Christmas Day Readings/Commentary/ End with Psalm 98!!!
Welcome to JPCE Spiritual Talk Christmas Day Readings and Commentary...Today's segment will begin with a reading from Matthew 1:18-25 followed by commentary...The next reading will be from Matthew 2:1-12 also followed by commentary and I will end tonight's segment with a reading from Psalm 98, ending with beautiful commentary on why I chose to end with Psalm 98...
MATTHEW 1:18-25:
THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF CHRIST
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.
-The Lord desires mercy more than sacrifice, Joseph was a man of mercy which was his righteousness, reference (Hosea 6:6)...Joseph portrays this man, a man of mercy by his unwillingness to expose Mary's supposed sin, even by the Law he was obliged to do so without hesitating but instead had mercy on Mary...Her husband: The Bible teaches us that engaged couples both husband and wives before marriage...(Rachel was called the wife of Jacob before marriage by virtue of their engagement, see Genesis 29:21; see also Dt 22:23-24)...Joseph is remembered as the Betrothed, which points to Mary's ever-virginity, reference Esther 2:7...The Angel the Messenger of the Lord lets Joseph know and put aside his fears, but telling him, the pregnancy of the Virgin is by the Holy Spirit: Proving the existence of Christ's true divinity by being born of a Virgin!!! That it might be fulfilled which was spoken seems to be a repetitive formula, see (Matthew 2:15, 23; 4:14; 8:17; 12:17; 13:35; 21:4; 26:56; 27:35): Superabundance according tom the numbering and shows us the intervention of God throughout all of history!!! Signs of a New Creation so awesome!!! The Conception of Yeshua alone seals the deal with Isaiah's prophecy of this, see (Isaiah 7:14)...We were told a Virgin would bear a Son, for He who is conceived in Mary is not a new Person coming into existence but is the eternal Son of God, Mary's womb was His throne, Immanuel, God is with us declares Christ's divinity!!! Finally the use of the word till in (v. 25) does not imply martial relations with Mary after the Savior's birth...In the Bible, this word sometimes translates "to" seems to be used to express a situation that actually continues after the event, reference (Matthew 28:20; Genesis 8:7; Dt 34:6; 2Kg 6:23)...The Orthodox church to this day remains and witnesses to the fact that Mary remained a virgin for life!!!Christ is the firstborn, and He conquered death by death!!!
GENTILES WORSHIP THE CHRIST CHILD
MATTHEW 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him." When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
-The wise men, or magi, came from the East most likely part part of Persia is where most scholars came from of their time...In the OT, Balaam, see (Numbers 23; 24) was one of their predecessors, a Gentile who had anticipated the Messiah, these wise men can be seen prefiguring the Church due to faith and nothing else!!! The star is the symbol of the birth of Christ, to ancient pagans, a star signified a god, a deified king, see (Numbers 24:17): Christ being born under this star fulfills the prophecy in Psalm 109:3, along with all of creation being part of His Incarnation, reference (Psalm 18:2; and Psalm 148:3)...: Into the House: That's where the Jewish Shepherds worshipped the Savior in the cave when He came into this world, the day He was born!!! The wise men gifts of Gold: is for King of ages: Frankincense: is for the god of all: Myrrh: is offered to the Immortal One, and who shall be three days dead!!!
PSALM 98
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. 2 The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the [a]nations. 3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. 5 Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, 6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; 8 Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together 9 before the Lord, For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with [b]equity.
This Psalms is a prophecy of the First and Second Coming of Christ, and it tells us how both the Jews and the Gentiles in His Church the true believers and how we will all be saved through Him!!! The sing of the new song is salvation which will cause a new song, but to sing it to the Father, The Lord, it would all be accomplished through the First coming of Christ!!! Christ also called the Father's right Hand and His Holy Arm, is also called the Father's salvation and righteousness: With this all His nothing more than His divine love His mercy, and His truth, and At His Second Coming, He will Judge the world in righteousness and uprightness!!!
JEHOVAH SHALOM!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
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