Christmas Bible Study

[Radagast]

I'd like to start a Bible Study organised around Christmas passages, since Christmas is coming up.

*** Edit: discussion has finished, and the next Bible Study is about Ephesians, in another thread ***

First passage -- Matthew 1:1-17:

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (ESV)

I'd like to particularly highlight Boaz, Ruth, David, and Bathsheeba.

Background -- II Samuel 11:2-3: It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and enquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 26-27: When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. 12:24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved him

Background -- Ruth 1:1-5: In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. 22: So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

2:8-13: Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favour in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favour in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

4:13-17: So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Questions for discussion:

1) How did God choose the people who would be in Jesus' family tree? What does this say about the way God deals with us?

2) Can the sin of people like David, or the family tragedy of people like Ruth, thwart God's plans?

3) What was the Davidic line of kings leading up to?

4) What does this list say about God and non-Jews?

5) How does Matthew 1:1-17 relate to Biblical prophecy?

6) Anything else? Any other questions or comments?

 

[Joy]

subscribing

 

[Joy]

i hope this is ok

How did God choose the people who would be in Jesus' family tree?
From reading Matthew 1 - The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus Christ I was greatly encouraged to be reminded that in his genealogy Matthew takes the unusal step of mentioning women they were rarely mentioned in ancient genealogies, and the four mentioned here are worthy of special note as examples of God’s grace. They show how God can take unlikely people and use them in great ways.

Tamar sold herself as a prostitute to her father in-law Judah (Genesis 38)

Rahab was a Gentile prostitute, for whom God took extraordinary measures to save from both judgment and her lifestyle of prostitution (Joshua 2; 6:22-23).

Ruth was from Moab, a Gentile and until her conversion, out of the covenant of Israel (Ruth 1).

Her who had been the wife of Uriah: Bathsheba (who is mentioned by implication in Matthew 1:6) was an adulteress, infamous for her sin with David (2 Samuel 11).

These four women have an important place in the genealogy of Jesus to show that Jesus Christ was not royalty according to human understanding in the sense that He did not come from a pure aristocratic background.

These four women have an important place in the genealogy of Jesus to show that Jesus identifies with sinners in His genealogy, even as He will in His birth, baptism, life, and His death on the cross.

These four women have an important place in the genealogy of Jesus to show that there is a new place for women under the New Covenant. In both the pagan and the Jewish culture of that day, men often had little regard for women. In that era, some Jewish men prayed every morning, thanking God that they were not Gentiles, slaves, or women. Despite that, women were regarded more highly among the Jews than they were among the pagans.

This shows me that God deals with us according to His ways as the two passages below show,
Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Will look at other questions tomorrow

 

[Radagast]

Rahab was a Gentile prostitute, for whom God took extraordinary measures to save from both judgment and her lifestyle of prostitution (Joshua 2; 6:22-23).

Some excellent points there. And yes, I should have highlighted Rahab and Tamar. Jesus didn't pick them to be his great-great-great-...-great-grandmothers because they were "good women." God loves us even when we are sinners, and God can pick us up and do things with us that we'd never have believed.

By mentioning sinners, Gentiles, and women in his genealogy, Matthew is, I think, saying something about who God loves, and where the Gospel message will go.

 

[Radagast]

This shows me that God deals with us according to His ways as the two passages below show,
Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1 26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Those are great texts! Yes, that says it perfectly.

 

[Joy]

2) Can the sin of people like David, or the family tragedy of people like Ruth, thwart God's plans?

David's sin and Ruth's family tragedy did not thwart God's plans. They show that in all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I apologise that my answer focus's on Ruth I was so encouraged to read the following

Ruth 1 show Namoi's tears of sorrow, she had lost her husband and two sons. But despite this tragedy God is glorified in the life of Namoi who still honoured and loved the Lord and this impacted Ruth because she chooses to stay with Namoi and go with her back to Israel, forsaking the Moabite gods she grew up with and follow the Lord. This Gentile woman once far from God, had drawn near to Him.

