Five Mysteries in Matthew

As a Bible teacher, I have been accused of creating more questions than I answer when teaching. To such accusations I say, “Thank you!”

Pulpits are filled in America with motivational speakers trying to convince congregants to believe God’s words. They tell church-goers what the words of the Bible really mean and how to apply them to their lives. By this point you may think, “That’s their job Steve,” but I disagree. What believers need is to be taught critical thinking skills to better understand the Bible for themselves instead of getting better at developing preconceptions. We need preachers and teachers who help us comprehend what the Bible says in context and then let God and believers who are close to us help us discern the application to our own lives.

Listen up! We must stop creating answers to every question and mystery in the Bible. It is unthinkable to some Christians today that we cannot explain some of Jesus’ perplexing statements. It is perceived that if we don’t have satisfactory answers to all questions, then we can’t talk people into getting saved (as if it were our job to get people saved). What should be unthinkable is to make a guess simply because we’re afraid of telling someone, “I don’t know what that means.”

Upon this introduction of random venting, I present five examples of passages in the early chapters of Matthew that escape my understanding and why. I welcome email responses offering rational and contextual explanations.

1. Matthew 1:1-17 – Genealogy

As an amateur genealogist, the ancestry of Jesus fascinates me. Seeing Matthew’s list of paternity from Joseph all the way back to Abraham focuses on a distinct birthright that encompasses the timeframe of the entire Old Testament. But there appears to be more significance than merely keeping a record of names. Matthew adds just enough information to create confusion. First, he draws attention to Jesus descending from, not only Abraham, but David as well without explaining the significance of either connection. Second, he notes a calculated pattern of three sets of fourteen generations. And lastly, for those who may not know, this list does not align with Luke’s genealogical record (Luke 3:23-38).

Referring to David and Abraham three times in half a chapter must show that Matthew found their relationship to Jesus particularly significant. However, the author refers to no specific prophecies, an omission that strikes me as odd since he shows how specific prophecies were fulfilled seven times in the first four chapters. It remains likely, as many have explained, that the relationships with David and Abraham qualify Jesus as a candidate to be the Messiah. In other words, He is not biologically exempt. True as this may be, I wish he had explained why he felt it was important so we would not have to speculate.

Matthew’s pattern of three sets of fourteen generations is extremely puzzling. In the first place, there are only forty names and not forty-two. The names only add up to three sets of fourteen by counting David twice and Jeconiah twice. Some would say that this is acceptable in the Jewish way of counting, but for Matthew to group them as such without an explanation is frustrating. Using such a grouping method, I could regroup them in any order, duplicating individuals. So, why did Matthew choose to group the names in this fashion? He does not say, but possibly to generate the numbers fourteen since that is what he points out in verse 17. The number fourteen may have been significant to his culture or theology whereas we debate its meaning. Furthermore, Matthew would not be able to arrive at three sets of fourteen without omitting several generations that are included in the Old Testament. It may be that Matthew forsook accuracy to make a theological point by focusing on the numbers. Unfortunately, this choice has confounded many including myself.

Luke presents a different paternity that not only goes back to Adam but has many different names along the way. Some suggest that the different lists represent Jesus' two parents: one for Joseph and the other for Mary. However, both are identified as Joseph’s ancestry. Furthermore, only the male line is significant for identification in Judaism. Luke, who appears to stick to facts throughout his gospel, is thought by some to present what he believes to be the complete biological record of Joseph’s ancestry. Since there are no other genealogies in existence of Jesus between his father and Abraham other than Matthew 1 and Luke 3, we have lost the ability to compare sources and determine why the authors included the names they did.

2. Matthew 2:2, 9-10 – What is the star?

The star that led the magi from the east could be an actual star. However, there are two problems with it being an actual star. First, as the Earth rotates, the relative position of stars change. Second, stars do not “stop” as described in verse 9.

Other astrological phenomena have been presented as possibilities. Haley’s Comet passed Earth 12-11 BC. The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that would have appeared as an unusually bright light occurred 7-6 BC. The possibility of a supernova could have generated a temporary luminary object. Unfortunately, anything prior to 4 BC is too early because, according to the vast majority of New Testament scholars, Jesus was not yet born. Also, all theories have the same obstacle of the object stopping over the Child. I await a satisfactory explanation of this event other than “God can do anything.”

3. Matthew 2:23 – Why a “Nazarene”?

Matthew states that the prophets (plural) said, “He [Jesus] will be called a Nazarene” (NASB). This is confusing because there is no such prophecy in the Old Testament by any prophet, not to mention by multiple prophets. Although archaeologists have unearthed pottery supporting inhabitation of Nazareth during the Old Testament, neither Nazareth nor Nazarene is mentioned in the Old Testament. It may be that Matthew was referring to other prophetic writings that have not survived. Matthew does not always name the prophets he paraphrases, but this is the only instance in his entire gospel where he attributes a prophecy to multiple prophets. It would be satisfying to learn Matthew’s source for this claim.

4. Matthew 3:15 – Fulfill all righteousness?

Verses 16-17 describes John’s baptism of Jesus in stimulating richness. But what are we to make of verse 15? How does Jesus, who has no apparent need of being baptized, fulfill all righteousness by being baptized? My first thought is that this statement seems more fitting for his crucifixion than his baptism. My second thought is that Paul teaches that righteousness is obtained by faith. This mystery of Matthew confounds me more than any other.

5. Matthew 4:1 – Jesus tempted by the devil

For decades I pictured the scenario unfolding how it was presented to me when I was young. Jesus went into the wilderness to have alone-time with God, and while he was out there, the devil sprung upon him with three temptations. This is not the case. Matthew attributes the reason for Jesus’ excursion into the wilderness as fulfilling the purpose of being tempted by the devil. He deliberately states that Jesus was “led up by the Spirit” to be tempted. What is the point of this temptation? Jesus passed the test, as he must. So why did the Spirit lead him? Furthermore, what Spirit is Matthew referring to, the Spirit of God? Jesus later tells his disciples, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30, NASB). Wouldn’t this mean that Jesus led himself into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil? Again I ask, for what purpose?

July 13, 2023