Episode 5: Matthew 4

Today’s episode is about Matthew Chapter 4. The book of Matthew is the first book of The New Testament and it’s named after the author who was one of Jesus’ disciples. Matthew, who also went by the name Levi, was a tax collector. Jesus found him sitting in a tax booth and said “Follow me” and he got up without question and joined him.

Since I’m starting in chapter 4, I’d like to tell you the backstory of chapters 1 through 3. In Chapter 1 verses 1- 17, it names the 42 generations of descendants from Abraham. I have a confession to make, up until a couple of years ago, I didn’t know that the people mentioned in Genesis were Jesus’ earthly ancestors. That’s why it’s so important for us to read the Bible on our own. I spent my entire life in church and never knew that. Okay, so back to the scripture! Then in verses 18- 25, it tells the story of an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream and telling him not to be afraid of taking Mary as his wife. He also tells him how Jesus will be conceived of the Holy Ghost. In Chapter 2, Jesus is born. Herod the King hears of this news and becomes worried that Jesus will interfere with his reign of power. He sends the wise men to find the newborn King so he may worship him as well. After the wisemen depart, God warns them in a dream that they should not return to Herod. After they visit Jesus, they depart back to their own country. Then an angel speaks to Joseph in a dream and tells him to take his family to Egypt and to stay until King Herod dies. The king orders that every male child two years and under in Bethlehem be killed. After Herod dies, Joseph takes his family to Israel and they dwell in Nazarene.

Chapter 3 introduces us to John the Baptist. Jesus asks John to baptise him and John thought it should be the other way around, but Jesus needed him to do it to fulfill all righteousness. When Jesus came out of the water the Spirit of God descended down on him like a dove and said “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”