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What Does the Virgin Birth Mean?

Parkhurst Bible Lesson
Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15
Sunday, September 14, 2008

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International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday September 14, 2008
Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18—NRSV).

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost”  (Matthew 1:18—KJV).

Jesus Christ came into the world with a beginning like no other person. Whereas the Holy Spirit filled John the Baptist before he was born, the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus the Messiah in Mary (see Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:13-38). At the very moment of conception, Jesus Christ was the “only begotten Son of God” (see John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18, in the KJV). Because the Holy Spirit conceived Jesus, John called Jesus “God,” writing, “No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known” (John 1:18). Matthew reminds us that Jesus’ unique conception and virgin birth fulfilled God’s promise through the Hebrew prophets (compare Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23).

When God sent His Son into the world, He intended for Jesus the Messiah to be “Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us’” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus lived, taught, worked miracles, and raised the dead as God, the Son of God, in the midst of His people. Jesus specifically taught, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

Some in the religious leadership of Jesus’ day recognized and rejected Jesus’ various claims to be “God with us.” These leaders sought to kill Jesus for “calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God” (John 5:18; see also John 10:33). These leaders eventually crucified Jesus, but God, His Father, raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20-23).

© Copyright 2008 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

You may be reprint or reproduce this Parkhurst Bible Lesson for not-for-profit use.

Questions for Further Thought
or Class Discussion

International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday September 14, 2008
Matthew 1:18-25, 2:13-15

Printable PDF With Questions
Bulletin Size With Questions Printable PDF
Bulletin Size Without Questions Printable PDF

          Think about your answers to the questions below before your Sunday school class meets, discuss in class, or use for further study. In some cases, I do not always write the questions to have a definitive right or wrong answer. In most cases, the questions should encourage everyone to think about how to apply biblical truths to their daily lives. Before beginning to answer the questions below, read the entire Scripture lesson in your favorite translation or compare translations. Write your thoughts in the space provided and take them to your Sunday school class for discussion.

Available in the "Religion Section" of The Oklahoman newspaper every Saturday, please do not remove the copyright notice or publish these lessons for profit if you reprint them. To download these Bible Studies as an audio file or podcast to listen to, go to ParkhurstBibleLessons.com.

For newspapers, reprints, or other for profit use, contact:
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. - lgp@InternationalBibleLessons.com.

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