See my notes here that I posted at Christmas time for most notes in Luke 1.
Luke 1:3 - It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
"having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first" - literally "having followed", that is, Luke investigated and traced down his information for his Gospel account, interviewing eye-witnesses, examining documentation, and so forth, going all the way back to "the very first," with John the Baptist's parents. "It seemed good" for him to write it because the Holy Spirit was inspiring it!
Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
"Christ was content with a stable when He was born so that we could have a mansion when we die." - Anonymous
Luke 2:8 - And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Some claim this proves the birth not in winter, but the shepherds abide in the fields year-round - still do. What else would they do, leave the sheep in the fields and go into town for a hotel room and let the wolves have their way? Besides, the inn was full! There is no way to prove it was winter and no way to rule it out.
Luke 2:11 - For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
An angel is the first to call Jesus "the Lord" after His birth. Undeniable Deity!
Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Who were the angels worshipping? Jesus! Hebrews 1:6.
Luke 3:1 - Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene...
T. Caesar, "Tiberius Claudius Nero" born 11/16/42 B.C. Ruled jointly with Augustus from A.D. 12 to Augustus' death in A.D. 14 and reigned from 8/19/14 to his death, 3/16/37 A.D. So the "fifteenth year" makes it A.D. 27, reckoning from Tiberius' first year as joint ruler, when Jesus began His public ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23).
VM
Showing posts with label Christmas Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas Series. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Notes in the Second Chapter of Matthew
Matthew 2:1-4 - Nothing in the Bible states that these wise men were kings, as the Christmas carol and some traditions give. Further, it is not necessarily "the three wise men" - there is no mention of their number. Three is the number of gifts given, Matthew 2:11, not the number of men. For "all Jerusalem" to be troubled with Herod (verse 3), there must have been very many wise men from the east converging on the city at once, making the people wonder.
Matthew 2:6 - The chief priests and scribes did not completely quote Micah 5:2. They left out the part indicating that the Messiah is an eternal being. Even today the Jews are not aware that the Messiah they still look for is to be God in the flesh, as their own scriptures indicate.
Matthew 2:11 - Notice the wise men were "come into the house" not into a stable or cave like the shepherds. Notice they saw "the young child" not an infant. This event may have been as much as two years after the birth of Christ, for Herod slew the children under two "according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men" in Matthew 2:16.
Matthew 2:18 - "...Rachel weeping for her children." Bethlehem belonged to Judah, the son of Leah not Rachel. But Rachel was buried here, Genesis 35:19.
Matthew 2:23 - "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
There is no such direct statement in any Old Testament prophet, but Matthew is clear that he is not quoting directly from a prophet, for he says "the prophets," not a particular prophet he names. He is summarizing what the prophets generally said about what the Messiah would be called by men. We should understand what it means to be called "a Nazarene" - a branch considered worthless. For example, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth" says Nathanael in John 1:46. See Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary for explanation and Matthew Henry's commentary for beautiful application. The Messiah is the "Branch" in Isaiah 11:1. "Branch" in Hebrew is "netzer" from which Nazareth gets its name. According to the prophets, the Messiah was to be "despised and rejected of men," Isaiah 53. Thus, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
VM
Matthew 2:6 - The chief priests and scribes did not completely quote Micah 5:2. They left out the part indicating that the Messiah is an eternal being. Even today the Jews are not aware that the Messiah they still look for is to be God in the flesh, as their own scriptures indicate.
Matthew 2:11 - Notice the wise men were "come into the house" not into a stable or cave like the shepherds. Notice they saw "the young child" not an infant. This event may have been as much as two years after the birth of Christ, for Herod slew the children under two "according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men" in Matthew 2:16.
Matthew 2:18 - "...Rachel weeping for her children." Bethlehem belonged to Judah, the son of Leah not Rachel. But Rachel was buried here, Genesis 35:19.
Matthew 2:23 - "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
There is no such direct statement in any Old Testament prophet, but Matthew is clear that he is not quoting directly from a prophet, for he says "the prophets," not a particular prophet he names. He is summarizing what the prophets generally said about what the Messiah would be called by men. We should understand what it means to be called "a Nazarene" - a branch considered worthless. For example, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth" says Nathanael in John 1:46. See Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary for explanation and Matthew Henry's commentary for beautiful application. The Messiah is the "Branch" in Isaiah 11:1. "Branch" in Hebrew is "netzer" from which Nazareth gets its name. According to the prophets, the Messiah was to be "despised and rejected of men," Isaiah 53. Thus, "He shall be called a Nazarene."
VM
Monday, January 2, 2012
Notes in Matthew's First Chapter
Matthew 1:1-16 - "...begat...begat...begat...begat...begat... And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."
After 39 "begats" in a row, there is no "begat" in the birth of Jesus. Matthew goes out of his way to illustrate the virgin birth even in his genealogy.
Verse 16 - "of whom" is feminine singular, clearly referring back to Mary and leaving Joseph out.
Contradicting the "perpetual virginity" of Mary as the Roman Catholics teach it: Matthew 1:19 - "...before they came together..." Matthew 1:25 - "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son..."
VM
After 39 "begats" in a row, there is no "begat" in the birth of Jesus. Matthew goes out of his way to illustrate the virgin birth even in his genealogy.
