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"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
The Genealogy Of Jesus Christ (Mt 1:1-17)
INTRODUCTION
1. We begin our study with the first seventeen verses of Matthew
(Mt 1:1-17)
2. In 2 Ti 3:16-17, we are told that ALL scripture is profitable
a. This includes such sections as this one
b. Though some may consider it a dry, laborious genealogical table
of names...
1) It is profitable for our examination of the lineage
of our Messiah
2) It is profitable for our learning of the importance
of lineage in the Jewish way of life
a) It was the Law and lineage that elevated the Jews
above the other nations. Today they have neither.
3. There are spiritual thoughts that can be gleaned from this scripture
[Since Matthew is the only one of the four gospel writers to begin his
gospel with a genealogical record of Jesus, let us examine why.]
I. WHY MATTHEW BEGINS WITH THIS GENEALOGY
A. IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF HIS GOSPEL...
1. It has been observed that:
a. Matthew wrote for the Jews
b. Mark wrote for the Romans
c. Luke wrote for the Greeks
d. John wrote for the church
2. Matthew's gospel was designed to convince Jews that Jesus is
the Messiah
a. Fulfillment of Jewish prophecy is a recurring theme -
e.g., Mt 1:22-23; Mt 2:4-6; Mt 1:14-15; Mt 1:17-18; Mt 1:23
b. Record keeping of their genealogy was vitally
important to Israel. It bound them together, not only
as a nation, but as a race of people. In addition to the
first chapter of Matthew, see - Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles, chapters 1-9
B. TO SHOW THAT JESUS FULFILLS TWO MESSIANIC PREREQUISITES...
1. The Messiah had to be a descendant of Abraham - cf. Gen 22:18
2. The Messiah had to be a descendant of David -
cf. Isa 11:1-2; Isa 11:10 -- Mt 1:1 proclaims this
to be true of Jesus, and Mt 1:2-17 demonstrates it
[Whatever else Jesus may have done, if He was not a descendant of
Abraham and David, He could not be the Messiah. So a gospel directed
especially to the Jews would naturally settle this issue before
proceeding. Now let's note some:]
II. SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THIS GENEALOGY
A. THE WAY IT IS DIVIDED
1. Into three sections of fourteen names each - Mt 1:17
a. Abraham to David
b. David to the Babylonian captivity
c. Babylonian captivity to Jesus
-- This may have been to facilitate committing to memory
2. Which may explain why some names were omitted
a. Between Joram and Uzziah there were three kings (Ahaziah,
Joash, & Amaziah) - cf. Mt 1:8
b. But such omission was not unusual in Jewish genealogies;
minor figures were often deleted
-- The main purpose was to establish essential connections,
not minor details
B. JESUS' "LEGAL" RIGHT TO DAVID'S THRONE IS ESTABLISHED
1. Not His "fleshly" right, for Matthew describes Jesus as the
adopted son of Joseph
2. Luke records the "fleshly" ancestry of Jesus in Lk 3:23-38
a. A record of His ancestry from His mother's side
b. Where He is shown to have descended from David through
Nathan, not Solomon
-- A careful study of Lk 3 confirms this
3. This helps to answer a puzzling dilemma found in the Old Testament
a. God promised that the Messiah would come from the loins of
David
b. But a descendant through Solomon, Jeconiah (Mt 1:11), was
so wicked that God promised none of his descendants would
rule on the throne of David - Jer 22:24-30
c. How then would God fulfill His promise to David?
1) By a descendant from a son other than Solomon
2) Which Jesus was, having descended in the flesh from
Nathan
4. So Jesus is both "legal" and "fleshly" heir to the throne of
David
a. "Legal" heir by virtue of His adoption by Joseph,
descendant of Solomon
b. "Fleshly" heir by virtue of His birth by Mary, descendant
of Nathan
C. THE INSERTION OF FOUR MOTHER'S NAMES
1. They are unique, not only to be included in such a list, but
in that:
a. Three were tainted in regards to moral purity
1) Tamar played a harlot
2) Rahab was a harlot
3) Bathsheba was an adulteress
b. Ruth, though morally sweet and noble, mingled the royal
blood line with Gentile blood
2. Why mention these four women? Perhaps to suggest...
a. The relation of Christ to the stained and sinful?
b. Jesus would be a King to show mercy and pity to harlots,
and open His kingdom to include Gentiles?
[Whether this was Matthew's intention here, he does illustrate later
that Christ extended mercy to all who have sinned and would enlarge
His kingdom to include all nations.
Finally, let's consider:]
III. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THIS GENEALOGY
A. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD
1. He made promises
a. To Abraham
b. To David
c. Through Isaiah
and the coming of Jesus, son of David, son of Abraham,
fulfilled that promise!
2. We can therefore have confidence that God will keep His word!
a. E.g., the promise of His Son's final coming - cf. Acts 1:9
b. There is no need to lose heart!
1) The duration between this promise and its fulfillment
has barely reached the time between the promise made to
Abraham and its fulfillment!
2) I.e., 2000 years had passed, but God still kept His promise
to Abraham
3) Likewise He will keep His promise to us! (The promise
he made 2000 years ago!) Heb 5:9; 2 Tim 2:10
B. GODLINESS IS NOT INHERITED
1. Many godly fathers have had ungodly sons!
a. Solomon had Rehoboam
b. Hezekiah had Manasseh
c. Josiah had Jeconiah
2. As it has been said, "God has no grandchildren"
a. Being a child of God does not insure that your children
will be God's children!
b. As parents, let us
1) Be diligent to raise our children in the "nurture and
admonition of the Lord"
2) Not lose heart when our children stray (even Manasseh
eventually repented)
C. THE GREATNESS OF OUR LORD'S MERCY AND COMPASSION
1. Jesus humbled Himself when He came to this earth in the
likeness of men - cf. Ph 2:5-8
2. He did this for our sakes!
a. To taste death for everyone - He 2:9
b. To help bring us to glory - He 2:10
c. To deliver us from the fear and power of death - He 2:14-15
d. To become our merciful and faithful High Priest - He 2:16-18
CONCLUSION
1. All this and much more, Jesus did by becoming what the first
seventeen verses of Matthew's gospel proclaims: "...the Son of
David, the Son of Abraham"
2. This genealogy of Jesus Christ
a. Establishes the right of Jesus to be the Messiah
b. Reminds us of God's mercy
1) In the lives of Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba
2) In our own lives by fulfilling His promise to send
His Son to die for our sins
Have you received the mercy God offers through "Jesus Christ...the
Son of David, the Son of Abraham"?
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