Jesus Verse by Verse...
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1:1 The Gospel records are transcripts of how e.g. Matthew preached the Gospel. Matthew begins his explanation of the Gospel [“good news”] by demonstrating that Jesus was the descendant of Abraham and David. This is important because the Gospel was contained in the promises to those men (Gal. 3:8) that they would have a literal descendant, who would be God’s Son, Jesus. Therefore Jesus didn’t exist as a physical person before He was born; He had our human nature.
1:19 Joseph could have told others of her situation, and made her a “public example”, or put her through the “law of jealousy” of Numbers 5. But exactly because Joseph was truly “righteous”, he didn’t do that. He was sensitive to her- as we should be to others who are caught up in situations beyond our full understanding.
1:20 Conceived- Jesus began within Mary. He didn’t pre-exist. He was born ‘of her’ (1:16).
1:21 ‘Jesus’ means ‘Saviour’; ‘Christ’ means ‘Anointed’.