QT 01/02/2026 Sun. Matthew 1. God’s Faithfulness in the Middle of the Mess 混乱中的信实神
QT 01/02/2026 Sun. Matthew 1. God’s Faithfulness in the Middle of the Mess
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew1
Matthew 1:6 “and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.” (ESV)
As we know, Solomon’s mother was Bathsheba (see the scandal recorded in 2Samuel 11–12, and Solomon’s birth there at 12:24–25). But Matthew here referred to Solomon’s mother not as “Bathsheba” but as “the wife of Uriah”, which somehow resurfaced the scandal of 2Samuel 11 for the readers of the Gospel of Matthew.
Indeed, we see that Matthew opens his Gospel in a way that surprises many readers. Instead of starting with miracles or sermons, he begins with a genealogy—a long list of names, many of which carry stories of scandal, failure, and brokenness. This is not accidental. From the very first chapter, God is teaching us something essential:
(1) His redemptive purposes are not derailed by human messiness.
At the same time, Scripture is careful. God’s grace does not excuse sin or invite us to treat disobedience lightly. As the apostle Paul says, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1–2). God redeems sinners—but He never celebrates sin.
(2) God Works Through Broken Histories (Matthew 1:1–17)
Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage through people like Tamar, Rahab, David, and Bathsheba—names linked with sexual sin, deception, abuse of power, and profound moral failure. These stories are not examples to imitate. Rather, they testify to a deeper truth:
(3) God’s covenant promises are stronger than human failure.
This genealogy reminds us that: God is honest about human sin. God does not abandon His plan because people fall short. God brings salvation through flawed people, not flawless ones.
For readers today, this is deeply comforting. Your family background, personal mistakes, or the broken systems around you do not place you beyond God’s reach.
(4) God Acts in His Sovereign Way (Matthew 1:18–25)
The account of Jesus’ birth brings this theme into sharp focus. Mary faces a situation that looks devastating—pregnant, unmarried, and vulnerable to shame or worse. Joseph, described as a “just man,” plans to divorce her quietly. Everything about the situation feels humanly impossible.
But then God acts. “That which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20, ESV) The virgin birth is not a workaround for human failure—it is a declaration of God’s sovereign initiative. Salvation does not come from human effort, moral achievement, or clever solutions. It comes because God steps in.
Joseph’s obedience is quiet but profound. He believes God’s word, accepts personal cost, and submits his plans to the Lord’s will. In doing so, he becomes part of God’s redemptive story.
(5) Grace Without Compromise
This passage does not teach that sin is necessary for God’s glory. Rather, it shows that God’s grace is greater than sin. Human disobedience creates real pain, confusion, and consequences—but it does not outmatch God’s power to redeem.
God does not need our sin to accomplish His purposes. Yet when sin has already done its damage, He is not limited by it.
Application: Hope for the Present
Many believers carry quiet shame: Regret over past decisions, family dysfunction they didn’t choose or circumstances that feel beyond repair. Matthew 1 speaks directly into that pain. Your situation is not hopeless because God’s plan does not depend on perfect circumstances—only on His perfect faithfulness.