But by Ruth 4 we see see Namoi's tears of bitterness turn to joy as Ruth Namoi's wdowed daughter in-law marries Boaz and it is recorded that she is an ancestor of King David.And through their lineage Jesus Christ is born. God is showing that tragedy was not the final word.

 

[Radagast]

David's sin and Ruth's family tragedy did not thwart God's plans. They show that in all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Ruth 1 show Namoi's tears of sorrow, she had lost her husband and two sons. But despite this tragedy God is glorified in the life of Namoi who still honoured and loved the Lord and this impacted Ruth because she chooses to stay with Namoi and go with her back to Israel, forsaking the Moabite gods she grew up with and follow the Lord. This Gentile woman once far from God, had drawn near to Him.

But by Ruth 4 we see see Namoi's tears of bitterness turn to joy as Ruth Namoi's wdowed daughter in-law marries Boaz and it is recorded that she is an ancestor of King David.And through their lineage Jesus Christ is born. God is showing that tragedy was not the final word.

Exactly.

There is a Spanish proverb that says "God draws straight with crooked lines." We may think everything is going wrong -- either through our fault, or because of some external disaster -- but God can make things turn out amazingly and wonderfully right in the end, as they did for Ruth.

Of course, "in the end" might be a long way off. There were many long centuries between Ruth and the birth of Jesus.

God is showing that tragedy was not the final word.

That's very well put.

 

[Radagast]

Let me just say something about (3) What was the Davidic line of kings leading up to?

We have texts like:

Isaiah 11:1: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit."

Isaiah 9:6-7: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called, Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."

Micah 5:2: "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."

Zecharaiah 12:10: "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."

Matthew is telling us that the birth of Jesus is what the Davidic line was leading up to. Commentator Craig Keener writes "For Matthew and his circle of Jewish Christians, Jesus was not an afterthought to Judaism, a distinct and unexpected addition to God's plan in the Old Testament. Jesus was the goal to which Israel's lovingly remembered history had pointed."

 

[Joy]

[FONT=verdana,sans-serif]3) What was the Davidic line of kings leading up to?

The Davidic line of Kinga was leading to the birth of Jesus Christ
4) What does this list say about God and non-Jews?The Genealogy of Christ Jesus This list says that God loves and welcomes the non Jew
Matthew's gospel begins with a genealogy of Jesus -- a genealogy that differs from Luke's genealogy because it traces a different path through Jesus' lineage. One theme of Matthew's supported by the genealogy's structure is that of the importance of the inclusion of Gentiles in the Kingdom inaugurated by the Messiah's coming.

this is a list of people-people like us who testify to how God works through the ages, through various people and through circumstances. This even tells us how God redeems and works with and through not only the people we may expect Him to, but also the unlikely people we would perhaps never consider as worthy. Jesus comes from an incredible line of diverse people, such as Patriarchs and kings whom we might expect; in addition, listed beside Him are righteous people as well as those who were improbable, dubious, and even wicked, such as captives, the obscure, and the insignificant-even traders, prisoners, adulterers, murderers, and harlots.Matthew 1:1-17 - Into Thy Word Ministries [/FONT][FONT=verdana,sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif]

5) How does Matthew 1:1-17 relate to Biblical prophecy?
Matthew 1:1-17 shows how Jesus was the fulfilment of Old Testment

6) Anything else? Any other questions or comments?[/quote]

I have really appreciated this Bible Study and would love to do more.
[/FONT]

 

[Radagast]

The Davidic line of Kings was leading to the birth of Jesus Christ

Yes indeed.

4) What does this list say about God and non-Jews?The Genealogy of Christ Jesus This list says that God loves and welcomes the non Jew
Matthew's gospel begins with a genealogy of Jesus -- a genealogy that differs from Luke's genealogy because it traces a different path through Jesus' lineage. One theme of Matthew's supported by the genealogy's structure is that of the importance of the inclusion of Gentiles in the Kingdom inaugurated by the Messiah's coming.

It's a marvellous, thing, isn't it? Tamar was apparently a Canaanite (according to Jewish writings outside the Bible, see also Genesis 38), Rahab was from Jericho (Joshua 2), Ruth was from Moab, and Bathsheba was married to a Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3).

