Bible Text: Matthew 1:18-25 |  

“Have Mercy on Us,”

Open:  Those who cry out for mercy (Matthew 9:27, 15:22, 20:31, and Matthew 12:23)

            What expectations did they hold?

I.        The Promise

          A.     1 Chronicles 17:11-14, spoken to David

                  1.      (v11) “I will raise up your offspring to succeed you…and I will establish his kingdom.”

                  2.      (v12) “He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.”

                  3.      (v13) “I will be his father and he will be my son.  I will never take my love away.”

                  4.      (v14) “I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever.”

          B.     Isaiah 9:6-7

                  1.      (v6) “The government will be on his shoulders” and he will have a really long name.

                  2.      (v7) “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.”

                  3.      “He will reign on David’s throne…establishing and upholding it with justice and righteous…”

                  4.      “…from that time on and forever.”

          C.     Isaiah 11:1-4, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse”

                  1.      (v2) “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him” 00wisdom, counsel, power, knowledge

                  2.      (v4) “With righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor.”

                  3.      (v5) “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”

II.       The Promise Arrived

          A.     Matthew 1:18-25, Mary’s awkward pregnancy and Joseph’s dilemma.

                  1.      (v20) “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.”

                  2.      “What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

                  3.      (v21) “…give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

                  4.      (v22) Fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.

                  5.      (v23) “Call him Immanuel—which means, ‘God with us.’”

          B.     Matthew 21:9, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the I.”

Conclusion:  Revelation 5:5, “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep!  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’”