Why was God silent for 400 years?

In this opening study of Matthew 1:1-17, Dr. Toby Holt explains the roughly 400 silent years between the Old and New Testaments — and why Matthew begins with a long family tree.

After Malachi, God sent no new word for about four centuries — the calm before the storm. Empires rose and fell, from the Greeks under Alexander to the Romans. Then Matthew, a former tax collector, opens his Gospel by tracing Jesus' line back through David and Abraham, proving He is the promised King. He even includes four Gentile women, a hint that this Savior is for all nations.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was God silent for over 400 years? After Malachi, God had said all that was needed until Christ. Holt calls the silence the hush before God's greatest act.

2. What makes Matthew's Gospel different? Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience and opens with Jesus' royal family tree, showing He is the promised son of David and Abraham.

3. Why do Matthew and Luke give different genealogies? They likely trace different lines — one royal and legal, the other more personal — and both affirm Jesus' place in David's family.

"...from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations." — Matthew 1:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

What does the name "Emmanuel" mean?

"God with us." In Matthew 1:18-25, an angel tells Joseph that Mary's child will be Emmanuel — God come to dwell with His people. Dr. Toby Holt explains the comfort packed into that name.

Mary was found with child by the Holy Spirit while only engaged to Joseph. He planned to end it quietly until an angel explained the child was from God, giving two names: "Jesus," the Lord saves, "for He will save His people from their sins"; and "Emmanuel," "God with us."

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between God being "for" us and "with" us? A God who is only "for" us helps from a distance; a God who is "with" us draws near and shares our life. Emmanuel means God came to be with His people.

2. What did the angel tell Joseph? That Mary's child was from the Holy Spirit and must be named Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins — turning scandal into salvation.

3. What comfort does "God with us" give the hurting? It assures us we are never alone. The God who came as a baby promises to be with His people always, even in their deepest pain. "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, 'God with us.'" — Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Why was the sinless Jesus baptized?

In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus comes to be baptized by John — though He had no sin to wash away. Dr. Toby Holt explains what Jesus meant by "fulfilling all righteousness." John objected, knowing Jesus needed no repentance, but Jesus insisted it was proper "to fulfill all righteousness." Holt explains our salvation needs both Christ's death and His perfect life: forgiveness makes us "not guilty," but we also need righteousness to stand before God — the obedient life of Christ, credited to us. As Jesus rose from the water, the Spirit descended like a dove and the Father spoke — a clear picture of the Trinity.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin? Not to repent, but to "fulfill all righteousness" and identify with the people He came to save. It marked the start of His public ministry.

2. What does "fulfill all righteousness" mean? It points to Christ's perfect obedience, credited to believers. We are saved not only by His death for our sins but by His righteous life counted as ours.

3. How does the baptism show the Trinity? At one moment the Son was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven — three persons, one God. "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" — Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.