This passage invites us to:
(a) Trust God even when His work is hidden or misunderstood
(b) Obey God even when obedience is costly
(c) Believe that God is at work, even in confusing and painful seasons
Conclusion
Matthew begins the story of Jesus by reminding us who God is. He is a God who enters broken history, works through imperfect people, and brings salvation in His own sovereign way—for His glory and our good. The birth of Jesus declares this truth clearly: no mess is too great for God, and no life is beyond His redeeming power.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that Your purposes are not undone by our failures. Help us to trust You in the middle of our confusion, to obey You even when the cost is high, and to rest in the grace You provide through Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 01/02/2026 星期日. 马太福音1. 混乱中的信实神
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/1/
马太福音1:6 “耶西生大卫王。乌利亚的妻子给大卫生了所罗门。”
众所周知，所罗门的母亲是拔示巴（参见《撒母耳记下》11-12章记载的丑闻，以及12:24-25节所罗门的出生记述）。但马太在此称所罗门的母亲并非 “拔示巴” ，而是 “乌利亚的妻子” ，这在某种程度上让《马太福音》的读者重新想起《撒母耳记下》第11章的丑闻。
事实上，马太福音的开篇方式令许多读者感到意外。他没有从神迹或讲道开始，而是以家谱——一份冗长的名字清单——作为起点，其中许多名字背后都承载着丑闻、失败与破碎的故事。这绝非偶然。从第一章起，神就在教导我们至关重要的真理：
(1) 人的混乱无法阻碍祂救赎的旨意。
与此同时，圣经的措辞极为谨慎。神的恩典绝非纵容罪恶的借口，更不允许我们轻视悖逆。正如使徒保罗所言：“… 我们可以常在罪中，叫恩典增多吗？绝对不可！… ”（罗马书6:1-2）。神救赎罪人——但祂从不为罪恶喝彩。
(2) 神在破碎的历史中行事（马太福音1:1-17）
马太通过塔玛、喇合、大卫、拔示巴等人物追溯耶稣的家谱——这些名字与性罪、欺骗、滥用权力及严重的道德败坏紧密相连。这些故事并非供人效仿的范例，而是见证更深层的真理：
(3) 神的立约应许比人的失败更坚固
这份家谱提醒我们：神对人的罪坦诚相待。即便人类失足，祂仍坚守计划。救赎总借着有瑕疵的人成就，而非完美之人。
对当代读者而言，这带来极深的安慰：无论家族背景、个人过错或周遭破碎的体系，都无法使你脱离神的眷顾。
(4) 神以主权之手行事（马太福音1:18-25）
耶稣降生的记载将此主题凸显无遗。马利亚面临看似毁灭性的处境——未婚怀孕，面临羞辱甚至更糟的境地。被称为“义人”的约瑟计划悄悄休了她。整件事在人看来毫无可能。
但神出手了：“因为她怀的孕是从圣灵来的。” （马太福音1:20）童女怀孕并非弥补人类失败的权宜之计，而是神主权作为的宣告。救恩不源于人的努力、道德成就或巧妙方案，唯因神亲自介入。
约瑟的顺服是静默而深刻的。他信靠神的话语，甘愿付出个人代价，将自己的计划交托于主的旨意。如此行，他便成为神救赎故事中的一环。
(5) 不妥协的恩典
这段经文并非教导罪是彰显神荣耀的必要条件，而是表明神的恩典胜过罪恶。人的悖逆确实带来真实的痛苦、混乱与后果——但这些都无法超越神救赎的大能。
神无需借着我们的罪来成就祂的旨意。然而当罪已造成伤害时，祂并不受其限制。
应用：当下的盼望
许多信徒背负着隐秘的羞愧：对过往抉择的懊悔，非己所愿的家庭失调，或是看似无法挽回的处境。马太福音第一章正为这般痛楚发声。你的处境并非绝望，因神的计划不依赖完美境遇——唯凭祂全然的信实。
这段经文邀请我们：
(a) 即使神的工作隐秘难明或被误解，仍要信靠祂
(b) 即使顺服需要付出高昂代价，仍要顺服祂的旨意。
(c) 即使身处困惑痛苦的环境中，仍要确信神依然在做工。
结论
马太福音以提醒我们上帝的本质开启耶稣的故事。祂是那位进入破碎历史、借不完美之人行事、以主权方式带来救赎的上帝——为彰显祂的荣耀，成就我们的益处。耶稣的降生清晰宣告了这个真理：没有混乱能难倒上帝，没有生命能逃脱祂救赎的大能。
祷告
主啊，感谢祢，因我们的失败不能使祢的旨意落空。求祢帮助我们在困惑中仍信靠祢，即使代价高昂仍顺服祢，并在祢借着耶稣基督所赐的恩典中得享安息。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
