The game Christmas

A logical interpretation and practice of Is.7: 14 in light of the context and language.

How to celebrate Christmas, sending cards, but bear with the tree lights and decorations and get up in the frenzy of buying gifts, you, have you ever wondered about the origin and meaning of these customs? find (for some answers: the meaning of Christmas below) then you must never stop asking what the true meaning of Christmas? If you do what yourAnswer? Just a child is born in a manger 2000 years ago was that?

But then, then wonder why not apply to me? I'm sure some of you might say, of course, the baby our Savior, who later died for our sins, was. True, but this does not go far enough. Actually makes Christmas seem somehow subordinate to Friday, which, according to some, we celebrate the great feast is not Christmas. However, I think if we are to achieve the full intent of his coming, asgiven by God in Scripture, we see that we are a good reason for the great feast of Christmas is to celebrate and manage.

What, I ask, is the full intent of his coming? It is not easy to be without it were not for his birth, his death WAS, but that his birth was one Itself Guarantee Both sign and this death and redemption, it would be to bring in all its fullness . This heritage includes not only an eternity future, but also a giftVictory and freedom from fear in our daily lives. In Matthew 1:20-21, Joseph is told by an angel, not afraid to take Mary for his wife because "what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit and bear a son and name him name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. "The name" Jesus "means" Saviour ", or more literally," liberators ". It 'a transliteration of the name of the Old Testament "Joshua." Just as Joshua led his people inThe victory in the land of Canaan, so Jesus leads us to victory in the land of our spiritual heritage.

Then in verse 21, Matthew explains: "Now all this happened, what the Lord says through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying:" Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, translated which means "God with us". Before looking at the quote, we must note the word "met". The original greek, its literal meaning"It is full" or "completed" or "full". I could also mention at this point to avoid misunderstandings after the word "virgin" in Matthew can be no translation. Verse 23 is a direct quote from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) of Is.7: 14, the Greek word for virgin is explicit that it is used.

Please keep the importance of these three Greek words in mind as we proceed. "Jesus = Savior," "meets" = "completelyfull "and" virgin "=" Virgin. "Yes, there is no doubt that in Matthew the word virgin could mean" only "virgin. "If we get the original Hebrew Is.7: 14, but the case is different. The Hebrew language, which can be much wider use of words, that the Greeks, for various meanings associated with a word in a context general or a circle of meaning to be attached. For example, the word "Shalom" means not only "peace" but also "welfare," "Blessing", "Hello" and "Goodbye", includingThings. The same kind of thing goes for the Hebrew word "alma", which was translated as "virgin" from the King James translation in Is.7: 14 The word has a broad meaning of "a young woman of marriageable age, a of characteristics which may or may not be that she is still a virgin. "(I See Chr.15: 20, Ps.68: 25, Prov.30: 19, 1:03 Clock & Song 6: 8) Therefore, the translator translates the RSV as "young woman". They were heavily criticized, even if this is a perfectly acceptable translation, and one thatmore suitable to the context, as we shall see.

A basic principle of interpretation is to check the context. In this case, would be the immediate context of Chapter 7 and 8th. Forget for a moment the prophetic character of the verses 14 and trying to get back to the days of Ahaz and Isaiah's picture. At the beginning of Chapter 7, we see that we are engaged with a situation of actual physical conflict. Ahaz, king of Judah, is facing two enemies, Rezin king of Syria and King PekahIsrael, and was scared to death. Lord Isaiah has to say to Ahaz not to fear, because these two kings would be defeated. Sensing doubt Ahaz, Ahaz asked the Lord as a sign of it, but Ahaz, in a false piety, refused. Thus spake the Lord, he would Ahaz a sign. So we come to verse 14 The fact that the message is addressed to the "House of David" does not deny its being intended for Ahaz when he was the king, and allow representatives of the nation. If we translate"Alma" means "young woman" and read through verse 16, we see clearly what was the sign to Ahaz. The Lord is saying that a baby is born, and before the child is older, the land whose two kings Ahaz dreadlocks will be left. If we continue on in Chapter 8, we see that a child actually born. Isaiah had a son, whose name means "-ye-ye-Rush-to-the-booty," and such a declaration is made in verse 4, that the tie 07:16, Isaiah's prophecy of the Son in physical victoryAhaz made. The child is "Emmanuel" in verse 8 Now you have a clear picture of what is meant by verse 14 to Ahaz. "But," asks: "How does all this with quotation of the verse of Matthew 14, Matthew and the use of a word that could only mean" virgin "?" I believe the answer lies in the typological interpretation. Do you remember the other words in the Gospel of Matthew, which used translated "happy"? We say that literally means "has been completed." The prophecy was onlypartially fulfilled in time Ahaz. Full implementation would come later. That was the son of Isaiah, whose name has the ring of victory that is both a sign of Ahaz, and a sort of LA who was to come, it would be a sign of spiritual victory. At 8:18, Isaiah says that he and his children are signs and wonders in Israel, and the word is used here to "sign", also called "standard" published. (A type is a real person or event instead of what the Old Testament, which is also underpleased to announce a corresponding spiritual reality called the [""] counter in the New Testament).

This typological interpretation allows the full meaning of "Alma" comes into play. Ahaz heard as a "young woman" and I saw filled as such in his time with the birth of their son Isaiah. But in retrospect we see that this is not all that God had planned. God had in mind more than the child's birth of the prophet Isaiah. He was also to find the corridors of time when he sent hisSon of a virgin. Thus the prophecy was completely filled by the birth of the counter, Jesus, as recorded in Matthew. Hopefully we can now see more of why Jesus was and why we celebrate his birth at the most. Ahaz two enemies feared. There are two enemies to fear, we need more. I mentioned Is.8: 18 This verse is quoted in the New Testament in Hebrews.2: 13 on the incarnation of Christ, and verse 14 and 15, we see that he came to usfree from fear of death. Paul also speaks of this in Icor.15 :55-57. (By the way, this is why the green of the evergreen trees. It represents eternal life. For more about the importance of the Christian traditions of Christmas, read the meaning of Christmas.) In verses 17-18, is the second enemy that Jesus came to defeat the enemy of sin but also by Paul in Romans 6:00, where he says in verse 14 that no rule laid upon us. He combines these two enemies in Romans 8:02, saythat Christ has set us free, or "delivered" us from them. Just as he tries to say, Ahaz, we need more afraid of them.

Of course, Rezin and Pekah may also represent your personal enemy or enemies. Whatever your Rezin & Pekah are (many times the things that can use the devil to keep you down) Do not be afraid, but we know that Jesus came to deliver to you.

This is the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus came to our sign of victory, to show us that we need not fear the forces of manyWho can order against us in the spiritual realm. It 'obvious, as in Chapter 9 of Isaiah, where the specific promise of the birth of Christ, the Son will be given in verse 6, in the language of war and victory (vs.4 and 5) given. It 'also confirmed by the prophecy to Mary Luke 1:33 confirms, and Mary and the Magnificent Benidictus of Zechariah (Luke 1.46-55 and A68-79), especially vs.69, 71, & 74 -75. These present particular the idea that JesusWe provide service to God without fear. Read this wonderful part of the Bible and rejoice in the fact that victory can sell through faith in Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this time of year. May the lights and beautiful decorations fancily wrapped gifts we see this season are used to watch the glorious victory we can to one's birthday is celebrated to remember.