How Isaiah's Prophecy of the Messiah Transforms Our Lives - | Prophecy Fulfilled! - [Matthew 1:17–23 Verse by Verse Bible Study]

A quiet carpenter stands at a crossroads. A long genealogy resolves in a single name. And an ancient promise becomes flesh. We open Matthew 1:17–23 and follow its thread through three sets of fourteen generations, a surprising act of mercy, and a child whose name announces his mission: Jesus, Yahweh is salvation.

We start with the architecture of time in Matthew’s genealogy—why 42 matters, how six sevens signal a seventh, and what that means for a people waiting on God’s timing. Then the camera narrows to Joseph, torn between the law and love, choosing compassion before he understands the miracle. An angel reframes the story, calling him “son of David,” asking him not to fear, and entrusting him with the naming that secures Jesus in David’s line. The name itself sets the agenda: not slogans or sentiment, but rescue from sin’s grip and guilt.

From there, we anchor the moment in Isaiah 7:14. The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and his name will be Emmanuel—God with us. We explore how presence changes everything: courage in hardship, integrity under pressure, generosity that costs, and love that crosses enemy lines. Through vivid historical snapshots—from David Livingstone’s perseverance to Lottie Moon’s sacrificial care—we witness how faith becomes action when Emmanuel lives at the center. This is the heart of Christmas and the essence of the gospel: God is not distant, and the fracture is not final.

If you’re hungry for a clear, Scripture-rich journey that connects prophecy, history, and real life, this conversation will steady your hope and sharpen your vision. Come reflect on timing, mercy, and the name above every name—and consider the next faithful step in your own story. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so others can find the show.

Chapters

• 0:00 Setting The Passage And Focus
• 1:46 The Genealogy And The Number 42
• 6:00 Waiting On God’s Timing
• 7:58 Joseph’s Dilemma And Mercy
• 10:45 Loving Enemies In Wartime
• 10:46 Naming Jesus And His Mission
• 13:40 Prophecy Fulfilled: Emmanuel
• 14:05 Stories Of Calling And Salvation
• 18:20 Sacrifice, Love, And Witness
• 21:20 Invitation To Faith And Next Steps
• 24:20 Declarations, Blessing, And Psalm 23

