* Jesus was about to begin His ministry, so what would His dad say to Him?
* Matthew 3:16-17 - God spoke three words of life into His Son:
* 1) You are mine - “This is My Son”
* Kids need to hear parents say “that’s my boy!” “That’s my girl!”
* This phrase communicates security (I will take care of you), identity (you are a Benham), and acceptance (you belong to me).
* 2) I love you - “Whom I love”
* Kids need to know our love is unconditional.
* Love is compassion with standards.
* Rules without relationship leads to rebellion.
* Relationship without rules leads to rejection.
* 3) I am pleased with you - “With Whom I am well pleased”
* This phrase communicates favor - “I like you. Your behavior pleases me.”
* I’ve told my kids before, “If I were your age we’d totally hang out.”
* Love is unconditional, but favor is conditioned on our obedience.
* What had Jesus done up to this point that His Dad was so pleased with?
* He was faithful in a blue-collar world!
* BUT THEN…
* Matthew 4:1 - Love that is not tested is love that won’t last.
* Satan attacked Christ’s relationship with His dad.
* The first two temptations (vs 3 & 6) challenge what God had just told Jesus.
* The third temptation (vs 9) Satan pulls the gloves off and just goes for it.
* KEY - When you withstand Satan’s attacks you’ll end up seeing him for who he is.
* Jesus went in “full of the Holy Spirit” but He walked out in the “power” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1 & 14).
Matthew 3:16-4:1 (1/6/19)
The Foundation of Relationship
January 6, 2019 • Benham Brothers
Matthew 1:1 (1/2/20)
January 2, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* The OT ends with a mention of fathers and the NT begins with a list of dads. * The OT is about promises - the NT is about fulfillment of those promises - this is why the NT starts with a genealogy. It had to fulfill Isaiah 11:1 and 2 Samuel 7:11-16 that says the Messiah will come from the line of David. * We typically skip genealogies, but for God’s people they are extremely important. * Every one of the people mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy have stories about them in the OT. Those stories are REALLY IMPORTANT! Why? * In Hebrew thought you are the summation of all those past generations. * The Hebrew word used was “hityahsu” - the main idea is “to be enrolled.” Literally means “be part of the list of all whom you belong to.” * In Hebrew, you are a collection of all those past relationships. * They all happened because God engineered them. * What’s this mean for us? TWO THINGS: * 1) You are responsible to those who came before you - you have a debt to pay. * You aren’t the independent autonomous center of your own world - you don’t even exist without those who’ve gone before you. * You OWE them. * 2) You are responsible to those who come after you - you owe a debt to them too. You must “pay it forward.” * This is what relationship is all about - you owe the past and future. * ANALOGY: Live your life as a rower of a boat. * As you start the new year, move forward by looking at the past. * Look at all those who went before you (both personally and in the Scripture). * Move forward into the dark of the future and think of those who await our choices. * You have a debt to both - don’t let them down! * (Notes taken from Skip Moen commentary)
Matthew 1:1 (1/4/18)
January 4, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The New Testament must open up with a genealogy that shows two things: * 1) Jesus was a Jew descended directly from Abraham. * 2) Jesus was royalty descended directly from David. * The word used for genealogy is “hityahsu” - in Hebrew this means “be part of the list of all whom you belong to.” (Skip Moen) * Matthew was showing that Jesus belonged to the Jews as their king. * vs 2:1 - Herod was a descendant of Esau, which went against Genesis 25:23 that stated Esau would serve Jacob. * The opening of Matthew 2 could read like this - "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days when the descendants of Esau ruled over the descendants of Jacob....." * God had to set the stage for His Son to enter the world, and it was at a time when all hope seemed lost. But everything was about to be restored!
Matthew 1:18-25 (1/5/22)
January 5, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Matthew 1:18–25
* The OT is the genealogy of the first Adam / the NT is the genealogy of the last Adam. * the Bible is a book about RELATIONSHIPS. * these genealogies aren’t about people, but payment. * Row the Boat - to move forward, look at the past. * look at those who went before you and those who come after you. * Backstory - Matthew is trying to convince Jews that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah (lots of OT references). * God chose Mary & Joseph to raise His Son (like choosing adoptive parents). * What kind of guy was Joseph? How did he handle relationships? * Notice the actions Joseph took when he discovered his soon-to-be wife was pregnant with a child not his own: * 1) He covered (vs 19) - he was willing to bear the shame (he wouldn’t tell people what happened). * To cover someone means you’ll take the blows headed their way. * The foundation for intimacy (to be fully known and fully accepted) is an assurance that you are safe to reveal yourself (you’re covered). * 2) He considered (vs 20) - he was “considerate.” * Being considerate is about three words - YOU BEFORE ME! * We’ll see later he considered God’s ideas over his own. * 3) He obeyed (vs 24) - he obeyed God whatever the cost. Think about his options: * If he divorced her, he’s seen as a man who didn’t honor his commitment. * If he stayed with her, he’d be considered a fornicator. * 4) He honored (vs 25a) - to honor means “to give regard.” * He didn’t touch Mary before they got married. * He honored God by obeying Him and not touching her. * 5) He took authority (vs 25b) - naming rights signifies authority. * He walked in authority because he was faithful in his responsibility.