The Nativity Story

Bible Book: Matthew 1

Subject: Christmas; Jesus, Birth of; Nativity Story

(Matthew 1:1-2:17)

Introduction

As we look for a moment at the first verse of the New Testament, you’ll notice the word “generation” in verse 1. This is a word that actually means nativity. And the word “nativity” literally means birth or coming into life, coming into the world. The word “nativity” also refers to the time, place, and manner of a person’s birth. Over the years, this word has come to refer, almost exclusively, to the birth and the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

So this is the book of the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the record of His nativity. Last year about this time our family went to see “The Nativity Story” at the movie theater, and then again the other night we watched the DVD. While there are some Biblical discrepancies, it is really a moving dramatization of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

The Bible says in Matthew 1:1, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” The Greek language scholar A.T. Robertson said that the “usual word for book is a diminutive form ‎biblion‎, a little book or roll,” but “it is our word ‘Bible’ that is here used.” Robertson said that Matthew is applying this word to “the genealogical table of Jesus Christ (‎biblos ‎‎geneseoos ‎‎Ieesou ‎‎Christou‎), ‘the birth roll of Jesus Christ’ as Moffatt translates it.”

Then we are told that Jesus Christ is “the son of David,” and “the son of Abraham. As John MacArthur said, “Jesus was the Son of David by royal descent and Son of Abraham by racial descent.”

This introductory statement in verse 1 lays the foundation for the record of Jesus’ birth. The first chapter of the New Testament is a chapter that is full of birth. In fact, there are 39 “begat”’s in this chapter, each one representing a birth. But the most important birth mentioned in this chapter is the birth of Jesus. And it is referred to almost immediately in verse 1.

Howard Hendricks told the story of a little boy who asked his mother where he came from, and also where she had come from as a baby. His mother gave him a tall tale about a beautiful white-feathered bird. The boy asked his grandmother the same question and received a variation on the bird story. Outside to his playmate he said, “You know, there hasn’t been a normal birth in our family for three generations.”

Well, in Matthew 1, there is the listing of 39 normal births, but after all of these there is the record of a supernatural birth. When we finally come to Joseph, the Bible tells us, not that he begat Jesus, but that he was “the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

Then verse 18 says, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” The word “birth” here is basically the same as the word “generation” in verse 1. So we might paraphrase verse 18 by saying, “The Nativity of Jesus Christ happened like this.” We’re looking this morning at The Nativity Story, and in this chapter…

I. The Nativity Of Jesus Encompasses The Waiting Generations

To begin a Gospel record with a genealogical listing of names may seem very unusual to us. But Matthew’s gospel reveals Jesus as the King, and through this genealogical record of Jesus’ legal ancestry through Joseph, he skillfully shows how Jesus had a claim to the throne of His ancestor David. You see, while Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus, by taking Mary as his wife before Jesus’ birth, he had essentially adopted Him as his first and legal son. His literal ancestry and bloodline through Mary is recorded in Luke 3, but his legal ancestry is recorded here in Matthew 1. And there is a clearly defined symmetry in this genealogical listing that is summarized in Matthew 1:17.

(Matthew 1:17) So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

A. We See Fourteen Generations Of Development Leading Up To A Crown

1. Notice The Patriarchal Fathers In This Listing

(Matthew 1:2) Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

2. Notice The Particular Females In This Listing

(Matthew 1:3-6) And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; {4} And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; {5} And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; {6} And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

There are four women mentioned in these verses, and in a genealogical record that is fascinating in itself, because genealogies tend to give priority to the identity of fathers and not mothers. But all four of these women have tainted records…

Thamar (in verse 3). Her account is found in Genesis 38. As John MacArthur reminds us…

God had taken the lives of her husband, Er, and of his next oldest brother, Onan, because of their wickedness. Judah then promised the young, childless widow that his third son, Shelab, would become her husband and raise up children in his brother’s name when he grew up. After Judah failed to keep that promise, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked him into having sexual relations with her. From that illicit union were born twin sons, Perez and Zerah.

Thamar could well be called “The Mischievous”

Rachab (in verse 5). Her account is found in Joshua 2. Rahab was a Gentile inhabitant of the doomed city of Jericho, and she is repeatedly called a “harlot” in the scriptures. We might call her Rahab, The Madam.

Ruth (in verse 5). Her account is found in the book of the Old Testament that bears her name. While there is no moral mark against Ruth, she too was not of the household of Israel. She is Ruth, The Moabitess.

Bathsheba (in verse 6). Though she is not mentioned by name here in Matthew 1, we know that Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah the Hittite. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and eventually arranged for her husband to be killed in battle to conceal his sin. Bathsheba was The Mistress.

