Malachi 1
Matthew 1 can be divided into two major parts. First, verses 1-17 present the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and second, verses 18-25 continue with the account of Jesus’ birth. Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham and David, and reveals that He is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament.
- Verses 1-17: The genealogy
From Abraham to David, then to the Babylonian exile, and onward to Jesus—there is a total of 42 generations. Matthew respects Jewish tradition, and the intention is to confirm Jesus’ legitimacy as the rightful heir. - Verses 18-25: Jesus’ birth
It explains that after Mary was betrothed to Joseph, she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. An angel appears to Joseph and urges him to marry Mary, informing him that this child will be called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us.”
1verseA revelation, the LORD’s word to Israel by Malachi.
2verse“I have loved you,” says the LORD. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the LORD, “Yet I loved Jacob;
3versebut Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.”
4verseWhereas Edom says, “We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places,” the LORD of Armies says, “They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them ‘The Wicked Land,’ even the people against whom the LORD shows wrath forever.”
5verseYour eyes will see, and you will say, “The LORD is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”
6verse“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD of Armies to you priests who despise my name. “You say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
7verseYou offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ In that you say, ‘The LORD’s table is contemptible.’
8verseWhen you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn’t that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn’t that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?” says the LORD of Armies.
9verse“Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?” says the LORD of Armies.
10verse“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11verseFor from the rising of the sun even to its going down, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations,” says the LORD of Armies.
12verse“But you profane it when you say, ‘The LORD’s table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.’
13verseYou say also, ‘Behold, what a weariness it is!’ And you have sniffed at it”, says the LORD of Armies; “and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?” says the LORD.
14verse“But the deceiver is cursed who has in his flock a male, and vows and sacrifices to the Lord a defective thing; for I am a great King,” says the LORD of Armies, “and my name is awesome among the nations.”
Overall Meaning
Matthew 1 emphasizes both Jesus’ divinity and humanity. It shows the “Jesus who came as a man” who continues the genealogy of the Old Testament, and at the same time reveals that He is “the Son of God,” born through the Holy Spirit. It also delivers the message that God’s promise was fulfilled through Jesus.
In particular, the fact that lowly people and Gentile women are included in the genealogy symbolically reveals that the scope of God’s salvation goes beyond bloodlines or status.
Points for Reflection
- You can deeply consider the fact that God carried out His plan of salvation over a long period of time, and that He embraces people’s weakness and limitations.
- Remembering that Jesus’ birth was not brought about by human methods but by God’s special way, pay attention to God’s work taking place in our lives today.
Applying It to Me
- No matter what the background or circumstances of my life may be, nurture the belief that I too can be used within God’s plan.
- Through today’s passage, you can apply it by focusing on living with an attitude of seeking God’s will and trusting Him, rather than always living according to my own thoughts and ways.
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