My Commentary and Notes for the Good News Record of Matthew
We begin with the three sections of 14 generations. What is the significance of this?
First, the section of the fourteen generations of Adam is defined as Israel. To see this we will compare this genealogy in Matthew with the one given in Luke, then we will explain this. Next the second section of the fourteen generations of Israel is defined as Israel in preparation for the Son of Adam. This is until the exile into Babylon. Then the third section of fourteen generations Israel is defined as Israel being brought to Mashiach and presented to Mashiach to become the bride of Mashiach as the Last Adam.
On the Issue of The Virgin Birth
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
We read in Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin
shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. That is the King James Version.
In the Jewish Publication Society translation we have: Therefore the Lord Himself
shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call
his name Immanuel.
The Hebrew is: לכן יתן אדני הוא לכם--אות הנה העלמה הרה וילדת בן וקראתשמו עמנו אל ... We are led to the following considerations:
Continue reading from the Mellow Wolf Matthew Files:
Matthew
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The healed came in great crowds to seek new Torah teachings from the healer. They came in such a great crowd on the mountain that they cold not be refused. Those who were the poorest in spirit came to the front. These were the spiritual orphans for whom the true spiritual son would be moved to compassion, and by having compassion upon these orphans the son would come to maturity and to the place of his inheritance.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who mourn with all the creatures of God who "groan and travail together in pain, waiting for the manifestation of the children of God". These creatures are truly blessed. For a new birth shall come. And they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who do not see themselves as being entitled to judge even those who offend them or who threaten them; who are meek because they fear the Lord God of Israel. For he will be their salvation and deliverance, and will make them the caretakers of his coming newborn earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Righteousness is the root of the tree of life. Righteousness is the root that gathers in, takes up and learns the way of God's actions. The way of God's actions is the water of life flowing to the tree of life. Oh that all the little children of Adam, of the man and the woman, would know a sky filled with a light that is like a rain gently falling, watering all things with the knowledge of Israel's God! That time is coming! That day will dawn!
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
Be merciful unto others, as you would have others be merciful unto you. And if you would be just unto others, let it be with a justice that seeks the way of mercy. For when we show mercy we find mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
It is those whose heart is pure, whose obedience is pure in going up to Jerusalem to meet with God who, in being seen by God, will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who will lay down their lives in faith in order to remove fear from the world. The first and final source of all friction and conflict between people is the fear of death. Out of this fear Adam sinned. Blessed are those who accept humiliation by the power of divine grace in order to bring peace, for they will be called the brothers and sisters of the son of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A world that is broken, a world with its bones shattered, cannot give success to all its children. Some of them it will make victims. Some of them it will make scapegoats. For this, such a world could be easily condemned. But who will show it mercy? Who would save such a world? Anyone who would choose to save such a world must face its returning evil for good, persecution for a voice of truth. God chooses to save such a world as this. The Messiah of Israel chooses to serve his God in saving such a world as this. Blessed are all those who are persecuted because they are attached to him. The salvation of the world shall be their joy! The healing of its bones shall be their happiness and laughter, their great reward. And they shall breathe the air of righteousness in a world without end. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verses 1-4
When Yehoshua came down from the mountainside…
The incident that immediately follows the Sermon on the Mount is a story that illustrates Yehoshua's message that he has not come to make a change in the relationship of Israel to the Torah or its commandments. When the man with leprosy is healed, Yehoshua instructs him not to go and immediately tell his friends, family and community but to obey the commandments prescribed in the Torah for a leper who is healed of leprosy (by any means) as a testimony to them.
What is this testimony that Yehoshua desires? It is the testimony that he is the one who God will anoint as Messiah of the Torah. The change that Yehoshua will bring is not a change in the Torah, therefore, but a change in Israel. As he has healed this leper from leprosy, so will he heal Israel from sin. When the healing of Israel from sin is complete, the Torah will be completely in Israel's heart and the evil inclination will enslaved to the holy spirit within her, so that no transgression will be found in her. That only the joy of the performance of all God's commandments will be seen in her will be a testimony to all her friends and community, the nations all around her, that Yehoshua was sent to her by the Father.
Copyright ©2010 Max Carl Kirk