Alexander Maclaren said…

A very significant feature of this genealogical table is the insertion in it, in four cases, of the names of the mothers. The four women mentioned are Thamar a harlot, Rachab another, Ruth the Moabitess, and Bathsheba; three of them tainted in regard to womanly purity, and the fourth, though morally sweet and noble, yet mingling alien blood in the stream. Why are pains taken to show these ‘blots in the scutcheon’? May we not reasonably answer – in order to suggest Christ’s relation to the stained and sinful, and to all who are ‘strangers from the covenants of promise.’ He is to be a King with pity and pardon for harlots, with a heart and arms open to welcome all those who were afar off among the Gentiles.

Just before he died Jacob gathered his sons around him and spoke to each of them. He said to Judah…

(Genesis 49:10) The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Shiloh has the idea of tranquility, peace, happiness, safety.

(In Revelation 5:5, Jesus is called “The Lion of the tribe of Juda.”)

As this new nation is developing and growing in the patriarchal age, in the centuries of Egyptian bondage, in the days of the Judges, the promise comes down through the centuries: “Shiloh is coming!”

B. We See Fourteen Generations Of Dominion Leading Up To A Captivity

1. There Was A Davidic Kingdom During This Time

(Matthew 1:6) And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;

2. There Was A Divided Kingdom During This Time

John MacArthur wrote…

The second period, from David to the deportation to Babylon, was that of the monarchy, when Israel, having insisted on having human kings like all the nations around them, discovered that those kings more often led them away from God and into trouble than to God and into peace and prosperity. That was a period of almost uninterrupted decline, degeneracy, apostasy, and tragedy. There was defeat, conquest, exile, and the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.

God told David that He would raise up his seed after him, one that would have an established throne and a kingdom for ever…

(1 Chronicles 17:11-14) And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom. {12} He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever. {13} I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee: {14} But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

The immediate fulfillment of this promise was Solomon, but One was coming whom the New Testament calls, “the seed of David,” and the “son of David.” And Jesus identified Himself by saying in Matthew 12:42, “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”

So while the nation becomes fractured and fickle and faithless in the kingdom age, the promise comes down through the centuries: “A Seed is coming!”

C. We See Fourteen Generations Of Darkness Leading Up To A Christ

1. These Were Years Of Captivity That Commenced With Jechonias

(Matthew 1:11) And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

John MacArthur mentions a word about Jechoniah or Jehoiachin…

It is essential to note that in His virgin birth Jesus not only was divinely conceived but through that miracle was protected from regal disqualification because of Joseph’s being a descendant of Jeconiah (v. 12). Because of that king’s wickedness, God had declared of Jeconiah (also called Jehoiachin or Coniah) that, though he was in David’s line, “no man of his descendants will prosper, sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah” (Jeremiah 22:30). That curse would have precluded Jesus’ right to kingship had He been the natural son of Joseph, who was in Jeconiah’s line. Jesus’ legal descent from David, which was always traced through the father, came through Jeconiah to Joseph. But His blood descent, and His human right to rule, came through Mary, who was not in Jeconiah’s lineage. Thus the curse on Jeconiah’s offspring was circumvented, while still maintaining the royal privilege.

Cf. (Jeremiah 22:28-30) Is this man Coniah (Jechonias or Jehoiachin) a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? {29} O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. {30} Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

2. These Were Years Of Conflict That Culminated With Jesus

During the 400 inter-testament years, the Jews were subjugated by the Babylonian empire, then the Medio-Persian empire, then the Grecian empire, then the Syrian empire, and finally the Roman empire.

As Ray Stedman said…

The pagan empires around had been deteriorating and disintegrating. Their religions had fallen upon evil days. The people were sick of the polytheism and emptiness of their pagan faiths. The Jews had gone through times of pressure and had failed in their efforts to re-establish themselves, and had given up all hope. There was a growing air of expectancy that the only hope they had left was the coming at last of the promised Messiah. In the East, the oriental empires had come to the place where the wisdom and knowledge of the past had disintegrated and they too were looking for something. When the moment came when the star arose over Bethlehem, the wise men of the East who were looking for an answer to their problems saw it immediately and came out to seek the One it pointed to. Thus, “when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son.”

Shiloh was coming. A Seed was coming. And finally, the Savior had come!

II. The Nativity Of Jesus Encompasses The Worried Gentleman

(Matthew 1:18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

In verse 18, the Nativity record of Jesus which has been very panoramic up to this point, suddenly becomes very personal. MacArthur states…

Seventeen verses are given to listing Jesus’ human genealogy; but only part of one verse to His divine genealogy. In His divinity He “descended” from God by a miraculous and never-repeated act of the Holy Spirit; yet the Holy Spirit does nothing more than authoritatively state the fact.