Verse 16 - "of whom" is feminine singular, clearly referring back to Mary and leaving Joseph out.
Contradicting the "perpetual virginity" of Mary as the Roman Catholics teach it: Matthew 1:19 - "...before they came together..." Matthew 1:25 - "And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son..."
VM
Brief Notes on Word "Virgin" or "Young Woman"
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.
"Virgin" is the Hebrew word "almah." The Revised Standard Version translated it here as "young woman." It was claimed by the translators that is what the word actually means. If true, this removes a clear prophecy of Christ. Does it mean "virgin" or does it simply mean "young woman." The apostle Matthew answers.
Matthew 1:22-23 - Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.
Matthew quotes Isaiah but puts it in Greek instead of Hebrew. He uses the Greek word "parthenos" which can only mean virgin. There is no other meaning.
Matthew, a 1st Century Jew, certainly knew Hebrew language and customes better than the 20th Century translators of the Revised Standard Version.
The same God that inspired the Hebrew of Isaiah 7:14 inspired its Greek translation here.
VM
"Virgin" is the Hebrew word "almah." The Revised Standard Version translated it here as "young woman." It was claimed by the translators that is what the word actually means. If true, this removes a clear prophecy of Christ. Does it mean "virgin" or does it simply mean "young woman." The apostle Matthew answers.
Matthew 1:22-23 - Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.
Matthew quotes Isaiah but puts it in Greek instead of Hebrew. He uses the Greek word "parthenos" which can only mean virgin. There is no other meaning.
Matthew, a 1st Century Jew, certainly knew Hebrew language and customes better than the 20th Century translators of the Revised Standard Version.
The same God that inspired the Hebrew of Isaiah 7:14 inspired its Greek translation here.
VM
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Notes on John the Baptist's Father
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. - Luke 1:5.
"Of the course fo Abia" - of the priestly line of the sons of Aaron, I Chronicles 24:10, "Abijah"; one of the 24 courses, or rotations of priests into which David divided all the descendants of Aaron, to take their turns in the daily temple ministry. Each course would have to report to the temple at Jerusalem for their ministry at least two different times in the year, so there is no way to fix a date on this event (or to calculate dates for the births of John the Baptist or Christ from this event).
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. - Luke 2:8-9.
Incense was burnt twice a day, every day, before the morning and evening sacrifice: Exodus 30:7-8; Exodus 40:17-33. Only the descendants of Aaron were to perform this ritual: Numbers 16; II Chronicles 26:16-21. Compare Hebrews 5:4.
"His lot" - of all the priests reporting for duty at the temple at any given time, lots were chosen to determine each man's duty. Some were to kill the sacrifice, some to burn it, some to sweep the ashes, some to burn the incense, etc. See Lightfoot's commentary for more on this.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. - Luke 1:10.
Each day at the morning and evening sacrifice, there was the time of music, the time of incense, the time of sacrifice, etc. The incense was burned to picture the prayers of God's people arising to heaven, alluded to in Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4. The people were not allowed in the temple at this time (Number 16:40), so they were outside praying during the time of incense. Peter and John went to the temple grounds to pray during one of these times of prayer, at the evening sacrifice, Acts 3:1. They would have been gathered outside to pray when the incense was burned.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. - Luke 1:22.
The people were expecting the usual and customary priestly blessing as he left the temple, Numbers 6:22-27. He is unable to give it.
Zacharias was struck not only dumb (mute) but also deaf. See Luke 1:62.
VM
"Of the course fo Abia" - of the priestly line of the sons of Aaron, I Chronicles 24:10, "Abijah"; one of the 24 courses, or rotations of priests into which David divided all the descendants of Aaron, to take their turns in the daily temple ministry. Each course would have to report to the temple at Jerusalem for their ministry at least two different times in the year, so there is no way to fix a date on this event (or to calculate dates for the births of John the Baptist or Christ from this event).
And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. - Luke 2:8-9.
Incense was burnt twice a day, every day, before the morning and evening sacrifice: Exodus 30:7-8; Exodus 40:17-33. Only the descendants of Aaron were to perform this ritual: Numbers 16; II Chronicles 26:16-21. Compare Hebrews 5:4.
"His lot" - of all the priests reporting for duty at the temple at any given time, lots were chosen to determine each man's duty. Some were to kill the sacrifice, some to burn it, some to sweep the ashes, some to burn the incense, etc. See Lightfoot's commentary for more on this.
And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. - Luke 1:10.
Each day at the morning and evening sacrifice, there was the time of music, the time of incense, the time of sacrifice, etc. The incense was burned to picture the prayers of God's people arising to heaven, alluded to in Psalm 141:2; Revelation 8:3-4. The people were not allowed in the temple at this time (Number 16:40), so they were outside praying during the time of incense. Peter and John went to the temple grounds to pray during one of these times of prayer, at the evening sacrifice, Acts 3:1. They would have been gathered outside to pray when the incense was burned.
And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. - Luke 1:22.
The people were expecting the usual and customary priestly blessing as he left the temple, Numbers 6:22-27. He is unable to give it.
Zacharias was struck not only dumb (mute) but also deaf. See Luke 1:62.
VM
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