Sermon Notes - Matthew 1:16-25 - Merry Christmas - Littleby Baptist Church - December 21, 2025

1.        Merry Christmas!

2.        The first part of Matthew chapter 1 is genealogy.

3.        All the way from Abraham to Jesus.

4.        We are going to pick up at verse 16.

5.        Matthew 1:16-17

a.        In verse 16 we see a change in how the lineage is presented.

b.       Instead of Joseph being the father…

c.        The verse switches to Mary and then states that she gave birth to Jesus.

d.       Joseph would have been seen as the father to the world, but he was not.

e.        God is the father and Mary is the mother.

6.        Verse 17 seems like a summary of the genealogy, but those who read these words for the first time would have noticed some big points.

a.        This single verse ties to the past with the promises of God and gives us some hints about the future.

b.       The tie to Abraham shows the Jewish heritage.

c.        And would remind the Jewish people about the promise made to bless the world through Abraham’s descendants.

d.       The tie to David shows that the child came from the royal line.

e.        Then it points to the future in that the lineage included others.

f.          Rahab and Ruth are mentioned in the lineage and they were gentiles.

g.        Bethsheba married a Hittite, a gentile.

h.        The child Jesus and the gift He is offering is for all.

i.          Jew and Gentile alike.

j.          Even the inclusion of women, while normal is our eyes, was not normal when these words were written.

k.        We are celebrating a Gift that was meant for everyone.

7.        The most unique and special gift was about to be offered to the world.

a.        Yet the world was unaware.

8.        Some people try to tie the 14 generations in each section to some greater meaning.

a.        In Jewish Numerology 14 is the number of David.

b.       Yet David is not the central figure here.

c.        Why 14, we don’t know.

d.       I would be cautious of anyone who says it has some great meaning.

9.        Matthew 1:18

a.        Matthew is not mincing words.

b.       It could be lost to our eyes and ears.

c.        Christ is not Jesus last name.

d.       Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one or the chosen one.

e.        This is His Story.

f.          What Mattew writes is Jesus’ story.

g.        All of Scripture is Jesus’ story.

h.        The story of Christ’s love for us.

i.          This would have been an obvious and bold statement to the original audience.

j.          This child is God’s chosen one, He is the Messiah.

10.   The rest of this verse is a trying tale.

a.        A young bride was found to be pregnant.

b.       During a period of time when the couple was to remain pure.

c.        Through hindsight, we know that they remained pure.

d.       The baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

e.        This was the work of God.

f.          But it did not look like that to Joseph.

g.        And it did not look like it to the world.

11.   Matthew 1:19

a.        A righteous man.

b.       I suspect many read this as God honoring, loving, one who tried not to sin, maybe one who offered sacrifices, was honest in his business dealings, and more.

c.        We get some of that from our understanding of righteousness.

d.       And some from what we know about Joseph.

e.        But during that time, if someone was seen as righteous, it meant they faithfully followed the Law.

12.   According to the Law, Joseph has grounds to divorce and even stone Mary.

a.        The Romans frowned on stoning.

b.       So, divorce was likely the only real option.

c.        This would have been divorce.

d.       They were married; they just had not consummated the marriage.

13.   As a righteous man, Joseph was going to divorce Mary.

a.        But he was going to be compassionate about it.

b.       He was going to do it quietly.

c.        He cared enough about her that he did not want to disgrace her.

14.   Josheph did not see the BIG picture yet.

a.        He did not know what God was doing.

b.       But his approach tells us a lot about the man that he was.

c.        About the kind of father, God chose for his son.

d.       He was righteous.

e.        He tried his best to honor God and follow His commands.

f.          He was compassionate.

g.        Willing to protect Mary as best he could.

h.        Knowing that this would hurt her and still could mean her death.

i.          God chose a righteous and compassionate man to raise His Son.

15.   Matthew 1:20

a.        Joseph has now been read in.

b.       He sees the big picture.

c.        He had been contemplating what to do.

d.       Likely hearing what Mary had to say.

e.        Feedback from his family.

f.          His friends.

g.        Maybe a priest.

h.        Thinking about what the Law says.

i.          How he obviously cared for Mary.

j.          Finalizing his course of action.

16.   But God…

a.        God had other plans.

b.       Mary being pregnant and married to Joseph is part of God’s plan.

c.        The angel stepped in and helped Joseph get up to speed.

d.       God intervening allowed Joseph to not divorce Mary and still honor the law.

e.        Divorce was allowable for adultery.

f.          But Mary did not commit adultery.

g.        She was faithful.

h.        Divorce was not an option under the Law.

17.   Matthew 1:21

a.        Now we get to the why.

b.       The baby is coming to save His people.

c.        Jesus is coming to save people from their sins.

d.       One of the translations for Jesus is “Yahweh Saves.”

e.        A fitting name for the gift from the Father.

f.          The gift that will pave the way to salvation for all who believe.

18.   If the gift is for all of us as we see in the genealogy, why does it say, ‘His people.’

a.        This is not an OT or Jewish thing.

b.       We all become God’s people through Jesus.

c.        God’s intent was to bring salvation to Jew and Gentile alike.

d.       And Jesus confirms this when He states that we are grafted into the Vine, into Jesus Himself.

e.        If we believe, we are His people.

19.   Matthew 1:22-23

a.        This is from Isaiah 7:14.

b.       All of this has been foretold.

c.        Roughly 700 years earlier.

d.       It is likely that Joseph may have remembered this Scripture.

e.        But I doubt he ever thought he would be part of it.

20.   But God…

a.        God chose him and Mary to care for His Son.

b.       Immanuel or God with us.

c.        Jesus is always with us.

d.       We may remember that when we have a need.

e.        When we are hurting.

f.          When we seek comfort.

g.        When we need His wisdom, strength, or peace.

h.        When we are climbing that steep hill.

21.   But God with us is not limited to those trying times.

a.        Our God is always with us.

b.       He is with us when we are celebrating and praising Him.

c.        He is even when we may not want Him to see what we are thinking or doing.

d.       He is with us when we return to our sins.

e.        When we choose things over Him.

f.          Jesus is always with us.

g.        When we are following Him and when we are not.

h.        Psalm 139:7-12

i.          Our God is always with us, wherever we are.

22.   Matthew 1:24-25

a.        Joseph believes and obeys.

b.       Being a righteous man.

c.        He is following God’s call on his life.

23.   The world would have had him cast Mary aside.

a.        The world would have had him protect his honor.

b.       To protect his reputation.

24.   But God…

a.        God had other plans.

b.       And Joseph responded.

c.        He was faithful.

d.       He did what he was called to do.

e.        He named the baby Jesus.

f.          Yahweh Saves.

g.        God with us.

25.   Jesus came to save us.

a.        He is calling all of us to be faithful.

b.       As a Christ follower…

c.        We are to respond faithfully to His calling.

d.       To step out in faith and do what He created us to do.

e.        We are to follow His commands.

f.          The greatest of them being to Love God with all that we are.

g.        Followed by to love others as we do ourselves.

h.        Will you follow Jesus?

i.          Will you step out and respond to His calling?

26.   If you do not know Jesus.

a.        And there is something missing from your life.

b.       Jesus is that something.

c.        He was offered as your sin sacrifice.

d.       He wants to pardon you from the debt you owe.

e.        All it takes is belief and repentance.

f.          Repent of your sins.

g.        Give Jesus your life.

h.        And you are forgiven.

27.   If you are ready to make that commitment today.

a.        I am here to pray with you during our closing song.

b.       If you have questions, I would love to talk with you.

28.   Merry Christmas.