On His real Father’s side, His genealogy goes further back than anyone could record…

(Micah 5:2) But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth (meaning his family descent) have been from of old, from everlasting.

A. Notice The Frustration Of Joseph

1. We See The Frustration In His Particular Decision

(Matthew 1:19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

Alexander Maclaren wrote of the perplexity and the dilemma that he must have experienced in trying to do the right thing. Maclaren said…

As a ‘just man’ and ‘her husband,’ Joseph owed it to righteousness and to himself not to ignore his betrothed’s condition; but as her lover and her husband, how could he put her, who was still so dear to him, to public shame, some of which would cloud his own name? To ‘put her away’ was the only course possible, though it racked his soul, and to do it ‘privily’ was the last gift that his wounded love could give her.

Similarly, John MacArthur said…

He could not bear the thought of shaming her publicly (a common practice of his day in regard to such an offense), much less of demanding her death, as provided by the law (Deuteronomy 22:23-24).

2. We See The Frustration In A Particular Definition

(Matthew 1:20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

thought – Greek 1760. enthumeomai, en-thoo-meh'-om-ahee; from a compilation of G1722 and G2372; to be inspirited, i.e. ponder:--think.

1722. en, en; a prim. prep. denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state),

2372. thumos, thoo-mos'; from G2380; passion (as if breathing hard):--fierceness, indignation, wrath.

He was fixed in his fierceness of thought. He was dwelling on this situation.

NT:1760. to bring to mind, revolve in mind, ponder, Matthew 1:20; 9:4; to think, to deliberate

(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

B. Notice The Fear Of Joseph

If the angel said, “Fear not,” then it stands to reason that Joseph had some fear.

1. His Fear Was Related To His Action

fear – Greek NT:5399 (from phobeo) to fear, i. e. (specifically) hesitate, to do something (for fear of harm).

(From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

The Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary said…

As he brooded over the matter alone, in the stillness of the night, his domestic prospects darkened and his happiness blasted for life.

2. His Fear Was Recognized By The Angel

A.W. Tozer said…

Don’t be afraid to tell God your troubles. He knows all about your troubles. There is a little song that says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen,” but there’s Somebody who knows, all right.

No one else may know the fears that you have, the uncertainties, the indecision. But God knows. “Somebody knows the trouble I’ve seen!”

C. Notice The Faith Of Joseph

1. By Faith, He Accepted The Word

(Matthew 1:21-23) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. {22} Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, {23} 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.

Cf. (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.

2. By Faith He Accepted His Wife

(Matthew 1:24-25) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: {25} And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

took – Greek 3880. paralambano, par-al-am-ban'-o; from G3844 and G2983; to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy to assume an office:--receive, take (unto, with).

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says that the word means “to take to, to take with oneself, to join to oneself; to take one’s betrothed to his home” as in Matthew 1:20,24.

(Matthew 1:25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

As I understand it, the fact that Joseph named the child is an indication that he claimed the child as his legal descendant. It is one of the only instances that I see in the Bible of a “name it and claim it” situation.

III. The Nativity Of Jesus Encompasses The Worshipping Gentiles

(Matthew 2:1-2) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, {2} Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

David Dykes, pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX says…

We call them wise men but some women would insist that term is an oxymoron. They would rank “wise men” right up there with other pairs of contradictory words like “jumbo shrimp” or “rap music” or “civil war.” In fact, when my wife tells this story, she suggests it would have been much better if God had sent wise women instead of men. The women would have asked for directions sooner, arrived on time, helped Mary deliver the baby, and cleaned up the stable. They would have brought practical gifts like Pampers, baby-wipes, and formula. So these moderately intelligent men were on the first Star Trek. Let’s jump on the camels with them and see if we can extract three personal lessons from their experience.

A. We Are Shown The Details Of Their Delegation

1. We Have A Remark About Their Origin

We actually know very little about these men. But as Alexander Maclaren said…

There is something extremely striking and stimulating to the imagination in the vagueness of the description of these Eastern pilgrims. How … impressive is the indefiniteness of our narrative!

The History Channel website stated that…

Christian tradition has elaborated the biblical account; it has set their number as three, perhaps from their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; it has called them kings, perhaps from Psalms 72:10,11 and Isaiah 49:7,23 considered as prophecies; and it has given them names, Caspar or Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.

(http://www.historychannel.com/perl/print_book.pl?ID=120785)

Cf. (Psalms 72:10-11) The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. {11} Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.

