Matthew Chapter 1

 This Bible plan I am following jumps back and forth between Old Testament and New Testament. I was watching someone on Youtube as she was showing the plan, and I think it also jumps to the book of Psalms too, so I'm not sure the order of things. I think it will be refreshing to change books like this. 

I like the introduction to the book of Matthew from my Incourage Bible. 

"Understanding the Author's Heart ~ Although the author does not identify himself in the text, the early church remained steadfast in its affirmation of Matthew as the author. Matthew was a tax collector, called by Jesus to become one of the twelve disciples. His words are an eyewitness testimony to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Matthew wrote with a Jewish audience in mind as he made repeated references to the Old Testament - identifying Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

Connecting with God's Story ~ Matthew's Gospel account opens with a genealogy that connects the two testaments, with Jesus as the central figure. He then alternates narratives with Jesus' discourse to paint a clear portrait of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Without a doubt, Matthew's contribution to the biblical canon is a definitive case for Jesus as the promised Savior.

Connecting with Our Story ~ A journey through the Gospel of Matthew reassures every heart that God is faithful to keep His promises. He had a plan for redemption in motion since before the beginning of time, and we can place our trust in Him because He is always true to His word."

In the "Meet the Bible" book there are commentary notes by Philip Yancey and Brenda Quinn. The following I thought was interesting to read by Brenda Quinn.

"Matthew, the author of this gospel, was a Jewish tax collector who became one of Jesus' twelve disciples. In the first passage of this gospel Matthew reveals that he is writing mainly to the Jews, who will be especially concerned about the ancestry of Jesus. The prophesied Messiah would come from the line of David, and unless the Jews see this to be true, they will not believe in Jesus as that Messiah.

Glance back at the genealogy and you'll see many familiar names: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Boaz, Rahab, Ruth, David, and Solomon. Through the line of his legal father, Joseph, Jesus does indeed trace back to David and to Abraham. Notice the women listed in the genealogy. The only ones who appear are those with questionable backgrounds. Tamar and Rahab were prostitutes. Ruth was a foreigner, and Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, committed adultery with David. Perhaps God wants to remind the Jews that many of both the men and the women in the Savior's line were imperfect people who experienced God's grace and despite their faults were used by God to produce the Messiah.

Jesus' closest relatives, Mary and Joseph, each need great faith to bring Jesus finally into the world. Matthew focuses in this chapter on Joseph. Seven hundred years earlier God had prophesied through Isaiah that 'the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel' (Isaiah 7:14). Now the prophesy is being realized, and Joseph has been chosen to fill the role of father, even though he will not physically conceive the child. In faith, Joseph cuts short the expected one-year betrothal period and bring Mary immediately into his home. He marries her and cares for her during her pregnancy. No doubt the couple become the object of gossip and disrespect, which is just the beginning of a lifetime of misunderstanding awaiting their son Jesus."

I also like Elizabeth George's introduction to Matthew found in "A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible." 

"It has been four hundred years since Malachi gave his last words of prophecy. The world has changed. Control of the land of Israel has passed from Medo-Persia to Greece and finally to Rome. Koine Greek is still the trade language of the people, and it is the language in which the New Testament is written. Matthew, whose Jewish name is Levi, is a tax collector until Jesus calls him to become one of the twelve disciples. Now, more than twenty years after Jesus' return to heaven (recorded in Acts 1:9), the good news of Jesus has traveled the length and breadth of the Roman world. Jewish Christians are starting to be persecuted, and Matthew wants to strengthen their faith and provide them with a useful tool for evangelizing the Jewish communities dispersed throughout the Roman world. He presents Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's promised Messiah and rightful King. With the King comes His kingdom -the kingdom of heaven - which will be occupied by those who acknowledge and obey this King.

Finding God's Heart ~ The kingdom of heaven is still offered to people today, but the price of entry is accepting its King - Jesus - by faith. Only after believing in Jesus alone to save you from sin will God change you from the inside out to be a citizen of His kingdom. It is a spiritual kingdom now, but when Jesus returns, He will establish His rule on earth as well. Are you one of Jesus' subjects? If so, let the whole world know! Like Matthew, be faithful to share the good news of your King with your family, friends, and coworkers."

I am one of Jesus' subjects. I find it hard to share the good news with people though. It takes courage to share with others, especially if you fear what people may think or say. 

And finally, I want to add what the She Reads Truth Bible says on the background of Matthew and some theological truths I had not thought of before.

"Most scholars believe that Matthew used Mark's Gospel in writing his own. If this is correct, Matthew's Gospel was written after Mark's though the date of Mark's Gospel is also a bit of a mystery. Irenaeus (ca Ad 180) claimed that Mark wrote his Gospel after Peter's death in the mid-60s. However, Clement of Alexandria, who wrote only twenty years after Irenaeus, claimed that Mark wrote his Gospel while Peter was still alive."

"Matthew presents an eyewitness testimony of the ministry of Jesus and emphasizes certain theological truth:

1. Jesus is the Messiah, the long-awaited King of God's people.

2. Jesus is the new Abraham, the founder of a new spiritual Israel consisting of all people (both Jews and Gentiles) who choose to follow Him.

3. Jesus is the new Moses, the deliverer, instructor, and mediator of God's people.

4. Jesus is the Immanuel, the virgin-born Son of God who fulfills the promises of the OT."

Genesis Chapter 2 ~ Adam and Eve

 I really love Philip Yancey's notes in "Meet the Bible" for Genesis chapter two. 

"After presenting the cosmic view in chapter 1, Genesis repeats the story of creation, narrowing the focus to human beings. We alone, of all God's works, are made 'in God's image.' People have disagreed over the years on what, exactly that phrase 'image of God' means. Is it immortality? Intelligence? Creativity? Relationship? Perhaps the best way to understand is to think of 'the image of God' as a mirror. God created us so that when he looked upon us, he would see reflected something of himself.

