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.

What directions does Jesus give His disciples in Matthew 9-10?

In this sermon on Matthew 9 and 10, Dr. Toby Holt explains how Jesus looks upon the harvest, calls the twelve, and sends them into a specific mission. The sermon moves from the apostolic setting to the ongoing principle that those Christ calls are also sent to serve, witness, and obey.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why does Jesus connect the harvest with the need for laborers?

2. What authority and mission did Christ give to the twelve?

3. How does this passage shape the calling of ordinary Christians today?

Matthew 9-10 reminds believers that obedience matters even when the outcome is not ours to control.

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.

How did Jesus stand up to temptation?

With Scripture. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, where the devil tempts Him three times. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Jesus, the second Adam, stood where the first Adam fell. After forty days without food, Jesus faced three temptations: to satisfy His hunger, to prove Himself by a spectacular leap, and to seize the world’s kingdoms by worshiping Satan. Each time, Jesus answered with the Word of God: “It is written.” Dr. Holt explains that where Adam fell in a lush garden, Jesus stood firm in a harsh desert, succeeding exactly where the first man failed. The devil even twisted Scripture to tempt Him, but Jesus used it rightly.

Questions this study answers:

1. What was each temptation aimed at? The first appealed to bodily appetite, the second to pride, and the third to the desire for power. Together they targeted the whole range of human weakness.

2. Why did Jesus answer with Scripture every time? Because God’s Word is the believer’s true weapon against temptation. Jesus modeled how to resist the devil by standing on what is written.

3. How does this connect to Adam in Genesis 3? Adam fell to temptation in a perfect garden, but Jesus, the second Adam, overcame it in a barren wilderness. He succeeded where the first man failed, for our sake. “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” — Matthew 4:10 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Matthew Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Whose faith amazed Jesus?

A Roman soldier's. In Matthew 8:5-13, a Gentile centurion shows greater faith than anyone in Israel, and Jesus marvels. Dr. Toby Holt explains what real faith looks like.

A Roman officer came on behalf of his paralyzed servant. He did not ask Jesus to come — he simply said, "Speak a word, and my servant will be healed." As a man under authority who commanded soldiers, he recognized Jesus' authority over sickness itself. Jesus marveled, saying He had not found such faith even in Israel. Holt notes the warning: many outsiders will feast in the kingdom while some who assumed they belonged are shut out.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did Jesus marvel at the centurion's faith? Because this Gentile trusted Jesus' word alone, without needing a sign. His simple confidence stood out above all Israel.

2. What was unusual about his request? He said there was no need for Jesus to come to his home; a word would be enough. He understood Jesus' authority was greater than any distance.

3. What warning did Jesus give? That many outsiders would share in the kingdom while some who presumed on their heritage would be left out. Faith, not background, saves.

"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" — Matthew 8:10 (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 is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? In Matthew 10:1-23, Jesus chooses twelve ordinary men, gives them His authority, and sends them out. Dr. Toby Holt explains what set the apostles apart and what Jesus warned them to expect. Moved with compassion for crowds like sheep without a shepherd, Jesus called twelve unlikely men — fishermen, a tax collector, even Judas. Holt distinguishes a disciple, who patterns his life after his teacher, from an apostle, uniquely sent with the sender's authority. Jesus sent them first to Israel and warned they would be "sheep among wolves," facing rejection. Those who endure to the end will be saved.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is the difference between a disciple and an apostle? A disciple follows and imitates his teacher — true of every believer. An apostle was specially sent with Christ's own authority, a unique office.

2. What warnings did Jesus give? That they would be like sheep among wolves, facing rejection, arrest, even betrayal by family. He told them to be wise and to endure.

3. What were the apostles sent to do? To preach, heal, and call people to repentance with Christ's authority, beginning with Israel — carrying His message as His representatives.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." — Matthew 10:16 (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 does Jesus rebuke the demand for signs and wonders?

In this sermon on Matthew 12, Dr. Toby Holt explains why the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign even after witnessing His works. The sermon follows Christ's answer, the sign of Jonah, the warning from Nineveh, and the deeper need beneath unbelief: not more evidence, but regeneration.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why did the Pharisees ask for another sign?

2. What does Jesus mean by the sign of Jonah?

3. Why is the Word of God sufficient when we want certainty?

Matthew 12 warns against demanding spectacle while ignoring revelation, and it points us to Christ who is greater than Jonah.

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.