What we do know about these men is wrapped up in the brief remark of Matthew 2…

(Matthew 2:1) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

They came “from the east,” which probably indicates that they were from Persia or Babylon or perhaps an even more distant location. They were most certainly Gentiles, which adds poignancy to the promise…

(Isaiah 9:2) The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

2. We Have The Record Of Their Objective

(Matthew 2:2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

John MacArthur wrote…

When these magi, however many there were, arrived in Jerusalem, they began asking, “where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” The Greek construction (saying is a present participle emphasizing continual action) suggests that they went around the city questioning whomever they met. Because they, as foreigners, knew of the monumental birth, they apparently assumed that anyone in Judea, and certainly in Jerusalem, would know of this special baby’s whereabouts. They must have been more than a little shocked to discover that no one seemed to know what they were talking about.

B. We Are Shown The Details Of Their Devotion

1. Notice The Meaning Of Their Worship

(Matthew 2:2) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

worship – Greek 4352. proskuneo, pros-koo-neh'-o; from G4314 and a prob. der. of G2965 (mean. to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (lit. or fig.) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):--worship.

NT:4352. Properly, (it means) to kiss the hand to (toward) one, in token of reverence; hence, among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; hence, in the N. T. by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication. It is used of homage shown to men of superior rank.

(from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

2. Notice The Manifestation Of Their Worship

(Matthew 2:11) And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures (thesaurus – depositories), they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

In the book “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Treasury,” a lady named Linda Stafford tells the story of her four young children. She said…

My proudest moment came during the children’s Christmas pageant. My daughter was playing Mary, two of my sons were shepherds and my youngest son was a wise man. This was their moment to shine. My five-year-old shepherd had practiced his line, “We found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.” But he was nervous and said, “The baby was wrapped in wrinkled clothes.” My four-year-old “Mary” said, “That’s not wrinkled clothes silly. That’s dirty, rotten clothes.” A wrestling match broke out between Mary and the shepherd, which was stopped by an angel, who bent her halo and lost her left wing. I slouched a little lower in my seat when Mary dropped the doll representing Baby Jesus, and it bounced down the aisle crying, “Mama-mama.” Mary grabbed the doll, wrapped it back up and held it tightly as the wise men arrived. My other son stepped forward wearing a bathrobe and a paper crown, knelt at the manger and announced, “We are the three wise men, and we are bringing gifts of gold, common sense and fur.

One writer in The Biblical Illustrator said…

Gold may be taken as representing our substance, our goods, our material wealth. All work, all material, have their worth in gold. This oblation represents the efficiency of that which is external to us, and can be detached from us. The frankincense is a substance which, once kindled, sends up sweet clouds to the sky. It is the symbol of religious thought directing itself lovingly and longingly towards God. It typifies what is inward. There is a life of contemplation as well as of action. The last offering completing the text is myrrh. This stands for sorrows; in this we are equal before God. We can offer to Him our pains and repentance.

(M. Dix from The Biblical Illustrator)

Bring your treasures, your thoughts, and your trials and lay them at Jesus’ feet.

C. We Are Shown The Details Of Their Departure

1. As They Left, Their Encounter With Christ Marked The Beginning Of A New Dialogue

(Matthew 2:12) And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

warned – Greek 5537. chrematizo, khray-mat-id'-zo; from G5536; to utter an oracle (comp. the orig. sense of G5530), i.e. divinely intimate; by impl. (comp. the secular sense of G5532) to constitute a firm for business, i.e. (gen.) bear as a title:--be called, be admonished (warned) of God, reveal, speak.

God got on speaking terms with them, and they got on listening terms with God.

2. As They Left, Their Encounter With Christ Marked The Beginning Of A New Direction

(Matthew 2:12) And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

another – Greek 243. allos, al’-los; a prim. word; “else,” i.e. different (in many applications):--more, one (another), (an-, some an-) other (-s, -wise).

way – Greek 3598. hodos, hod-os'; appar. a prim. word; a road; by impl. a progress (the route, act or distance); fig. a mode or means:--journey, (high-) way.

It simply means that they took a different route in going back home, but it is suggestive of the fact that they are walking in a different path spiritually now.

A slaughter of innocent babies has twice preceded a time of God bringing deliverance to His people. Before God brought deliverance through Moses, Pharaoh called for the death of every Hebrew son that was born in the land in Exodus 1. And here, as God is bringing salvation through Jesus, Herod calls for the slaughter of the children in and around Bethlehem. For the past thirty years in our country and around the world, society has been killing the unborn child. It indicates to me that God is getting ready to deliver His people out of this world!

Conclusion

When you are trying to get to know someone or cultivate a relationship with them, you will generally ask them questions about aspects of their life that are related to their nativity experience. Where are you from? How old are you? Tell me about your family, about your background.

God is telling us about Jesus Christ and His nativity because He wants to have a relationship with us!