“They will call him Immanuel”
Matthew 1:18-25
Key Verse: 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
1. After portraying Jesus’ genealogy, what does Matthew say about how Jesus’ birth came about? (18) What does it mean that Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph and what must their life have been like? What happened to interrupt their plans?
2. How did Joseph plan to deal with the news of Mary’s pregnancy? (19) What does it mean that Joseph was “faithful to the law” and why didn’t he want to expose her to public shame and want to “divorce her quietly”? How does this affect our view of a “righteous man”?
3. When Joseph considered this, what happened? (20) What does it mean that Joseph was fearful, and how did the angel help Joseph overcome his fear? How is this an example of God being with Joseph?
4. What did the angel tell Joseph about the son to be born? (20, 21) What does the angel’s message tell us about God’s will for Jesus? Why do people need to be saved from their sins? (Ro 3:23; Jn 8:34-36) How is Jesus uniquely able to do so? (Isa 53:5; Jn 1:29)
5. What did Matthew conclude about the birth of Jesus? (22-23) What was the meaning of this verse to King Ahaz? (Isa 7:14) Describe some ways Jesus revealed He is “Immanuel, God with us” in the New Testament? (Jn 4; Mt 9:9-13; Lk 7:11-17)? How did Joseph respond to the angel’s message? (24-25)
6. How does Immanuel God Jesus give you comfort at Christmas? How is God’s comfort different from sympathy and how does it give us hope? (Jn 10:10; 1 Pe 4:2)