Swindoll's Living Insights Commentary Matthew 1a - Flipbook - Page 22
Announcement and Arrival of the King (Matthew 1:1–4:25)
KEY TERMS IN MATTHEW 1:1–4:25
baptizō (βαπτίζω) [907] “to bathe,” “to wash,” “to
immerse”
The English word baptize is not a translation so much as a transliteration
of the Greek verb baptizō, which refers to the act of dipping something
underwater for the purpose of washing it. In the ancient world, the act
of immersion underwater was used by both Jewish and pagan religious
groups for ritual cleansing—initiation into a sacred community, consecration for a particular vocation, or the symbolic washing away of sin or
guilt in anticipation of worship. To be “baptized into” a community was
to become identified with the collective group, to share the benefits of
membership in it, and to help shoulder its responsibilities.
christos (χριστός) [5547] “messiah,” “anointed one”
The Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the Septuagint, used christos to translate the Hebrew word mashiach [H4899] (from which we get
the English word messiah), meaning “anointed one.” In the Old Testament, an actual anointing ceremony with olive oil was used to consecrate prophets (1 Kgs. 19:16), priests (Exod. 28:41), and kings (1 Sam. 10:1).
While Israel had many anointed prophets, priests, and kings throughout
its history, these all came to be seen as anticipating the ultimate Prophet,
Priest, and King—the Messiah, or “Christ.”
kēryssō (κηρύσσω) [2784] “to preach,” “to proclaim,” “to
announce”
In the first century, this verb generally referred to the making of official,
public proclamations, as a herald might cry out an announcement from a
king.1 In the New Testament, it carries this sense, emphasizing the proclamation of God’s kingdom with a call to repentance and faith (e.g., 3:1;
4:17). After Christ’s death and resurrection, this proclamation of the good
news would focus specifically on Christ as not only the King of the coming kingdom but also the Son of God who died and rose again (Acts 9:20;
28:30-31; 1 Cor. 1:22-24; 15:12).
The Genesis of Jesus
12
The arecord of the genealogy of bJesus cthe Messiah, the son of David,
the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham awas the father of Isaac,
b
Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob
1
This is a record of the ancestors of
Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of
David and of Abraham*:
1
2
Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
NLT
NASB
MATTHEW 1:1-17