Jesus' Birth And Infancy, 1:1-2:23

JESUS' HUMANITY: HIS GENEALOGY

Mat 1:1-17; Lu 3:; Isa 9:6-7 (Advent 1)

Reading: Lu 1:30-34

Songs:

Theme: (Matthews lineage) Jesus is of the proper lineage to be the messiah; associates Jesus with the Davidic and Abrahamic promises

INTRODUCTION

A. Genealogies serve different purposes. They can help identify someone as coming from a certain family. They can also establish status and legitimacy.

B. Biblically, a good example of this is given with Jesus’ genealogy. To many people, few things in the Bible are less meaningful and boring than to spend time going over genealogies. Such people in reading the Bible from cover to cover, tend to just glance over the genealogies.

C. The Bible provides a recorded history of the ancestry for Jesus's earthly life. Understanding Jesus' genealogy should strengthen our faith as we realize God's work through history to save us.

D. It is important we understand the genealogies were never meant to be an exhaustive biography but a selective narrative of information which sustained the claim that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God (Mat 16:16).

E. If the Jews were to have been persuaded to follow Jesus as the messiah, they first would have had to have been convinced that he was the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the throne of David and the blessing from Abraham. It is for that reason that Matthew began with a genealogy the proved that point.

I. THE PREFACE, 1:1.

A. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ , ..., 1:1a.

KJV-ASV

1 ¶ [{1} ASV] The book <976> of the [{2} ASV] generation <1078> of Jesus <2424> Christ <5547>, ... [{1) Or The genealogy of Jesus Christ 2) Or birth; as in verse 18} ASV]

1. The Bible, contains the greatest story ever told about the greatest man who ever lived.

a. It’s the generations to Jesus Christ.

b. All 66 books in the Bible, all 1189 chapters, all 773,000 words (in the King James Version), were written primarily about Jesus Christ.

c. Mark portrayed Jesus as the Savior of Mankind.

d. Luke portrayed Jesus as the Son of Man. Luke wrote to the Gentiles.

e. John portrayed Jesus as the Son of God. More than the other gospels, he gives us magnificent insight into the deity of Christ.

f. Matthew portrayed Jesus as the King of the Jews.

g. Summary of his life as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

(1) His virgin birth. Luke 2;1-7.

(2) The worship of the baby Jesus by the angels, after the appearance of the angels. Luke 2:8-20.

(3) His dedication in Jerusalem. Luke 2:21-38.

(4) The visit and worship of the wise men. Matthew 2:1-12.

(5) The flight into Egypt. Matthew 2:13-23.

(6) His confounding of the scholars in the Temple at age 12. Luke 2:41-50.

(7) His baptism. Matthew 3:13-17.

(8) His temptation in the wilderness. Matthew 4:1-11.

(9) His introduction by John the Baptist. John 1:29.

(10) His first cleansing of the Temple. John 2:13-25.

(11) The conversion of Nicodemus. John 3:1-21.

(12) The selection of His 12 disciples. Matthew 10:1-4.

(13) The imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. Matthew 14:1-12.

(14) Peter's Great Confession. Matthew 16:13-20.

(15) The Transfiguration. Matthew 17:1-13.

(16) His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Matthew 23:1-11.

(17) Weeping over Jerusalem. Matthew 23:37-39.

(18) His ministry in the upper room. John 13 & 14.

(19) In the Garden of Gethsemane. John 18:1-11.

(20) His arrest and trials. John 18:12- 19:15.

(21) The crucifixion. John 19:16-18.

(22) The resurrection. Matthew 28:1-7.

(23) The ten appearances of Christ between his resurrection and acsension. All four Gospels.

(24) The ascension. Luke 24:51.