Transcript

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Matthew 1, 17 to 23 captures one of the most profound moments in all of Scripture. The announcement that the long-awaited Messiah would enter the world through a miraculous virgin birth. This passage not only connects Jesus to the sweeping genealogy of Israel's history, but it also reveals a fulfillment of ancient prophecy given hundreds of years before his coming. In this podcast, we explore the meaning, context, and significance of Matthew 1:17 to 23 and how it reveals God's unfolding plan of redemption. Then we'll do a deep dive into the scripture and look at the main points of this passage, which are as follows 1. The numerical significance of Jesus' birth. 2. Joseph's compassionate response to presumed betrayal. 3. Call his name Jesus. And 4. Prophecy fulfilled. God with us, Emmanuel. Matthew 1, 17 to 23 reveals who Jesus is and what he came to do. This is the heart of Christmas and the essence of the gospel. Let's look at our first point. Matthew presents a numerically significant genealogy of Jesus to detail that something of major significance occurred every 14 generations until Jesus was born. From Abraham, who is claimed not only as a father of the Jews, but is considered to be the father of the Muslims and Christians as well, to David, the greatest king of the Jews, there were fourteen generations. Then from King David to the Babylonian captivity, that is when Nebuchadnezzar took Judah captive to Babylon, there were another fourteen generations. For 70 years, the Jews were captives in Babylon. This is still considered to today by the Jews to be the greatest disaster that ever befell them, worse than Hitler's attempt to eliminate the Jews. Next, from the Babylonian captivity to the Messiah Jesus, the ultimate savior of the Jews, there were yet another 14 generations. Matthew is pointing out that there are three sets of 14 generations before we get to Jesus. 14 times 3 equals 42. 42 in Jewish theology indicates that one phase is coming to an end and we are transitioning to another. Significantly, the Jews made 42 stops in the wilderness before entering the promised land. The next step after the 42 wilderness stops was a new season, entrance into the promised land. Jesus was next in line after these three sets of 14 or 42 generations. Jesus is a new beginning, the new season, and the new phase. 42 is also six sets of seven. Jesus represents the seventh seven. On the seventh day God rested. What Matt is pointing out here is that Jesus already is coming in as the seventh seven of the generations. Jesus did not show up immediately after Adam and Eve sinned and were ejected from the Garden of Eden. It took time for God's will to be manifested to mankind. David Livingston was a Scottish doctor, missionary, and explorer who lived from 1813 to 1873. He served as a missionary in Africa from 1841 to 1873, and he is considered to be the greatest missionary to Africa ever. Early on, Livingston struggled. He failed to establish any viable mission stations and he had little or no converts to show for his efforts. He then decided to explore and map Africa. He was the first European to explore and map this interior of Africa. Additionally, he was the first European to lay eyes on the world's largest waterfall, Victoria Falls. And he is the one who gave it the name Victoria Falls, as he named it after the then reigning Queen of England, Queen Victoria. While traveling Africa, Livingston saw upfront and firsthand the cruelty of the African slave trade. As a result, Livingston became a vehement and outspoken opponent of the African slave trade. However, David Livingston did not achieve his goal of becoming a missionary easily. It took time, discipline, and dedication. He was born in the mill town of Blantyre, Scotland. He was the second of seven children. From the age of 10, he started working 14-hour days, six days a week in the mills. One day at church, the pastor read a letter that stated, there was a tremendous need for missionaries in China. It also said that the best training for a missionary would be that of a doctor. David was 19 years old and he determined then that he would become a medical missionary. It seemed impossible. He lived at home. Almost every penny he earned went to pay the rent and fund the education of the younger children. David did some calculations. If he saved every penny he could, in three years he would have the 24 pounds saved up to attend one term of medical school. By then he would be 23 years old. David was not discouraged. It would take time, but in three years he could start his journey to become a medical missionary. In November 1836, David Livingston finally had enough money saved up to attend Anderson College. He was now 23 years old. In September 1838, David finished his course of study at Anderson College. David was now 25 years old. Six years had come and passed since he had heard the call for medical missionaries. He made his way to London, 400 miles away from Anderson College, Glasgow, and he went to apply to the London Missionary Society to become a missionary. He was accepted. David Livingston, the greatest missionary to Africa and a pivotal catalyst for the end of the slave trade in Africa, did not become a missionary easily. It took time, discipline, hard work, and patience. We too have to keep working, praying, giving God our very best. Paul told the Galatians to not be weary in well-doing, because in due season they will reap if they do not give up. This brings us to a second point, Joseph's compassionate response to presumed betrayal. And this is uh outlined in verses 18 to 19. This is how the birth of Jesus and Messiah came about. His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. In Jewish culture, there were three steps to a couple being married. These steps were first engagement, second, espousal, and third, betrothal. Mary and Joseph were in the period of espousal, the year when they were demarried but had not yet been together physically. Mary being pregnant was a huge issue, as under Jewish law, she'd be considered to have committed adultery, and the judgment for that was that the woman and the man would be stoned to death. Joseph had a mind to send her away so that nobody would know and she would not be disgraced. This was a man who was moved to show God's love to someone who he believed did not deserve it, someone who he believed had cheated on him. We look at the Second World War and we find Eric Liddell was serving as a missionary in China. And while there, he was asked to go to Xiaochang to work as a missionary. Now, due to the war, this is 1937, there were three armies fighting in the Great Plains. These were the communists, the nationalists, and the Japanese. And before Eric arrived, the hospital only treated nationalists or soldiers as they were from the official government of China. Additionally, both the communists and the Japanese despised Christians. After Eric started work with the hospital in Xiochang, the hospital expanded their services to include Japanese and communist soldiers. This was directly a result of Eric's influence as he gave help to anyone who needed it, regardless of what side they were fighting on. Jesus taught that we must love our enemies and do good to them without expecting anything back. When we do so, God will surely reward us. Additionally, when we do so, we show that we are children of the Most High, as God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. This brings us to a third point. Call his name Jesus, verses 20 to 21. