THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS THE MESSIAH
Matthew 1:1-17
Key Verse 1:1
"A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham."
Introduction
Merry Christmas! Christmas is about Jesus’ birthday. This passage helps us to trace the roots of Jesus through His genealogy. 1 John 4:2 reads, “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God. The genealogy of Jesus here includes the real Jewish patriarchs, real kings in history and several unique women. Above all, we can learn that the family tree of Jesus is deeply planted in the faithfulness of God from the beginning to the end. May God help us to learn how God faithfully kept his promise to send a Savior of the world according to His words of promise throughout history.
1. Read verses 1-5. Why is Jesus called the Messiah, the son of David, and the son of Abraham? (1, Gen 12:2, 2Sa 7:12) What can we learn from God who fulfilled His promise through Abraham’s descendants and three women? (2b-5)
1-1, Read verses 1-5.
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
1-2, Why is Jesus called the Messiah, the son of David, and the son of Abraham? (1, Gen 12:2, 2Sa 7:12)
This is the genealogy[a] of Jesus the Messiah[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:
First of all Jesus is the Messiah and the Christ as Peter confessed. According to a dictionary, the Messiah means the promised deliverer of the Jewish nation prophesied in the Hebrew Bible. In Genesis 3:15, Jesus was said to be born as the offspring of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent’s offspring.
In Christianity, the Messiah is called the Christ, from Greek: χριστός, translit. khristós, translating the Hebrew word of the same meaning.[10] The concept of the Messiah in Christianity originated from the Messiah in Judaism. However, unlike the concept of the Messiah in Judaism, the Messiah in Christianity is the Son of God. Christ became the accepted Christian designation and title of Jesus of Nazareth,[11] because Christians believe that the messianic prophecies in the Old Testament were fulfilled in his mission, death, and resurrection. They believe that Christ will fulfill the rest of the messianic prophecies, specifically the prophecy of a future king who would come from the Davidic line and usher in a Messianic Age and the world to come at the Second Coming. (from Wikipedia)
Matthew began by showing that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and a direct descendant of David, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah’s line.
This is the first of many proofs recorded by Matthew to show that Jesus is the true Messiah.
People in every generation are, knowingly or unknowingly, looking for the Christ who can liberate them from their bondage.
Before meeting Jesus, Matthew thought that money would liberate him from his bondage. So he became a tax collector who could earn easy money.
Although Matthew became a wealthy man, living in a luxurious house by the waterfront in Galilean sea, he was miserable in his inner man.
His inner man was crying for the Christ who could free him from his sin of greed, selfishness and hard heartedness.
Jesus saw the agony of his soul and saved him by saying, “Follow me.” Matthew knew that he needed the Christ who would free him from his own strong bondage.
He then followed Jesus, leaving everything behind. Jesus Christ changed him into a sacrificial man of God.
Because of Jesus’ amazing salvation work in his life, Matthew loved to tell the story of Jesus Christ. What a change from a tax collector to a writer for Jesus!
Matthew focused on Jesus’ king and His office, mission, birth, suffering, death, and resurrection and glory in the book of Matthew. Jesus is called the King.
Although Adam was the first man in Genesis 1-2, Matthew in his genealogy recognized two names; Abraham & David, for God gave them promises and made them covenant people (Ge12:2,3; 2Sa 7:12-16; Mt1:21).
God helped them to live as covenant people, who believed his promises that God would send a Savior of the world (Ge 15:6; Ro 4:3).
1-3, What can we learn from God who fulfilled His promise through Abraham’s descendants and three women? (2b-5)
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived by faith in God’s promises. Hebrews 11:9 says, “By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Since God blessed them abundantly, they could have lived in nice areas. But they lived a tent life by faith. They became a good influence to their descendants.
Abraham was the father of Isaac. Among 8 sons of Abraham (Gen 16:15; 21:2-3; 25:2), only Isaac is chosen as the promised seed (Rom 9:7).
Isaac had twin sons—Esau and Jacob. But Jacob was chosen for God’s redemptive history, although young Jacob was very sneaky and deceitful.
Jacob had 12 sons. But instead of his first son Reuben to be chosen for the kingship, Judah was picked for the kingship (Gen 49:10).
Judah had twin sons Perez and Zerah by incest. But only Perez is a part of the line of Jesus.
God in his grace and mercy chose them and used them for God’s work of saving the perishing souls.
The genealogy reveals the divine choice of God. All these people were not really special compared to those whom God didn’t choose.
3 Gentile women are also mentioned; Tamar, Rahab and Ruth. Typically, the Jews did not regard women highly. Moreover, they were Gentiles. Yet Matthew includes them. It is because they had the faith that pleased God.
Tamar was from a town 20 miles west of Jerusalem. (Gen 38:12) She was an abandoned widow after her two husbands died.
Judah promised to give his third son to her, but did not. When Judah was emotionally weak after the death of his own wife, Tamar dressed as a prostitute, slept with Judah and conceived.
But her act was regarded as an act of faith because she risked her life to fulfill her duty as a wife and mother.
Because God had mercy on her, her life was spared, Judah repented, and God granted twin babies. She became the great-great-great-grandmother of Jesus.
Rahab was a Gentile prostitute who lived in the walls of Jericho. But by faith she helped the spies of Israel to hide in her house.
She had the absolute fear of God, the God of Israel, whom she believed to be the Creator of heaven and earth.
