Abstract

The discussed episode of the YouTube podcast “I Don’t Get The Bible” focuses on the Book of Matthew. The hosts delve into the significance of the genealogy in Matthew chapter one, which connects Jesus to the lineage of Abraham and David, fulfilling prophecies about the Messiah. They also discuss the importance of faith throughout biblical history and the role of angelic appearances in the Bible.

Long Description

The discussed episode of the YouTube podcast titled “I Don’t Get The Bible” revolves around a conversation between the hosts, Delaney and an unnamed person, regarding the Book of Matthew in the Bible. The unidentified person introduces themselves as someone who pursues the scriptures and has self-taught knowledge about them. The hosts mention that they will be discussing the specifics of the Book of Matthew, starting with chapter one.

Delaney expresses her curiosity about the first half of Matthew chapter one, which consists mainly of a genealogy or a list of names. She questions the purpose of this genealogy and its significance. The unnamed person explains that the genealogy in Matthew is particularly important to Jews because it connects Jesus to the lineage of Abraham and David, fulfilling specific prophecies about the Messiah in the Tanakh (the Jewish scriptures). The inclusion of this genealogy would have been meaningful to Jews who were familiar with these prophecies and recognized the importance of the Messiah’s lineage.

Delaney further asks about the significance of Abraham and David in the genealogy, as they are specifically mentioned. The unnamed person explains that Abraham is considered the father of faith for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. His inclusion in the genealogy establishes the lineage of faith leading to the Messiah. David, being the renowned king of Israel, was also prophesied to be a direct ancestor of the Messiah, further strengthening the case for Jesus’ legitimacy as the promised Messiah.

The hosts discuss the repetition of the number 14 in the genealogy, and the unnamed person admits that there are various speculations regarding its numerological significance, which they can’t recall at the moment. However, they emphasize that the inclusion of these specific names and the pattern of 14 generations is to highlight the fulfillment of the prophecies and the lineage from Abraham to David to Jesus.

Delaney expresses surprise that Abraham is referred to as the father of faith, considering that faith seems like a post-Jesus concept to her. The unnamed person clarifies that faith has always been integral to God’s relationship with humanity. They provide examples from the Old Testament, such as Noah’s faith in building the ark and God’s establishment of faith with Abraham even before the formalization of Jewish law. Faith, as the unnamed person explains, is an essential aspect of pleasing God and is emphasized both in Judaism and Christianity.

The conversation briefly touches on the idea of God’s love being connected to faith, with the unnamed person explaining that faith demonstrates trust and obedience to God’s will. The hosts acknowledge that interpretations of faith may differ among different religions and individuals.

The discussion then shifts to the story of Joseph and Mary in the Bible. Delaney raises questions about Joseph’s initial assumption of Mary’s pregnancy as adultery, prompting the unnamed person to explain that Joseph suspected Mary had been unfaithful, but he didn’t want to publicly shame her. However, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream, revealing the truth about Mary’s pregnancy. The hosts wonder why the angel’s intervention didn’t prevent accusations against Jesus later in his life. The unnamed person suggests that the Bible doesn’t explicitly mention the response of others to Joseph’s encounter with the angel, leaving room for speculation. They mention that angelic appearances were common in the Old Testament and were part of Jewish religious tradition.

The episode concludes with a mention of the prevalence of angelic appearances in the first two chapters of Matthew and a discussion about the reliability of Matthew’s knowledge of these angelic encounters. The unnamed person suggests that Matthew either had direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit or learned about these events through tradition. They acknowledge the possibility of uncertainty but express the importance of focusing on the general principles conveyed in the scriptures rather than specific details.