1: Matthew 1:1 on Biblehub.com
• Matthew 1:18: Matthew 1:18 on Biblehub.com
• Matthew 1:21: Matthew 1:21 on Biblehub.com
• Matthew 1:23: Matthew 1:23 on Biblehub.com
• Isaiah 7:14: Isaiah 7:14 on Biblehub.com
• Genesis 1: Genesis 1 on Biblehub.com