Bible Stories for Adults

The Annunciation

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25

Next Week - Jesus is Born (Luke 2:1-20)
Bible Words to Remember:
God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19

Why does Matthew begin his gospel with Jesus' genealogy?
Matthew 1:1 = Book written for Jews to show Jesus as promised Messiah
What is significant about the three groupings of generations?
Matthew 1:17 = 14 generations each (7 means total, complete to Jew)
Genesis 22:18 = God promised to bless all nations through Abraham's offspring
2 Samuel 7:12-13 = God promised to establish throne of David's offspring forever
Jeremiah 23:5-6 = God promised a Savior to the exiled Jews

Why might Luke's genealogy be so different than Matthew's? = (J-Legal, M-Blood)
Luke 3:23 = Theologians believe Luke's is genealogy through Mary
How much further does Luke trace Jesus' lineage?
Luke 3:38 = To God His Father, All mankind is part of Jesus' family

What four women are included in Matthew's genealogy? = Lutheran Witness
Matthew 1:3-6 = Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (incest, prostitute, foreigner, adulteress)
Who were each of these women? = All were pagan foreigners
Genesis 38:11, 16 = Judah mistook daughter-in-law Tamar for prostitute & made pregnant
Joshua 2:1 = Rahab was Canaanite prostitute who protected spies in Jericho
Ruth 1:22 = Ruth was widowed Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi
2 Samuel 11:2-3, 26-27 = David's biggest sin was having Urriah killed to get Bathsheba

How could God allow such evil women to taint the ancestry of the Messiah?
Mark 2:16-17 = Jesus came to save the sinners, not the righteous
What group of humanity can find comfort in this?
Romans 3:23 = For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Where were Jesus' parents from?
Luke 1:26-27 = Nazareth, a Zebulun town (in Roman district of Galilee)
How did Matthew use this as a fulfillment of Messianic prophesy?
Matthew 2:23 = Per prophets: He will be called a Nazarene

How was this a twist on words?
Isaiah 11:1 = Hebrew word used for shoot is same as Nazarene (without vowels)
What other twist on words is significant for Jesus as a Nazarene?
Numbers 6:1, 8 = A Nazirite was one who was consecrated to God for a period

Who was Gabriel?
Luke 1:26 = An angel (angelos is Greek for messenger)

What are other key points in God's plan where He used messengers? = Refer
Genesis 22:10-12 = Angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac
Joshua 5:13-15 = Angel told Joshua he was standing on holy ground
Judges 13:3, 24 = Angel told Samson's sterile mother she would have him, a Nazirite
Daniel 6:21-23 = Angel protected Daniel in the lion's den

Luke 1:13 = Angel told Zechariah his sterile wife would have John (the Baptist)
Matthew 1:20 = Angel told Joseph to keep Mary as wife
Luke 2:8-11 = Angel told shepherds of birth of the Christ
Matthew 2:13 = Angel told Joseph to take Jesus & Mary to Egypt
Mark 16:5-6 = Angel at tomb told women Jesus had risen

Acts 5:18-20 = Angel released apostles from jail
Revelation 1:1 = Revelation was given to John via an angel

How are we called to be God's messengers?
Matthew 28:19-20 = The Great Commission

How did Mary respond to the appearance of Gabriel? = She was greatly troubled
Luke 1:28-29 = Why would God come to her, a young peasant girl in an insignificant town
What seven Old Testament prophesies does Gabriel say will be fulfilled?
Luke 1:30-33 = Virgin birth, name Jesus, great, God's Son, David's throne, rule Israel, kingdom forever

What was Mary's immediate concern with Gabriel's message?
Luke 1:34 = How will this be since I am a virgin?
How did Mary's question show fulfillment of another prophesy?
Isaiah 7:14 = God will give a sign: The virgin will be with child
How was Gabriel's reply incorporated into the Apostles' Creed?
Luke 1:35 = Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

What example does Gabriel give that shows Nothing is impossible with God?
Luke 1:36-37 = Barren Elizabeth is pregnant in her old age
How did Mary respond to her calling?
Luke 1:38 = I am the Lord's servant ... I accept the calling
How are we to respond to our callings?
1 Peter 4:10-11 = Each one should use their gifts to serve others

Marriage in Biblical times included:
Man paid a bride price to the woman's father
A betrothal period would pass before the couple lived together
After betrothal, the bride was brought to her husband's home

Girls were usually betrothed when old enough to have children
Men usually waited until established in trade, around 25 yrs old
Betrothal was the first part of marriage, Usually around a year
It was legally binding, Could only be broken by divorce

If girl became pregnant during betrothal, man had three options:
Accept the adultery and proceed with the marriage
Publicly divorce woman and have her stoned to death
Quietly divorce woman

How did Joseph plan to handle Mary's situation?
Matthew 1:19 = Divorce her quietly
How did God change Joseph's mind?
Matthew 1:20-21 = Sent an angel who told him son was Savior from God
Why had God put Joseph in such a predicament?
Matthew 1:22-23 = To fulfill prophesy of a virgin with child
What did Joseph finally decide to do?
Matthew 1:24 = Keep Mary as his wife
Why didn't Joseph consummate the marriage?
Matthew 1:25 = Virgin birth

What name was the child given?
Matthew 1:25 = Jesus (Greek), Joshua (Hebrew), means the Lord saves (Savior)
What other names were given to Jesus?
Matthew 1:23 = Immanuel, means God with us
John 1:41 = Messiah (Hebrew for the Anointed One), Christ (Greek)
Matthew 1:1 = Son of David, Son of Abraham (the promised offspring)
Matthew 4:3 = Son of God (wholly God)
Matthew 8:20 = Son of Man (wholly man)
John 1:36 = The Lamb of God (the great atoning sacrifice)
John 20:28 = My Lord and my God (Our Lord & God)
Isaiah 59:20 = Redeemer (paid the price for our sins)
Isaiah 9:6 = Prince of Peace + others (peace that passes all understanding)