Commentator Craig Keener writes "When Matthew cites these four women, he is reminding his readers that three ancestors of King David and the mother of King Solomon were Gentiles.... Matthew thus declares that the Gentiles were never an afterthought in God's plan but had been part of his work in history from the beginning. One who traces Matthew's treatment of Gentiles through the Gospel, from the Magi who sought Jesus in chapter 2 through the concluding commission to disciple the nations in 28:19, will understand Matthew's point in emphasizing this."

This even tells us how God redeems and works with and through not only the people we may expect Him to, but also the unlikely people we would perhaps never consider as worthy.

Exactly! So we need never fear we're "not good enough" for Jesus. If Rahab and David were good enough, so are we.

 

[Radagast]

5) How does Matthew 1:1-17 relate to Biblical prophecy?
Matthew 1:1-17 shows how Jesus was the fulfilment of Old Testment

Exactly! Not only the prophecies, but the temple and the establishment of the line of kings... all these things were looking forward to Jesus.

I have really appreciated this Bible Study and would love to do more.

Thanks! Not that too many other people seem to be interested...

 

[Radagast]

I'd like to stick with the Christmas theme until after Christmas.

SECOND PASSAGE

I haven't got too many pre-arranged questions, but why don't we reflect on Luke 1:46–55. I've hyperlinked some relevant OT passages to BibleGateway, and you can switch versions there.

What strikes you about Mary's song?

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord (cf Psalm 69:30 and Psalm 34:3)
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (cf 1 Sam 2:1-3)
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant. (cf 1 Sam 1:11)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name. (cf Psalm 111:9)
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation. (cf Psalm 103:17)
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; (cf Ps 89:13)
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones (cf Job 12:19)
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. (cf 1 Sam 2:4-10)
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” (cf Genesis 17:16 and Genesis 22:17-18)

Some more specific questions: (1) How is Mary like Hannah? (2) How is Mary like Sarah? (3) How is Jesus like Samuel? (4) How is Jesus like Isaac?

 

[Radagast]

Mary didn't look like this, but just for fun, here is a painting of Mary writing down the song:

 

[achristian2]

Thanks! Not that too many other people seem to be interested...

Well, I'm interested and will join the bible study. More of a silent participant currently with the occasional post.

 

[Ronald]

Questions for discussion:

1) How did God choose the people who would be in Jesus' family tree? What does this say about the way God deals with us?

With adulterers, liars, murderers, drunks, prostitutes, etc., in His line, He wants us to know that we can come as we are, no matter who we are or what we did.

2) Can the sin of people like David, or the family tragedy of people like Ruth, thwart God's plans?

No, His plan is perfect, He's sovereign. He factors in our flaws and failures.

3) What was the Davidic line of kings leading up to?

Our Lord and King, Jesus

5) How does Matthew 1:1-17 relate to Biblical prophecy?

It confirmswhat God promised Abraham. Messianic prophecy was used over and over by the Apostles to validate who Jesus was.

 

[Radagast]

With adulterers, liars, murderers, drunks, prostitutes, etc., in His line, He wants us to know that we can come as we are, no matter who we are or what we did.

Exactly!

We're continuing onto this passage from Luke:

SECOND PASSAGE

Why don't we reflect on Luke 1:46–55. I've hyperlinked some relevant OT passages to BibleGateway, and you can switch versions there.

What strikes you about Mary's song?

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord (cf Psalm 69:30 and Psalm 34:3)
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (cf 1 Sam 2:1-3)
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant. (cf 1 Sam 1:11)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name. (cf Psalm 111:9)
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation. (cf Psalm 103:17)
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; (cf Ps 89:13)
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones (cf Job 12:19)
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty. (cf 1 Sam 2:4-10)
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.” (cf Genesis 17:16 and Genesis 22:17-18)

Some more specific questions: (1) How is Mary like Hannah? (2) How is Mary like Sarah? (3) How is Jesus like Samuel? (4) How is Jesus like Isaac?

 

[Ronald]

Some more specific questions: (1) How is Mary like Hannah?

She exalts God and is blessed

(2) How is Mary like Sarah?