Because of her personal faith in the Creator God, the army of Israel could conquer Jericho, the first invincible fortress in the Promised Land.
Later, Rahab became the mother of Boaz and the great-great-grandmother of King David. She was also included in the genealogy of Jesus.
Ruth was from Moab, a Gentile woman. One day her Jewish husband died. But Ruth gave up her second chance to marry and decided to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to the foreign country Israel, while the other daughter-in-law Orpah went away to remarry.
God honored Ruth’s faithfulness and made her the great-grandmother of King David. God also included her in the genealogy of Jesus.
Through Tamar, Rahab and Ruth, we learn that that God works through faith, and he is pleased by those who live by faith, regardless of gender or nationality.
God’s work in history is not limited by human failures or sins. Just as God used all kinds of people to bring his Son into the world, he uses all kinds today to accomplish his will. And God wants to use each of us for His own purpose.
Ezekiel 20:44 reads,
You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
2. Read verses 6-11. Why might the author have mentioned David’s sin of adultery? (6) How did God fulfil His promise in the period of the kings despite their wickedness? What led the Israelites to become exiles to Babylon?
2-1, Read verses 6-11.
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
2-2, Why might the author have mentioned David’s sin of adultery? (6)
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
First of all, David himself was the not the oldest in his family or the one whom the prophet Samuel was looking for to raise king. But God chose David.
The author could have avoided to mention Uriah’s wife. However it was intentionally mentioned to reveal God’s forgiveness and love despite David’s sins.
God’s word of promise was fulfilled according to God’s will. 2 Samuel 7:12b-14a says, “I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son.”
2-3, How did God fulfil His promise in the period of the kings despite their wickedness?
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
The names in verses 6-11 are all kings in the period of the kings. Among them, the “good” kings were Asa (1Ki 15:11), Jehoshaphat (1Ki 22:43), Uzziah (2 Ki 15:3), Jotham (2 Ki 15:34), Hezekiah (2 Ki 18:3), and Josiah (2 Ki 22:2).
They sought to love God and to honor God and to be good shepherds of their people like David was. God blessed them and their people when they did so. Yet they were full of sins and mistakes.
The “bad” kings were Solomon (1Ki 11:9-13), Rehoboam, Abijah (1Ki 15:3), Jehoram (2 Ki 8:18), Ahaz (2 Ki 15:34), Manasseh (2Ki 21:2), Amon (2 Ki 21:20), and Jeconiah (2 Ki 24:9).
They ignored the word of God and David’s example and used their kingship for selfish benefit and pleasure. They fell into idol worship and became instruments of the devil. God’s people suffered terribly under their reign.
It is amazing that God bore with the evil kings. It was for the sake of keeping his promise to David. God is faithful, even when his people are unfaithful.
2-4, What led the Israelites to become exiles to Babylon?
In verse 11, Matthew could have mentioned more names; Jehoahaz and Jehoakim between Josiah and Jeconiah(Jehoiachin).
According to 2 Kings 23 and 24, they rebelled against Babylon by ignoring God’s words through His prophet, Jeremiah.
Their stubbornness led the Israelites to become exiles to Babylon. God’s line could have ceased right there. But according to God’s faithfulness, David’s line continued.
3. Read verses 12-17. Why did God maintain David’s line even during the dark times through a series of otherwise unknown names? Who were chosen as Jesus’ parents? (16) What can we learn from God who kept His promise through 42 generations?
3-1, Read verses 12-17.
After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
3-2, Why did God maintain David’s line even during the dark times through a series of otherwise unknown names?
12 After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,
Abihud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
Recently when we studied the book of Nehemiah, we learned that Jewish people who returned to Jerusalem looked for their ancestry as an important part of their restoration.
The Israelites from kings to ordinary people lost their identity as a chosen people of God and lived a secular life.
In his divine love, God punished them by driving them out of the Promised Land and sent them into Babylon. They lost all their privileges and became slaves.
The world at that time was turbulent. Many strong empires rose and fell. And the Israelites were tossed by these empires.
Living as slaves in the foreign land, they recognized their sins before God and repented. Most of all, they remembered the promise of God to send the Christ. Then they were filled with the hope of God and longed for the coming of the Messiah King. God sanctifies his people through many trials. God’s will continued.
3-3, Who were chosen as Jesus’ parents? (16)
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Mary the mother of Jesus had faith in God. By faith she accepted God’s word to conceive the Messiah through the Holy Spirit even though she was a virgin who was engaged to marry to Joseph. God used her faith to bring Jesus into the world.
Also Joseph was the step father of Jesus Christ in flesh. He was known as a righteous man who was mindful of others, especially Mary despite his misunderstanding. God used him for His own redemption purpose.
3-4, What can we learn from God who kept His promise through 42 generations?
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Matthew organized Israel’s history into three periods. The first, from Abraham to David, was the period of the patriarchs.
The second period from King David to the exile to Babylon was the period of kings. And the third period from the exile to the Christ was the “post-exilic” period.
God kept His promise through 42 generations regardless of evil practices of His people. Praise God who is always faithful in keeping His promise to save us through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Jesus’ genealogy is not an ordinary genealogy, but is the genealogy of God’s chosen ones who lived by God’s promise and by faith in God. The genealogy of Jesus is still being recorded. To be recorded in it, we must live by faith in God. We must hold on to God’s promise to the end and join in God’s world salvation work. Amen!
One word: The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
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