Notes: Sept. 21, 2021

Lecture

Spiritual Prompting Tracking

Try to record spiritual promptings that you receive

2 Types

1. To do - record it, then do it
2. Confirmation - confirms a gospel principle

Mid-semester writeup, semester final

Have one place that you record your promptings in, whether a notebook or phone.

Goal is just to do it, it doesn't matter how many.

Note: One may find their eternal companion through this process.

Matthew

Matthew was a tax collector (or publican) - they had a bad reputation with the Jews

• raise taxes to get money
• work for Roman govt.

Knew Old Testament well, uses it to present Jesus as Messiah

Likely written in Aramaic

Only mentioned by name before his call (later called by Levi)

His gospel is written mainly for Jews in Palestine, with the purpose to convince them that Christ is the Messiah and King and Judge of Men. Emphasizes "son of David".

Women in Jesus' Lineage

There are five women mentioned in Joseph's lineage

1. Thamar (3) - marries son of Judah, is harlot with Judah
2. Rachab (5) - harlot in Jericho
3. Ruth (5) - non-Israelite
4. The wife of Urias (6) - Bethsheba
5. Mary (16)

Why? It's miraculous. God's ways are above our ways. Why Mary? Because God chose her.

The Jews would expect the Messiah to come through the elite and powerful, but that's not how he came.

Joseph

Faithful, obedient, submissive, humble, spiritual

Joseph's test: what am I going to do with Mary?

He could have chosen to have her stoned, could have made a public spectacle of her.

Instead, he chose to "put her away privily".

Joseph's role was to protect him, to guide him, to get him on the right path.

"When Jesus was an infant, he didn't know he was a Son of God. During his progress, it was made known to him."

Condescension of God: He gave up the role of Jehovah to become a tiny infant

Magi & Gifts

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