THE COMING OF THE KING MERRY CHRISTMAS LESSON # 10 BIBLE REFERENCE: (Genesis 12 Matthew) BOOK OF STUDY: MATTHEW Season of Study: Season of Bringing the Savior into the world HISTORY: Each Gospel was written with a view to creating a definite result and written to a particular people and they differ accordingly. In this book, therefore, each Gospel is discussed with the hope of so outlining its purpose and consequent peculiarities as to stimulate a thorough study of the questions raised. Date. Written about 60 A. D., but after Mark. The Author. The Author always speaks of himself as "the publican," which may indicate his sense of humility, felt in having been exalted from so low an estate to that of an apostle. He was the son of Alpheus (Mar. 2:14; Lu. 5:27), and was called Levi until Jesus called him and gave him the name Matthew, which means "Gift of God." We know nothing of his work except his call and farewell feast (9:9-10), and 1
that he was with the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Thus, silent and observant and qualified by former occupation, he could well undertake the writing of this book. It might be possible that he was chosen by the others for this great task. We know nothing of his death. (William Barclay's Daily Study Bible) CONNECTING THE SEASONS When studying the book of (Matthew, chapters 1-28) we are studying the Season of Bringing the Savior into the world. Having made the promise to mankind in the Garden of Eden that He would send a Savior (Genesis 3:15), God initiates His plan in the call of the man Abram; whose name was later changed to Abraham. From this man, God would grow a nation of people who would bring His Only Begotten Son into the world. From the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus coming into the world; being crucified, buried, and resurrected has come the promise of the Rapture and Return of Jesus. INTRODUCTION: The messianic line is preserved by Matthew in his recording of the second fourteen (14) generations. The second fourteen (14) generations recorded by Matthew records all the kings of Judah from David, and through the Davidic line God promised the Messiah would come. From David, the Almighty continues the promise to Judah, son of Jacob that the sceptre would not depart from Judah until the Savior was born. God says to David, When the time comes for you to lie down in death with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants, one who will come from you. I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he will be my Son. If he sins, I will punish him with a rod and with blows inflicted by people. 15 But I will never stop showing him my love as I did to Saul, whom I took out of your way. 16 Your royal house will remain in my presence [b] forever. Your throne will be established forever (2 Samuel 7: 12 15). From David the king until the coming of Christ into the world, in Judah, there was 2
only one dynasty or family that ruled; the family of David. THE PRINTED TEXT 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: FORTY AND TWO GENERATIONS THE DAVIDIC LINE TO JESUS THE MESSIAH EXPLORING THE TEXT The second fourteen generations in the existence of Israel as recorded in Matthew is plagued with the curses of taxation and idolatry. Taxation would divide the kingdom into the northern ten (10) tribes that would be called Israel, and the southern tribe of Judah. Idolatry would not only bring down Israel the northern ten (10) tribes; idolatry would eventually be the downfall of Judah, the kingdom through whom the messiah would be born. THE KINGDOM IS DIVIDED (The Second Fourteen Generations) A. The Davidic Line The nation of Israel would enjoy its greatest glory under the leadership of David king of Israel, and his son Solomon. David, for seven (7) years would be the ruler of Judah only; however, David would be appointed king over the United Kingdom (all of Israel), and serve as king for a period of forty (40) years. 3
Under David s leadership the kingdom was united, the capital city was established in Jerusalem, and David and his army were able to subdue their enemies, bringing peace to the land. The scripture says, While King David was living in his house, the LORD gave him peace with all his enemies around him (2 Samuel 7:1). Upon the death of David, David s son Solomon ascended the throne, and as his father David, Solomon s rule was one of peace. David in the many alliances he made with the surrounding countries provided a period of peaceful rule for his son Solomon. However, the scriptures declare Solomon strayed away from God due to the many wives and concubines he was committed too. The scripture says, For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father (1 King 11:4). We can surmise with the religious and home life of Solomon being in such disarray, it would be only natural this would affect his rule over the kingdom. In the end, the nation would suffer because of the indiscretions of Solomon the king stemming from foreign wives leading him into idolatrous practices. B. The Disaster of Roboam Upon the death of Solomon the rule of the kingdom passed into the hand of his son Roboam. The elders of the land approached Roboam asking for relief from the tax burden imposed upon them by his father Solomon. Roboam requested they give him three (3) days to ponder the request. After having consulted with both the older men who had served with his father, and the younger men with whom he had grown up, Roboam was advised by the younger men to increase rather than relax the burden of taxes. Roboam accepted the advice of the younger men. The scripture reads: 6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 4
7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions (1 King 12: 6 11). Upon Roboam acting upon the advice of these younger men, the ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled, and removed themselves from the union with the nation. Israel became two nations. The scripture says of Israel, 16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents (1 King 12: 16). The northern tribes (Israel) would choose Jeroboam as their king C. The Division of the Nation In the division of the nation, God s chosen people became two nations, Israel and Judah. Matthew in his gospel follows the genealogy of Judah s kings. From the division of the nation, Israel, made up of the ten (10) northern tribes never employed a righteous Godfearing king. Upon the division of the United Kingdom Jeroboam was established in the kingship, and from the 5
beginning Jeroboam would lead the people into idolatry. Jeroboam, fearing the people after a period would return to worship in Jerusalem, and to serving Roboam, erected two idols, one in Bethel and the other in Dan, declaring to the people these were the gods, that had brought them out of bondage. In the book of first King these acts of idolatry are recorded. And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan. 31 And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense (1 King 12: 26 33). Taxation and Idolatry were the reasons Israel, the ten northern tribes fell to the Assyrian in 722 bc., and the southern tribe of Judah, would fall to the Babylonians in 587 bc. Through man s greed and idolatry the fullness of time would come, and the Savior would be born into the world. 6
LIFE APPLICATION Henry Ward Beecher was one of the great preachers of the 19th Century. He was ill one Sunday, so a substitute pastor walked up to the pulpit as the worship service began. Seeing that Dr. Beecher would not be speaking that day, a number of people got up and headed for the door. The substitute preacher said, "All those who came to worship Dr. Beecher this morning may leave. All those who came to worship the Lord, may stay in their seats." Everyone sat back down. WHAT WE KNOW ALREADY: PREMISE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: 1. God is 2. God Speaks 3. God speaks through that which has already been spoken - We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. WORKING DEFINITION OF GOD: God is the Personal Spirit, who in Holy Love, Creates. Orders, and Sustains all. SEASONS TO SPIRITUAL PERFECTION God created the physical universe in six (6) days. God creates the perfect universe in six (6) seasons. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of the heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:1-2). 1. Season of Beginnings - Genesis 1-3 2. Season of Boundaries and Borders - Genesis 4-11 7
3. Season of Bringing Christ or the Messiah into the World - Genesis 12 thru the gospel of John. 4. Season of Broadcasting Christ to the World - Acts - Revelation 5. Season of Burdens and Tribulations - Revelation 6. Season of Birthing a New Creation - Revelation 8