Oftentimes people think of Family Bible Study as work. As a homeschool parent, I wanted Bible study to be interesting to my children so I attempted several different approaches to make their study not only fun, but, challenging as well. End result: All my children are in their twenties and each one still reads their Bible on their own everyday. So let's give it a try.

Matthew Chapters 1 and 2

The answers will be printed at the
 end of each Bible study.

**Matthew starts out in chapter one with the genealogy of Jesus. Usually when most people come to this beginning they are either afraid that they can't understand it or they skip over it because they think it is going to be boring. What we are going to do is have a little fun with it. Yes, I said fun.

Matthew's reasoning in doing this genealogy is to show that the promises God made to the brethren of old had been fulfilled in Jesus. There are some familiar names in this genealogy. So let's see how many you remember by matching the names with an event. And should you be a first time reader of the Bible, there will be references where you can look them up. While your doing this you can play tag. Pick a number or draw straws to see who will go first. When the first person is finished answering, they tag someone of their choice to do the next one and so on.

Verses 1 through 17
Matching

Match the letters to the proper number.

A. Soloman B. Jehoshaphat   C. Jesse   D. Josiah   E. Rahab  F. Jacob  G. David   H.Abraham

1) Husband to Sarah to whom God promised "...in
     you all the families of the earth shall be 
     blessed." Genesis 12:3,5.

2) The harlot who helped the spies which Joshua
     sent out; mother of Boaz. Joshua Chpt. 2, Ruth
      4:20-21. 

3) Wrestled with an angel and saw angels ascending
     and descending on a ladder. He also received
     the same promise as his father. 
    Genesis 28:12-14, 32:24-32.

4) A musician, a greatly beloved King who slew a
     giant as a boy. A promise that the Messiah 
     would be of his throne (His descendant). I Samuel Chpt. 17,
     Isaiah 9:7.

5) Was the king who prayed and asked for wisdom
     instead of riches and honor. I Kings 3:5-14.

6) Defeated an army with prayer, without having
     to lift a finger in battle. 2 Chronicles
     Chpt. 20.

7) Had eight sons, one of which became a king. A 
     promise that the Messiah (a rod) will come from
     his stem, a Branch from his roots. I Samuel 16:
    3-13, Isaiah 11:1.

8) Known as a good king who destroyed idol 
     worship in Judah and restored the temple in
     Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles, Chpt. 34.


Now was that so terrible? Test your own knowledge and see how many more in the genealogy of Jesus you may know.


Let's look a little deeper into Jesus's Family Trees....What?  More than one?

Here Are 2 trees, One is Joseph's family tree from the Gospel of Matthew and the other is Mary's family tree from the Gospel of Luke.  The problems is some squirrels got to playing with the names in the tree and you
 are going to have to find the correct order.  (Oh No!)








































Sequence of Events
After explaining the time period involved before Jesus birth, Matthew begins his story. See if you can put the rest of Chapter One in proper numerical order.

1) An angel appears to Joseph to reassure
    him that what Mary has told him is true 
    and not to be afraid to take her for his
    wife, the child is of the Holy Spirit.

2) Joseph thought about sending Mary away so
    as not to make her a public example.

3)  Mary was betrothed (engaged) to Joseph.

4) Joseph awakes from his sleep and takes Mary for
     his wife.

5) A prophecy fulfilled: "Behold, a virgin shall 
    be with child and bear a Son, and they shall
    call His name Emmanuel, "God with us".

6) The baby is born and Joseph name's him Jesus.

7) Before they came together, Mary was found with
    child of the Holy Spirit. +

***A fun project--make a manger for Baby Jesus out of small popsicle sticks or a small box, add straw, and with a small cloth, rubber-band, stuffing and a marker make a baby. For the following lesson you can make a star out of foil or your own invention.

*****A point of interest for parents:

In Luke 3:27 you will find the lineage of Mary.  Why did God have Luke write this?  We find the answer in the book of Haggi 2:23.

"I will take you, Zerubbabel, my servant, and make you as a signet ring; for I have chosen you says the Lord of Host."  

Now we don't understand what this means until we check both geneologies.




Prophecies

    +    Isaiah 7:14  "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign:  Behold the virgin shall conceive and                               bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel."

           Isaiah 49:1 "Listen you coastlands to Me, and take heed you people from afar, the Lord has called Me                               from my mothers womb, from the inward parts of my mother, He has mentioned me."

