Matthew in Rhyme, Chapters 1-2

Chapter One The begats And the she-cats Start the amazing glory Of Jesus’ hilarious story, With slapstick and comedic timing And the help of a little rhyming. 

The book of Matthew can be sharp Or it very well could be a farce That begins with the Virgin Mary, Ending with an empty tomb so scary. 

Exacting sermons would be preached, Parables making Pharisees screech, With a beheadin1g in the middle When Herod was caught in a riddle. 

So let’s sit back and enjoy the run Of a gospel writer having fun. 

                                                          Nativity by Rick McVicar

v. 1 Jesus is the son of Dave And also the son of Abe. His heritage line goes like this. Isaac, Jacob and Judah cannot be missed, Perez, Hezron and Aram come next. Aminadab and Aram are the best. 

Salmon, Boaz, Obed - Jesse, but never Ed or Fred. Of course, there is Dave, A few mothers are named. Solomon and Rehoboam are in the list. Abijah and Asaph feel heavenly bliss. 

Jehoshaphat and Joram spread some jam. Uzziah and Jotham eat some lamb. Hezekiah and Manasseh add molasses, Amos and Josiah find romances. 

Down the lineage, Matthew goes, Not leaving out anyone’s toes. Forty-two generations in all. Laying on Jesus the messianic call. 

v. 18 A woman named Mary was betrothed To a kind man known as Joe. Mary became with child. To Joseph, that was too wild. 

An angel declared, Do not be scared. The Holy Spirit had done the deed Of planting a messianic seed.

So God will be with us In a way fair and just. The boy will be called Emmanuel, While he’ll walk about so casual. 
 

Chapter Two v. 1 Jessus was born of the Holy Spirit, As happy as a rolling lyric Sung by three wise troubadours Headed in the direction of Jerusalem. 

They wanted to know where to find A boy born with a starry sign. They said, “He will be king, We have tributes to sing.” 

But Herod caught wind of this, He could never be dissed. Herod called all of the scribes To find where the boy cried. 

“Bethlehem,” they said, Promising to find the boy’s head, A ruler for the Jews, The bringer of good news. 

Herod called for the wise singing band To march across the land. “Bring the word back to me, Where for myself I can see.” 

The singing trio found the lad, Knowing Herod was being bad. They gave gifts to the boy, But they forgot to bring him toys. 

“Gold, frankincense and myrrh,” (NRSV, v. 11), Mary did not get any fur. In a dream they learned Herod’s ill intent, So on a detour they were sent. 

v. 13 An angel came to Joseph in a dream, Describing Herod’s devilish scheme To end the life of his infant boy. The angel would not be coy. 

Angels kept Jesus and His parents safe. They escaped to Egypt none too late.   

v. 19 A massacre occurred. It was horrendous and absurd. Rachel moaned and wept, Groaning a loud lament. 

Herod died so Joseph could rise, Quieting Rachel’s ravenous cries. Joseph took his family to Nazareth, So there they could find rest.