When I started to understand God’s words, I found that the Book of Matthew and the Book of John give much knowledge about God and His Kingdom. The Father was pleased to manifest Himself through His Son (Word and Truth). And knowing the Son is the key to understand God and the Kingdom.

Historically, these two books were considered important by the Waldensians during the pre-Reformation era. I read that they trained themselves to memorize them by heart. They faced horrific deaths by God’s enemies just like other prophets did. It is sad the Waldensians now no longer follow sound doctrines and have turned to work-based salvation. This shows no single denomination or church stays orthodox for long as we read in Christ’s message to the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. God plants His saints in various places at different times. They remain loyal to God by the Holy Spirit although their visible churches fall away.

Understanding the Bible as a whole is essential. I do not want to repeat what other scholars have written in various study Bibles or study aids. You can easily do your own studies by using various study aids available online for free.

What Matthew 1:1-17 shows is two things: Christ as Truth and God’s will regarding the woman (church)

Unlike the genealogy written in Luke 3:23-38, Matthew deliberately emphasized on the number 14. There are mysteries hidden in numbers that we have not yet fully grasped. I cannot say I know what all those numbers mean. Number 5 has been repeatedly emphasized in my dreams. And I found that it means grace.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17)

Some say the Hebrew word David is to do with number 14. I do not disagree. But the Hebrew word associated with number 14 is Emet (or Emeth), which means truth. The word consists of the first, the middle, and the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. And the gap between two letters is 14. This first, the middle, and the last pattern is also shown in creation: light-light-Sabbath. This is also the pattern of the Bible: Beginning (Genesis) -Wisdom books -End (Revelation). I believe Calvin once said Christ is the beginning, the end, and the center. John also starts his gospel talking about the Word, which is Truth. The Word (Truth) was in the beginning with God. And the Word is the wisdom of God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)

Matthew included some women in the genealogy. They are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah (Bathsheba) and Mary. Study aids explain extensively about these women so I will not repeat. I believe the inclusion of those women means God’s will in the woman as a whole rather than individual woman. Church is often referred as a bride or our mother. Thus, the devil who had much knowledge, approaches Eve first, not Adam, because he knew that God’s will was in the woman and her Seed.

In the Reformed this idea of church being the mother is very strong. I think in some denominations especially in the Reformed church, the notion has gone too far. Some explain as if the mother (church) can save people by having the key of David, but it is always Christ who holds the key of David.

…He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens… (Revelation 3:7)

Only saints who have received the Holy Spirit can minister before God on the earth. Therefore, only the invisible church can use the key of David by God’s will.

Because of church traditions, women are often despised in churches. It is true women prophets were rare in the Bible. But there is no distinction between women and men in God’s world. That does not mean I promote women taking church office roles. There are certain earthly orders within churches that we need to keep until Christ comes.

When it comes to teaching, everyone must work according to the gift given to each. People often quote this verse to silence the woman or women who rebuke the wrongdoings of church leaders.

But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12)

One must discern by the words of God and the Spirit when interpreting this verse. God gave authority to some women to judge, rebuke, and prophesy in the past. And He still does. People who are blind will reject God’s rebukes because they misunderstand God.

my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)

We must also be aware of the fact that many people follow false prophets.

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. (Revelation 2:20)

In the Book of Proverbs, there appear Wisdom and the woman of folly. (see Proverbs chapter 7-9). There are more women (and men) of folly than those who are wise. Saints must discern. And the only way to survive is to read and learn God’s words and pray for God’s mercy. Saints must not seek the approval of many people (or the world).