            Isaiah 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a child is given.  And the government will be upon His
                              shoulders."
​    






Chapter 2

Multiple Choice

1. The Wise Men came from: +++
    a)North   b)South   c)East   d)West  e)Georgia

2. To whom did the wise men seek information 
    about the King of the Jews?
    a)the chief priest   b)the scribes   c)King Herod   d)Santa

3. Who was the prophet who prophesied about +
   Jesus being born in Bethlehem?
    a) Micah   b) Malachi   c) Zechariah   d) Isaiah

*Here you can give 5 bonus pts. or a special
treat if someone can recite the prophecy.

4. What guided the wise men along the way?  ++
    a) the internet   b) a map   c) a star   d) a taxi driver

5. When the wise men came to where the Child 
    and Mary were, they entered the...
    a) stable  b) Holiday Inn  c) house  d) manger

6. How many gifts did they present to the Baby Jesus?
    a) 0   b) 5   c) 2   d) 3

*Bonus for those who can name the gifts.

7. Who warned Joseph to leave Bethlehem because 
    Herod wanted to destroy the Child?
    a) Mary   b) an angel   c) the wise men   d) the shepherds

8. Matthew quotes a prophecy concerning Herod 
    killing the children. Who is the prophet?
    a) Jeremiah   b) Isaiah   c) Ezekiel   d) Malachi
*Another chance for a bonus here, quote the prophecy.

9. Why was Joseph told they could leave Egypt ++++
    and go back to Israel?
   a) Israel had a land deal going   b) to avoid plagues   c) Herod died 
   d) Joseph inherited a castle

10. When Joseph heard that Herod's Son, Archelaus
      was reigning in his father's place he went to
      what city?
      a) Bethlehem   b) Cairo   c) Jerusalem   d) Nazareth

***Final chance for a bonus: What does  "Bethlehem" mean?



Prophecies:

​            
                +Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the                                                              thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be                                                          ruler in Israel, whose going forth has been from of old, and from everlasting."

              ++Numbers 27:17 (Balaam speaking) "I see Him but not now. I behold Him, but not near; a Star                                                   come out of Jacob; a scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall strike the corners                                               Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult."

             +++Isaiah 60:6    "The mulitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of Midian, and                                            Ephah:  all those from Sheba shall come, they shall bring gold and incense, and                                            they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord. (Midian was on the East side of the                                            Red Sea).

                   Psalm 72:10  "The kings of Tarshish and the isles will bring presents, the King of Sheba and                                            Seba will offer gifts."

​               ++++Hosea 11:1  "Because/Since Israel was a child, I loved Him and called my Son out of Egypt. 









Answers:

Matthew Chapter 1


Matching

1.E, 2.F, 3.G, 4.H, 5.B, 6.C, 7.D, 8.A


Numerical Order

1.C, 2.G, 3.B, 4.A, 5.E, 6.D, 7.F



Answers
Matthew Chapter 2

1.c, 2.c, 3.a, 4.c, 5.c, 6.d, 7.b, 8.a, 9.c, 10.d


Final Bonus: "City of Bread"

"Jesus took BREAD and blessed 
 it,...and said, Take, eat; 
this is my body." 
Matthew 26:26 


Copyright 2001





Matthew Chapters 1 & 2
Advance to Chapter 2
Top of Page
Bethlehem-City of Christ birth.
Answers to Chapter 1
Answers - Chapter 2
Family Bible Study 2       Robin's Article Page      Home
Email me if you have any problems with the answer sections on this page or if you have any suggestions. Robin Brown  (be sure to title your message Gospel of Matthew Study or I may not open it).  You know how spammers are these day.
Prophecy references of Jesus Listed In these chapters.
(when you see a + you can scan down to see the prophecy reference."
David
  
Solomon                          Nathan

Zeruabbabel


(​Matthew 1:12)                (Luke 3:27)
Joseph                                Mary

Jesus​

When you draw  line from name to name then down  from Zerubbabel to Joseph, down to Jesus and up to Mary, and back to Zerubbabel you have a signet ring. ​😊

Zerrubbabel is the link to King David, fulfilling the prophecy.
Jesus
Joseph
Zeruabbel
Heli
Abraham
Jacob
Soloman
Jesus
Mary
David
Soloman
Abraham
Zeruabbel
David
Jesus geneology in The Gospel of Luke is describled at Wikipedia in an article titled:
"The Geneology of Jesus"
Put each shortened version of the family trees in the proper order from Mathew 1:1- 17  and Luke 3:23-38
Adam
Adam