“She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21
Recently I was speaking on Christmas from Joseph’s perspective, and we were taking a look at the names and their importance presented in Matthew 1:18-25. As a result, a very good question arose: “So, who exactly are ‘His people” of Matthew 1:21? Technically speaking, and yet simply put, the Jews. So, what about us Gentiles? Don’t fret, God’s heart has always been for everyone, the world (John 3:16). It is not His desire that anyone should perish (1 Peter 3:9, 1 Timothy 2:4). Furthermore, His heart for the world is emphasized to the early church via the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans (Acts 8:9-25) and even a Roman centurion (you cant get any more gentile than a Roman) (Acts 10:34-48). * So, what’s going on here with this announcement to Joseph regarding “His people”?
Joseph is actually a son of Jacob (not to be confused with the one from Genesis)…remember the opening genealogy of Matthew 1? As a “son of David”, he’s being reminded of a Messianic prophecy.
Matthew is somewhat of an extended gospel tract—specifically designed with a Jewish audience in mind—with the purpose of showing them that Jesus is the Messiah. The manuscript opens with genealogies that we typically speed read through, but had you been a Jew in the first century you would have been all ears because it is showing that Joseph (Mary’s husband) is a descendant of David (so is Mary, but by a different son of David—Nathan). This is a big deal, because due to a prophecy given by the prophet Samuel to David regarding the Messiah (2 Sam. 7:12-16) as well as a Psalm of David (Psalm 110:1), “Son of David” became a title for the Messiah. Interestingly, those who are in need of healing will often address Jesus as such meaning that they have connected the prophetic dots and know that He will be the One to begin to reverse the curse of sin entering the world and its side effects.
So, once again, back to the “His people” issue; Matthew is written to a Jewish audience and the Pharisees were right about one thing—sin was a catalyst for Israel’s oppression (Deuteronomy 28:15, Psalm 89:31). You may want to read that again. Here we go…
Israel was still in her sins. They had been unsuccessful in keeping the conditional Mosaic covenant. Subsequently, the reason Israel was experiencing foreign oppression was because of her sins. In the Book of Judges, we see cycles of sin, judgment, repentance, and deliverance. Each of the judges who delivered Israel from her sins was a shadow of the coming Messiah who will once and for all deliver Israel from her sins. This is the main issue—sin. You see, there is a far more nefarious tyrant than Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, or any Caesar—the devil.
Quick Side Note: You’ll notice that the old Christmas carols often allude to this issue, e.g., “O come, O come Immanuel. And ransom captive Israel.” Who is Israel captive to? Sin. “Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day. To save us all from Satan’s power…”.
Jesus first offered the new covenant to that generation, but it was by and large rejected in favor of the old conditional covenant; a covenant, try as hard as they may, they could not keep. If first century Israel had responded in faith and repentance to Jesus, then at that time Jesus would have saved Israel from the consequence of failing to keep the old covenant, i.e., Gentile domination, Roman occupation, and the destruction of the second temple 70 AD. Likewise, Daniel’s 70th week would have occurred (yet another theological squirrel here—maybe next time). The point is that Israel’s salvation from the consequences of sin, specifically not keeping the Mosaic covenant would have occurred very soon after Jesus’ death with no long wait. Nevertheless, Romans 11:26 says that just prior to His rule and rightful reign on earth from Jerusalem that Jesus will “save all Israel” from all of their enemies at that time resulting in the whole nation being delivered from God’s wrath. He is merciful. They will also at that time collectively see that Jesus had been here before “who gave You those wounds?” (Zechariah 13:6).
What does all of this mean for us?
1–Jesus, like “Yahweh” is the name of the Lord and whoever calls upon Him for the forgiveness of their sins and trusts in Him—not works—will be declared forgiven and have everlasting life. (John 3:16, Romans 10:13).
2–The yoke of Jesus is light (Matthew 11:29) and we’re under a new covenant which is, praise God, unconditional—meaning that God has done all of the work. Whereas communion is an opportunity for us to remember this new covenant of grace, He also seals us with the sign of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit, not works nor the Mosaic law, who equips and empowers us to live purposeful lives that reflect the ways of God (read all of Galatians).
3–Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and for Jesus to return (Matthew 6:10, Revelation 22:20).
“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, and He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Acts 15:8-11
