Bible Study on Matthew

by Caitlin Addington

Here is Caitlin's Bible study on Matthew.

About me...
I am a fifteen year old girl who is new to the Bible and learning about it's teachings. I didn't grow up in a religious household, so all of this is new to me. My boyfriend let me borrow his study bible and I'm working my way through the whole thing while trying to understand it by taking detailed notes and other helpful things. My notes are the verses as I interpreted them. I've used more modern language, as it helps me understand the messages better. I'm hoping to start attending church soon with my boyfriend and perhaps getting more involved in Christianity.

Date of Entry: 6/10/08

Scriptures:
Matt. 1:1-25 (Ch. 1)

My notes:
1:1-17 Geneology of Christ ( - is used here instead of the word 'begat')
Abraham-Isaac-Jacob-Judas-Pharez, Zerah of Tamar-Hezron-Ram-Amminidab-Nahshan-Salmon-Boaz of Rachab-Obed of Ruth-Jesse-David-Soloman of the ex-wife of Uriah- Rehoboam- Abijah -Asa -Jehosaphat -Jehoram -Uzziah -Jotham -Ahaz -Hezekiah -Manasseh -Amon -Josiah -Jechoniah -Salathiel -Zerubbabel -Abuid -Eliakim -Azor -Sadoc -Achim -Eliud -Eleazar -Matthan -Jacob -Joseph, husband of Mary-Jesus
*14 generations, 3 major periods in the history of Israel: Theocracy, Monarchy, Hierarchy.
1:18-25 An Angel Appears to Joseph
1:18-Birth of Christ is as follows: Mary is betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth and became pregnant before they slept together with the child of God.
1:19-Joseph, being a just (upright) man decided to divorce Mary privatly so she wouldn't be made a 'public example'.
1:20-An angel of the Lord came Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife because the child she is carrying is 'of the Holy Ghost (God)'.
1:21-The angel tells him that she will have a son called Jesus (meaning 'Jehovah Saves') who will save people from their sins.
1:22-23-The following prophecy will inevitably be fulfilled: "Behold, a virgin (Mary) shall be with child (pregnant), and shall bring forth a son (Jesus), and they shall call his name Immanuel (meaning 'God with us')***this verse implies that God will come to live among his own people, which he did in Christ.
1:24-Joseph decided to take Mary as his wife, obeying the angel.
1:25-Joseph kept her a virgin until Jesus was born.

Summary of Ch.1:
We learn Jesus' genealogy and that he is related to King David. The Virgin Mary becomes pregnant with the son of God and Joseph sees an angel in his dreams that informs him of God's plan for Mary to give birth to the Saviour of the sinners. Joseph took Mary as his wife and kept her a virgin until Christ was born.

Ch.1 Character Profiles
*Tamar-mother of two illegitimate sons, Pharez and Zerah, by her father-in-law Judah
*Rachab-a converted prostitute of Jericho, mother of Boaz
*Ruth-wife of Boaz, godly foreigner
*Wife of Uriah-Bathsheba, adulterer with David, later married David and legitimatly mothered Soloman
*Jechoniah-also called Jehoiachin and Coniah, cursed from having and descendent on the throne Jer. 22:30, recognized by Jews of the Exile as their last legitimate king.
*Joseph-husband of Mary, carpenter in Nazareth, legal heir of King David. Just and God-fearing man, carried out God's commands for Mary and Jesus
*Mary-godly young woman, virgin mother of Jesus, betrothed to Joseph of Nazareth, remained a virgin until after the birth of Christ


Questions it brought to my mind...
Why was Mary chosen to carry baby Jesus?


My closing prayer...

Dear God,
I pray that my boyfriend might find greater happiness than he currently has, and I pray that you help him find his way back to being the person he once was a while ago. I pray that you watch over him and help him in all the ways you can. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

---

Date of Entry: 6/11/08

Scripture: Matthew Ch. 2


My notes:

2:1-12 The Visit of the Wise Men
2:1-When Jesus was born in Bethlehem during Herod's rule, there came 3 wise men from the East to Jerusalem.
2:2-The wise men asked where the King of the Jews had been born, because they saw his star in the East and came to worship him.
2:3-These things troubled Herod and much of Jerusalem when they heard.
2:4-Herod then gathered the best priests and scribes together and demanded to know where Christ was born.
2:5-6-They told him that the following was written by a prophet:
"And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of them shall come a govener that shall rule my people Israel." (basically saying that a ruler will emerge to lead the Israeli people)
2:7-Herod privatly called the wise men and asked them what time the star appeared (to figure out the time of birth).
2:8-He sent them to Bethlehem to find Jesus and bring him to Herod so he may 'worship' him. ***He was really intending on killing him.
2:9-The wise men departed and followed the star until they were standing directly over Jesus.
2:10-When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
2:11-When they came into the house and saw Jesus, they fell down and worshipped him. They also brough gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
2:12-God warned them not to return to Herod, so they left for their country another way.

2:13-23 The Flight Into Egypt
2:13-An angel once again appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him of Herod's plan to destroy the child and told him to flee with Mary to Egypt.
2:14-Joseph fled to Egypt with his family.
2:15-Joseph remained there until Herod's death.
2:16-When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was angry and ordered the killing of all the male children 2 years old and younger in Bethelhem and the surrounding districts.
2:17-18-The following prophecy from Jer. 31:15 had been fullfilled:
"In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not."
2:19-20-An angel again appeared to Joseph after the death of Herod and tells him to go back to Israel because those who wanted Jesus dead are dead now.
2:21-Joseph takes his family back to Israel.
2:22-23-Joseph found out upon his return that Herod's son, Archelaus, had taken over and was afraid to go father, but he listened to God's word and settled in Nazareth, fullfilling the prophecy that Christ would come from Nazareth.



Profiles for Matt. Ch. 2:
*Herod-king who had 10 wives and a reputation of being an unscrupulous and cruel despot. He was so paranoid of someone trying to take his power that he had one of his wives and his 3 oldest sons slain. This explains why he wanted Jesus killed.
*Bethlehem-6 miles south of Jerusalem, it is the birthplace of Jesus.
*Archelaus-son of Herod who was given rule over Judea, Smaria, and Idumea. He was said to be more wicked and crul than his father.
*Nazareth-70 miles north of Jerusalem, hometown of Joseph and Mary, and where Jesus spent his first 30 years.


Questions it brought to my mind...

Lately I've been having some doubts related to my newfound intrest in religion. I believe they have a place here, as reading the Bible thus far has brought some interesting thoughts to my mind:
Am I only doing this so people will stop bugging me about it?
So my boyfriend will be happy?
So I'll be more accepted?
How do I know?
Am I fooling myself? Do I really believe this, or am I just trying to convince myself I am?
Am I in this for selfish reasons?
Do I just want something to blame my problems on?
Do I have it in me to have unfalliable faith?



My closing prayer...

Dear God,
Please make apparent the answers to my questions. I pray that you also help my boyfriend with everything I asked for yesterday. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.