S4: Week 35 Day 3: Annotating Matthew 1:21-23 - A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: "A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace"

Episode: S4: Week 35 Day 3: Annotating Matthew 1:21-23
Date: August 27, 2025
Hosts: Beth (A) and Alexa (B)
Main Theme: Examining the connection between the Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 7 and its fulfillment in Matthew 1:21-23, revealing how the whole story of the Bible points to Jesus.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Beth and Alexa continue their week-long focus on exploring how Jesus is present in both the Old and New Testaments. The passage for the day is Matthew 1:21-23, where the Gospel writer links the birth of Jesus directly to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. The hosts discuss the importance of seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises and reflect on the faithfulness of God revealed through Scripture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reading the Passage (Matthew 1:21-23)

Alexa reads the key verses:
- “[Mary] will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Not all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. So see, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel, which is translated God is with us.” (00:49)

2. Immediate Connection to Isaiah 7

The hosts highlight the direct quotation from Isaiah 7:14, as referenced by Matthew, and identify how the Gospel deliberately anchors the story of Jesus’ birth in Old Testament prophecy.
Notable quote:
- “Verse 23 is essentially Isaiah 7:14. And I love how in verse 22 it shows us that what is happening here with Mary is the ultimate fulfillment of what God [said] in Isaiah 7.”
  — Alexa (01:10)

3. God’s Faithfulness and Fulfillment of Promises

Alexa emphasizes the attribute of God’s faithfulness, which is “present in verse 22 as God's promises are fulfilled.”
The fulfillment is not just about prophecy coming true but about the hope it brings—God remembers and acts on His word.
Notable quote:
- “Just thinking about God's faithfulness, I think we see the attribute of faithful present in verse 22 as God's promises are fulfilled.”
  — Alexa (01:16)

4. Expanding the Hope of the Prophecy

The hosts note that Matthew 1:21 doesn’t just restate the prophecy—it expands on its hope. Jesus is not only Emmanuel (“God with us”), but He is specifically the Messiah sent “to save his people from their sins.”
“Jesus is Emmanuel, who was God with us, but he also is Jesus, the promised Messiah who brings salvation from sin.”
— Alexa (01:28)

5. The Joy of Clear Biblical Connections

Beth points out that passages like this make the connections between Old and New Testament “as clear as day” and are foundational for seeing Christ woven throughout the biblical narrative.
Notable quote:
- “This is one of those passages that is very encouraging ... the connections are right there in front of us. They're laid out as clear as day.”
  — Beth (01:51)

6. Looking Ahead

The hosts tease a deeper dive in the next episode on “how Christ fulfills this passage in Isaiah 7.”
Encouragement for listeners to continue studying to further appreciate the unity of Scripture centered on Jesus.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Alexa (01:10): “Verse 23 is essentially Isaiah 7:14. And I love how in verse 22 it shows us that what is happening here with Mary is the ultimate fulfillment of what God [said] in Isaiah 7.”
Alexa (01:16): “Just thinking about God's faithfulness, I think we see the attribute of faithful present in verse 22 as God's promises are fulfilled.”
Alexa (01:28): “Jesus is Emmanuel, who was God with us, but he also is Jesus, the promised Messiah who brings salvation from sin.”
Beth (01:51): “This is one of those passages that is very encouraging ... the connections are right there in front of us. They're laid out as clear as day.”

Important Timestamps

00:32: Beth and Alexa greet listeners and set up the day’s study.
00:49: Alexa reads Matthew 1:21-23 aloud.
01:10: Alexa discusses her annotation and the prophecy’s fulfillment.
01:51: Beth comments on the clarity of the connection between Isaiah and Matthew.

Tone & Approach

The tone is warm, encouraging, and reflective. The conversation is accessible for both seasoned Bible readers and those new to this method of study, fostering appreciation for how the Old and New Testaments are unified in pointing to Christ.

Conclusion

This episode effectively guides listeners through the textual links between Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1, showcasing the faithfulness of God and the centrality of Jesus in the whole biblical story. Listeners are left with anticipation for a deeper examination of Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy in the upcoming episode.

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Transcript13 lines

[00:01]
A
Welcome to A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. This year we want to spend a few minutes with you every day walking through our study Christ in All of Scripture. Each week we will dive deeply into two passages of Scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the new, seeing how they connect and point to Jesus.
[00:18]
B
Whether you are doing the study yourself or just following along with us here, we are hopeful that through studying these passages each week, you will see how Christ is not only present throughout the entire biblical story, but the center of it.
[00:32]
A
Hey friends. Welcome back to A Year in the Bible. My name is Beth and I'm here with my co host, Alexa.
[00:37]
B
Hey guys.
[00:38]
A
So so far this week we have looked at Isaiah 7, 10, 14, and now we are going to turn to the New Testament and take a look at Matthew 1:21 23. So Alexa, can you read that passage for us?
[00:50]
B
She will give birth to a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Not all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet. So see, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Emmanuel, which is translated God is with us.
[01:07]
A
Great.
[01:07]
B
Thank you.
[01:08]
A
Do you want to share your annotation takeaways with us?
[01:11]
B
Yeah. I loved reading this passage and seeing the connections to Isaiah 7. Verse 23 is essentially Isaiah 7 14. And I love how in verse 22 it shows us that what is happening here with Mary is the ultimate fulfillment of what God Sundays in Isaiah 7. So again, just thinking about God's faithfulness, I think we see the attribute of faithful present in verse 22 as God's promises are fulfilled. And I love how verse 21 expands on the hope that God gives. In Isaiah 7, the Son is named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. So Jesus is Emmanuel, who was God with us, but he also is Jesus, the promised Messiah who brings salvation from sin.
[01:52]
A
Yeah, this is one of those passages that is very encouraging as we do a study like this because the connections are right there in front of us. They're laid out as clear as day. But I think there's still so much more we can talk about and we will talk about it tomorrow. So be sure to join us as we really unpack how Christ fulfills this passage in Isaiah 7.
[02:12]
B
Thank you for listening to today's episode of A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. Be sure to check out our show notes for some helpful links and resources related to today's episode and make sure you're following daily Grace Podcast and hedaily graceco on Instagram for more Bible study resources and encouragement. We're looking forward to studying God's Word with you again tomorrow. Bye friends.
[02:37]
C
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