Infancy Narratives: Matthew & Luke III

Scripture writers are Not mediums or channels of the Holy Spirit, in tuned to the Holy Spirit

Thomas Jefferson

Text of Section 15:

Qualities Necessary to Preservation of Free Government

That no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles; and by the recognition by all citizens that they have duties as well as rights, and that such rights cannot be enjoyed save in a society where law is respected and due process is observed.

That free government rests, as does all progress, upon the broadest possible diffusion of knowledge, and that the Commonwealth should avail itself of those talents which nature has sown so liberally among its people by assuring the opportunity for their fullest development by an effective system of education throughout the Commonwealth.[1]

https://ballotpedia.org/Article_I,_Virginia_Constitution

Natural reasonableness to this, intuitive, any man of goodwill can enter into dialogue. As opposed to skepticism. Question in good faith one is able to come to reasonable and intuitive.

The Lord will not force belief.

  1. Matthew General Outline a Royal Son[1]

Prologue: Birth & Infancy of the Messiah

Genealogy and Birth of Jesus (1:1-25)

Visit of the Magi (2:1-12)

Flight to Egypt, Return to Nazareth (2:13-23)

*βίβλος γενέσεως ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ υἱοῦ δαυὶδ υἱοῦ ἀβραάμ.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. KJV

Matthew’s first two words, in Greek, allude to the “Genesis of Jesus Christ”, which harkens to Gen 1:1 [Genealogy], 2:4 [This is the book of the genesis of heaven and earth.], 5:1 [This is the book of the genesis of human beings]. Genesis means both beginning and birth.[2]

Advent of Jesus marked a new creation

*Book/record/account of the genesis a connection to primeval history

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. KJV

Mat 1:1-17 list of over 40 names, with each name connected to connected to the entire history of Israel. For the ANE Jew, these names recall events, triumphs, tragedies all giving rise to a mission and responsibility. Most of all, the genealogy established Jesus’ Messianic credentials.[3]

Matthew, Mark, Luke speaking to different audiences. Matthew understood by Jewish people. Luke amplify glorious message to gentiles and everyone.

Names somewhat lost, not an immediate harkening, but the people of the age would have been intimate. We can know them through Jewish scriptures. Bible is self-referential, can find these people, re-found through study.

[1] Curtis Mitch & Edward Sri, The Gospel of Matthew (Baker academic: Grand Rapids, MI 2010) 29, 33

[2] Dale C. Allison, JR, Studies in Matthew: Interpretation Past and Present (Baker Academic: Grand Rapids MI 2005) 157-162

[3] Mitch & Sri 33