Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Matthew Chapter 1
Metaphysically Interpreting Matthew 1:18-25
1:18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 1:19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 1:20But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 1:21And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins. 1:22Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,
1:23Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
And they shall call his name Immanuel;
which is, being interpreted, God with us. 1:24And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife; 1:25and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.
DECEMBER 19, 1954: Psalms 148:1-3, 11-13; Matt. 1:18-25
WEEKLY UNITY
BIBLE LESSON
Unity's Interpretation of the International Sunday School Lesson
What is the meaning of the name Jehovah? Jehovah is one of the names of God. In Exodus 3:14, 15, Moses says that Jehovah told him that His name means “I AM THAT I AM.” The I AM is the ideal creation of Divine Mind. In Old Testament the I AM is symbolically described as Jehovah; in the New Testament it is called Christ.
Why does the Psalmist exhort us to praise Jehovah? Our ultimate purpose is to comprehend and attain oneness with the I AM, the divine nature, the ideal or perfect-man idea that indwells within us. Praise stirs into activity the higher powers and spiritual energies of our being. It exalts our spirit and clears our vision to perceive the I AM, the only-begotten Son of God, the cause and the fulfillment of our existence.
What is the virgin birth? The virgin birth is the awakening of the mind of man to the conception of the Christ Spirit as the only reality.
To the metaphysician, what is the meaning of the name Immanuel? Immanuel means “God with us,” but the metaphysician sees it as the consciousness that God is with us and that we are one with Him. The name thus means to him, “God within us.”
At its inception in the soul of man, why is the I AM represented as a newborn child? The newborn child represents the purity, innocence, and trust of one whose mind is stayed on God.
What do Mary and Joseph represent? Mary represents the soul; Joseph, intuitive wisdom. Joseph, “being a righteous man,” wished to do what was right without regard to his own interests, and he meditated on the course he should take.
Is meditation conducive to enlightenment or intuitive perception? Yes. In meditation the mind is stilled and becomes receptive to the true ideas of universal Mind, in which all wisdom and knowledge abides. Joseph received guidance from the Lord in a dream following meditation.
What connection has wisdom with love? Wisdom is the outcome of love deeply and quietly held. We understand those whom we love. “Joseph [wisdom], thou son of David [love].” Together, wisdom and love form the mind of the Christ.
What is the Christ? The Christ is the perfect-idea man, whom God created, the real self of all men. Jesus Christ is the Christ self brought into perfect expression and manifestation. Christ is the Savior of mankind, the free, divine gift of God to us.
The love of the Christ in my heart is the free gift of God to me.
DECEMBER 20, 1964: Matt. 1:1,18-25
WEEKLY UNITY
Unity explains this week's International BIBLE LESSON
The Divine Gift
Why is the Christ called “the son of David, the son of Abraham”? David represents love and Abraham faith. These two faculties, when quickened in man, bring him into the Christ consciousness. The Christ in man is thus the offspring of love and faith.
From what do we derive our higher nature? From the universal Spirit, the source of all life and being.
What is the virgin birth? The virgin birth is the awakening of the mind of man to the conception of the Christ Spirit as the only reality. Spiritual birth is always a virgin birth.
To the metaphysician, what is the meaning of the name Immanuel? Immanuel means “God with us,” but the metaphysician sees it as the consciousness that God is with us and that we are one with Him. The name thus means to him, “God within us.”
At its inception in the soul of man, why is the I AM represented as a newborn child? The newborn child represents the purity, innocence, and trust of one whose mind is stayed on God.
What do Mary and Joseph represent? Mary represents the soul; Joseph, intuitive wisdom. Joseph, “being a righteous man,” wished to do what was right without regard to his own interests, and he meditated on the course he should take.
Is meditation conducive to enlightenment or intuitive perception? Yes. In meditation the mind is stilled and becomes receptive to the true ideas of universal Mind, in which all wisdom and knowledge abides. Joseph received guidance from the Lord in a dream after meditation.
What connection has wisdom with love? Wisdom is the outcome of love deeply and quietly held. We understand those whom we love. “Joseph [wisdom], thou son of David [love].” Together, wisdom and love form the mind of the Christ.
What is the Christ? The Christ is the perfect-idea man, whom God created, the real self of all men. Jesus Christ is the Christ self brought into perfect expression and manifestation. Christ is the Savior of mankind, the free, divine gift of God to us.
The love of the Christ in my heart is the free gift of God to me.
The I AM
By Elizabeth Searle Lamb
Dear Father-God, now I give the I AM within my being full dominion over my life. I recognize the I AM as the essence of that which is in Truth Thy Son, symbolized by Jesus Christ. Within deep silence, in Thy presence, I am conscious of the inner Christ, through whom I am able to enter into real communion with Thee.
Just as Jesus drew to Himself the twelve disciples, teaching them as He walked and talked with them, so I call upon each of the twelve faculties of mind that must all be developed within me. They must learn and grow in spiritual unfoldment and finally reach a spiritual regeneration, complete and total, in Christhood.
So in prayer, dear Father, I call upon faith, strength, wisdom, and love (Peter, Andrew, James, and John). I feel a quickening of these qualities within my own being. I call forth spiritual power, imagination, understanding, and will (Philip, Bartholomew or Nathanael, Thomas, and. Matthew). I call upon order, zeal, renunciation, and the life forces! (James the Less, Simon the Zealot, Thaddaeus, and Judas). Now each of these faculties is quickened spiritually, redeemed and harmonized, balanced, in the whole pattern of the twelve. It is my prayer, dear Father-God, that my own inner Christ self, the I AM, may take full control of my being, so that I may say with Jesus, I and the Father are one.” Amen.
Christmas Table Blessing
Dear, loving Father, in the name of Thy most holy Son whose birth we celebrate this day, we rejoice and give thanks unto Thee for Thine infinite loving-kindness and tender mercies. Out of hearts filled with love for Thee and Thy Son, we give thanks for these lavish gifts from Thy hand. With joy we accept them, consecrate them, and partake of them now. Amen.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 10-30-2013