Nothing else God created contains that same image of himself. Alone of all creation, human beings received the very breath of life from God. Genesis declares that human beings, in God's eyes, possess a value far beyond other living things. Similarly, humans have value that can never be equaled - even by today's increasingly powerful computers, no matter how intelligent and lifelike.

Genesis 2 shows human history just getting under way. Marriage begins here: even in a state of perfection, Adam feels loneliness and desire, and God provides woman. From then on, marriage takes priority over all other relationships. Work begins here too: Adam is set in a role of authority over the animals and plants. Ever since, humans have had a kind of mastery over the rest of creation.

Only the slightest hint of foreboding clouds this blissful scene of Paradise. It appears in verse 17, in the form of a single negative command from God. Adam enjoys perfect freedom with this one small exception - a test of obedience.

Throughout history, artists have tried to re-create in words and images what a perfect world would look like, a world of love and beauty, a world without guilt or suffering or shame. Genesis 1-2 describes such a world. For a time in Genesis, peace reigns. When God looks at all he has created, he pays humanity its highest compliment, 'Very good,' he pronounces. Creation is now complete."

Then in this shortened Bible it asks questions. For today it says, "Think about a close friend or family member. In what way does this person reflect God? Does some quality or personality trait speak of what God must be like?" 

The person that I think of is my mom. She is warm, caring, and very funny. She used to be artistic, but she has Alzheimer's/Dementia which has sort of messed that part up. I know God as loving, full of unconditional love, and He is the Ultimate Creator so of course He is creative. I don't really think of God as having a sense of humor, but He must have a very good sense of humor come to think of it, since one of His gifts is joy. 

In my Bible with Joyce Meyer commentary she has a lot to say about this part. I am going to copy for you some of it. 

A Very Creative God

"I could go on and on about how diverse and imaginative God was in creation, but I am sure, if you think about it, you will agree that our God is awesome not only in His power and His love, but also in His creativity.

Simply take a walk and look around. Watch something about nature on a video or on television. Find out what is in the ocean, or learn about how bees and flowers work together. Then realize that the same Holy Spirit present at Creation is living inside you if you have truly accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior." 

She goes on to say, "He is a creative God; His creativity did not stop in the Garden of Eden, but is still active today as He continues to shape and refine the wonderful creation He is making in you!"

Reading the Bible in 3 Years Plan: Genesis Chapter 1

 I thought I would start a new blog today writing down what I am learning going through the Bible. There is a Bible plan on the You Version Bible App that is about going through the Bible in three years. You basically read one chapter a day. This sounded very doable to me, to not only read the Bible completely, but also time to study.

I have 5 study Bibles that I really enjoy reading the notes and so far there hasn't been anything that has been against what I believe. If there is something I don't agree with I might write about it in this blog, or just ignore it and focus on the commentaries I agree with. Also, I am not including everything in all my Bibles in my blog, just the things that really jumped out the page to me.

Genesis chapter 1

These notes are from the Incourage Bible: 

Understanding the Author's Heart -written by Moses, 1446 BC - 1406 BC

"Moses wanted us to know where we came from, why we're here. So the first words of Genesis depict God creating the universe. With a word, God spoke the earth into being. He also created the first man and woman, but because of their eventual disobedience, humankind became separated from God. We've been living with the consequences ever since."

I just wanted to say here that not everyone believes Moses wrote Genesis. I was taught in high school that there were several authors and that it was all a myth. I don't believe this is true. I am coming from the point of view that this was written by Moses and that the Bible is the Word of God. I believe the Bible is living, meaning God can speak to us through His Word. 

Connecting with God's Story

"Genesis: beginning - of this world and humanity, of beauty and brokenness, or you and me. Shows where we can find hope and healing. We enter into God's story. Genesis sets the scene, introduces the characters, and explodes with a love story between God and the human beings He creates. The evil that threatens them and God's plan for salvation are all put into motion in the first few chapters."

Connecting with Our Story

"Through Genesis we understand the origin of our own brokenness. We see the seed of hope as God promises to provide a way of restoration. Genesis is the starting point, not only for all of life, but also for our own journey. Through the stories that unfold, we trace the fingerprints of God, moving on behalf of His people."

This next section was written by Joyce Meyer from The Everyday Life Bible. I really related to what she had to say, and I thought it was very encouraging. That is why I am including it here:

"Many people feel worthless, insecure, and unacceptable, but God looked at everything He had created, including man, and said, 'It is very good.' He validated it completely. God knows everything about each of us, and He loves us unconditionally. God approves of us; He may not approve of everything we do, but He does approve of us as His beloved children. Make a decision to approve of and enjoy yourself as well.

Choosing to enjoy and accept myself is one of the best decisions I have ever made. God does not create anything worthless. He is good, and everything He does is good. We cannot believe that God created us and also believe we are worthless. Begin to accept and enjoy yourself where you are, and God will help you get to where you need to be."

Thirdly, I want to include some commentary by Philip Yancey from a book he co-authored with Brenda Quinn called Meet the Bible, which has some of the Bible and devotional passages in it.

"Creation was God's Work: And in this first chapter, the very first glimpse we have of God is an artist. Butterflies, waterfalls, bottlenose dolphins, praying mantises, kangaroos - they were all his idea. This entire magnificent world we live in is the product of his creative work."

Finally, I am including a prayer by Elizabeth George from A Woman After God's Own Heart Bible.

"God, I have a renewed hunger for Your truth, wisdom, and love. I am ready to experience the transforming power of Your Word each day. May I reach for the Bible and receive it as my lifeline."