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him that Mary's pregnancy was of God. God sent an angel to clear Mary's good name with Joseph. Mary, who was being honored by God above any other woman, was being looked down on by those who not who are not privy to God's plan for mankind. Mary's role was to be a son, and Joseph's role was to name him. By naming him, Joseph makes Jesus his son and thereby brings Jesus into the lineage of David. The name that Joseph is to give to the baby Jesus is a Greek form of the Hebrew Yeshua, which means Yahweh is salvation. God is salvation. The name Jesus here indicates what he does as he will save his people from their sins. City Stud was a pioneering missionary in Africa. He conducted missionary work in the Congo and he started there in 1913. While he was in the Congo, he trained other missionaries to work in that part of Africa. The missionary ran into a tribe while he was traveling in the Congo. And these members of this tribe asked the missionary if he was English. When the missionary replied yes, these natives of the Congo took the missionary to meet a man, a member of their tribe. The man stated that several years ago, when he was a teenager, he had a dream. In the dream, God told him to wait for the English as they would tell him about God. Ever since then, the people of the tribe had asked every white person they met if they were English. They did not know English was a nationality. They thought it meant a God person. And the English missionary was able to tell this tribe about Jesus, who could save them from their sins, and they gladly and willingly accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus came to save all who believe on him from their sins. And our fourth point, prophecy fulfilled. God with us, Emmanuel, verses 22 to 23, which reads thus all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said to the prophet. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. The word that is used here for virgin is Alma. It is also found in the original verse that has been quoted here. Isaiah 7.14 and means maiden or young girl. It never refers to a married woman. In the Christian church, the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is one of our foundational doctrines. Isaiah 7.14 is considered to be messianic prophecy. The Holy Spirit revealed to Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus was born that this child would have three unique qualities. The mother would be a virgin. There would be no biological father. And the name of this child will be Emmanuel, God with us. The word Emmanuel only occurs three times in the entire Bible: Isaiah 7.14, Isaiah 8.8, and here Matthew 1.23. In all these verses, Emmanuel is used as a proper name, indicating that a person is being referenced. The only child who fulfills the powerful descriptions aside to Emmanuel, the three unique times that the word Emmanuel is used in the Bible is Jesus Christ. Jesus assumed human flesh so that he could give his life, so that we, mankind, could be reconciled back to God. Jesus, in his fear will address the disciples, exhorted them to love one another as he had loved them. He instructed his disciples that there is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one friend. We read of Lottie Moon, who served as a missionary in China from 1873 to 1912. During her last year in China in 1912, there was a famine in the land which greatly distressed Lottie, as all around her the Chinese were dying of hunger. Lottie's cook was making meals for Lottie to eat. However, Lottie was not eating the food. She was going out in the yard and giving the food to passing, emaciated children rather than eating it herself. Without anyone realizing it, Lottie had started to starve herself so as to feed others. By the time a fellow missionary caught on, Lottie only weighed 50 pounds. The doctor who looked at her said that Lottie's only hope of survival was to go back to the United States for treatment. On December 13, 1912, Lottie was carried aboard the Manchuria, which was bound for San Francisco via Japan. Lotte's trunk was placed at the foot of the bed, but it was empty. Lottie had given everything away to the Chinese who were in need. On Christmas Eve, 1912, as she journeyed to the USA, Lottie raised her hands in the traditional greeting of one Chinese friend to another and breathed her last breath. Lottie Moon, in the footsteps of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, had lost her life as she sought to provide life to those around her who were in need. To today, the Southern Baptists still collect an annual Lottie Moon Christmas offering, which is to be used for missions. This year 2025, the goal is to collect 210 million, 100% of which will be used to support missions. Emmanuel, God with us, is entreating us to come and live for him and be like him. Whosoever will may come. God is calling all of us to follow him in Christian discipleship. Today, if you do not know Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, he is knocking at the door of your heart. Will you please let Jesus in? There's eternal life after this life here on earth, and we have to make a choice where we'll spend eternity, hell or heaven. Hell is real. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. There's only one way to heaven, and that is by confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and believing in our hearts. If anyone listening wishes to come to know the joy, peace, and love that can be found in Jesus, please feel free to repeat after me. Jesus, please come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Wash me and make me clean. Teach me to live for you. Amen. If you have prayed this prayer, congratulations. You're now officially one of Jesus' believers. Please let others know that you're now a follower of Jesus. Set time aside to read the Bible daily. You can do so online. If you have not habitually read the Bible previously, I recommend that you start with the Gospel of John. Talk to God constantly about everything. He loves to hear from us as we are his children. Please find a Christian church to go to fellowship with other believers so that you can learn how to be a disciple of Jesus. In conclusion, we pray that this podcast has positively impacted all of our lives and has enabled us all to become more like Jesus. Please like, follow, and subscribe to catch a Fire podcasts on the varying platforms that we are featured on. Please join me as I speak transformational words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the state stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those who are in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so we are ministering to Jesus. We declare in the Queen the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working correctly. We declare in the Queen the name of Jesus that God is ordering our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare in the Queen the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare in the Queen the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and has is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such, we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare, indeed, in the name of Jesus, that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare, indeed, in the name of Jesus, that in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reap a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold for whatever we put our hands to. We declare, in the queen, in the name of Jesus, that we are living under an open heaven. In every area of our lives, blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's say the 23rd Psalm. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restored my soul. He leaded me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace. Amen.