Both seeds brought forth the Savior and billions of believers

(3) How is Jesus like Samuel? (4) How is Jesus like Isaac?

Comparing Jesus with any human - even a prophet is or king is to take away His glory. You should ask the question: how is Samuel or Isaac like Jesus? Then I would say a king and a prophet and obedient. We all need to be like Jesus and all godly men of the OT portrayed Christlike attributes.
I think I'm getting that you want to focus on God's greatness, mercy and provisions and how we should be thankful, feel blessed and exalt Him as Mary did. Thanks for that reminder!

 

[achristian2]

Comparing Jesus with any human - even a prophet is or king is to take away His glory. You should ask the question: how is Samuel or Isaac like Jesus? Then I would say a king and a prophet and obedient. We all need to be like Jesus and all godly men of the OT portrayed Christlike attributes.
I think I'm getting that you want to focus on God's greatness, mercy and provisions and how we should be thankful, feel blessed and exalt Him as Mary did. Thanks for that reminder!

You are right Ronald. Its other people that should be compared with Jesus, not the other way around.

With regards to God's greatness,mercy and provisions, I think Psalms is one of the best book for that.

 

[Radagast]

Thanks for the encouraging responses!

She exalts God and is blessed

Indeed, but there are several other parallels between Mary and Hannah. For example, Mary gives up her son to God, as Hannah gave up Samuel (cf 1 Samuel 1:21-22). Mary composes a song of thankfulness, as Hannah did. Indeed, Mary's song has several almost-quotations from Hannah's song (see the hyperlinks above), and I think we are being pointed back to Samuel (and to Isaac) by this text.

When reading the New Testament, one often finds "pointers" like this to the Old Testament. They are not accidents! They always mean something.

(Incidentally, all those almost-quotations [some of which I've highlighted by hyperlinks above] show that Mary is a woman who knows her Old Testament very well, although she's not quoting exactly from the written text).

Both seeds brought forth the Savior and billions of believers

And of course, one obvious similarity between Mary and Sarah is that both women gave birth through a miracle (Genesis 17:17).

Comparing Jesus with any human - even a prophet is or king is to take away His glory.

There is indeed a danger there, for Jesus is radically unique, but several Old Testament figures are foreshadowings or "types" of Jesus, although they are of course imperfect ones -- see Wikipedia on Biblical typology or Theopedia on Biblical typology

Hebrews 7 tells us that Melchizedek was a "type" of Jesus, for example. Several texts tell us that David was a "type" of Jesus. Matthew 12:40 tells us that Jonah was a "type" of Jesus (in one or two specific ways).

How does that relate to Jesus and Samuel? Like Samuel, Jesus was the child of a promise (cf 1 Samuel 1:17-18), although in Samuel's case the promise came via the priest Eli. Luke also tells us how (like Samuel) Jesus was in the Temple as a child (Luke 2:41-51).

Like Samuel, Jesus replaces and renews a priestly worship that had become corrupt (cf 1 Samuel 2:12-25 and Matthew 23:22-24). Like Samuel, Jesus was not in the line of Aaronic priests (although Elizabeth was descended from Aaron, so Mary might have been too).

Indeed, I think 1 Samuel 2:35-36 is also a prophecy of Jesus: "And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed for ever. And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, 'Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.'" (most commentators, such as the College Press commentary on Samuel agree with me here, as do Early Church Fathers like Augustine). Part of the fulfilment of this prophecy is Acts 6:7.

I'm sure there are even more parallels between Jesus and Samuel. And we haven't even started talking about Isaac yet.

One of the things that all these "types" and prophecies teach us is that the coming of Jesus was part of God's plan for a long, long time. Since the Garden of Eden, in fact.

 

[Radagast]

there are several other parallels between Mary and Hannah

Hannah got nasty remarks from other women (1 Samuel 1:6). Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Luke 1:48, suggests that Mary got that too: "Nay, the expression seems to intimate, not only that her family was poor in Judah, but that she was the least in her father’s house, as if she were under some particular contempt and disgraced among her relations, was unjustly neglected, and the outcast of the family, and God put this honour upon her, to balance abundantly the contempt."