Alva Review-Courier -

The last two weeks we read the book of Genesis. This week we will skip ahead to the book of Matthew in the New Testament. Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus, so we see names familiar from Genesis: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Judah. Then we read of the birth of Jesus and the preaching of John the Baptist. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all tell the events of Jesus’ life, but in slightly different ways. Matthew gives us the Sermon on the Mount, followed by many accounts of healing and teaching and faith.

The Sermon on the Mount begins with the beatitudes, the “Blessed are they” statements. T...