2. The significance of the opening verse in the genealogy is found in the meaning of Jesus' name.

a. Jesus, 2424 Ihsouv IESOUS ee-ay-sooce’ of Hebrew origin 03091 ewvy; TDNT-3:284,360; n pr m AV-Jesus 972, Jesus (Joshua) 2, Jesus (Justus) 1; 975 Jesus =" Jehovah is salvation" 1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate 2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ 3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor (#Ac 7:45, Heb 4:8) 4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (#Lu 3:29) 5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (#Col 4:11)

(1) Jesus - Latin form of

(2) IESOUS, the Greek form of

(3) the Hebrew name Jeshua

(4) Jesus' name means "Jehovah is salvation" or "Savior."

b. Christ, 5547 Cristov Christos khris-tos’ from 5548; TDNT-9:493,1322; adj AV-Christ 569; 569 Christ =" anointed" 1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God 2) anointed

(1) comes from CHEIR, hand - is originally meant to rub the hands together in anointing but came to mean "the anointed one."

(2) The Hebrew equivalent was messiah, Joh 1:41; 4:25.

(3) messiah, (Heb. mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests #Ex 28:41 40:15 Nu 3:3 prophets #1Ki 19:16 and kings #1Sa 9:16 16:3 2Sa 12:7 were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" #Ps 45:7 i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in #Joh 1:41 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old Testament the word Messiah, as the rendering of the Hebrew, occurs only twice #Da 9:25,26 R.V., "the anointed one". The first great promise #Ge 3:15 contains in it the germ of all the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah and the great work he was to accomplish on earth. The prophecies became more definite and fuller as the ages rolled on; the light shone more and more unto the perfect day. Different periods of prophetic revelation have been pointed out, 1. the patriarchal; 2. the Mosaic 3. the period of David; 4. the period of prophetism, i.e., of those prophets whose works form a part of the Old Testament canon. The expectations of the Jews were thus kept alive from generation to generation, till the "fulness of the times, " when Messiah came, "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law." In him all these ancient prophecies have their fulfilment. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the great Deliverer who was to come. (Comp.) #Mt 26:54 Mr 9:12 Lu 18:31 22:37 Joh 5:39 Ac 2:1ff. #Ac 16:31 26:22,23 - Eastons Revised Bible Dictionary.

3. Matthew used to phrases to describe what he went on to prove in giving his genealogy of Jesus.

B. the son of David, the son of Abraham, 1:b-c.

1b-c ¶ ... the son <5207> of David <1138> , the son <5207> of Abraham <11>.

1. Matthew's genealogy first tells us that Jesus is the son of David," Isa 9:6ff; Jer 23:5ff; Eze 34:23ff..

a. Eight times Matthew described Jesus as the "Son of David," Mat 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 18:25; 20:30-31; 21:8, 15.

(1) By reading down to the end of the genealogy we read that Jesus was the son of David through Joseph.

(2) However, Matthew mentioned twice that Jesus was conceived through the Spirit and not by means of sexual union between Joseph and Mary (Mat 1:18, 20).

(3) Joseph was not Jesus' natural father, so how could Joseph’s genealogy connect Jesus to David?

(4) When Joseph took Mary as his wife he became the legal father to Jesus.

b. What was meant by "the Son of David" and why was the relationship through Joseph important.

c. In calling Jesus Christ "the son of David," the Jews would have thought immediately of God's promises to king David.

d. Let’s consider the promise God made to king David.

(1) In spite of being forewarned of the high price of wanting a king, the Israelites demanded a king, like all the other nations had (cf. 1 Sam. 8). God granted Israel's request and it was the task of Samuel, the priest, to designate who would be the king. Israel's first king was Saul. However, later, due to Saul’s disobedience, he was rejected as God's king. Another was destined to be his replacement. Since it was not just Saul, but his dynasty that was rejected, it was necessary for God to designate through Samuel, who would be the new king. David anointed as Israel's new king. Later, God made a covenant with David regarding his throne, known as the Davidic Covenant or Promise, 2Sa 7:8-16.

(2) Isaiah said, "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. . ." "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders (Isa 9:6-7).

e. With this genealogy, Matthew wanted to show not that Jesus was of the blood line of David, but that Jesus was a legal heir (through Joseph) to the throne, of the promise made to David and therefore, the king of the Jews, Mat 2:2; 27:37, cf. 2Ch 23:3.

(1) Matthew also wanted to show that Jesus was David's son because from David was to come the messiah (cp. Mat 22:42).

(2) Without this legal claim to David's throne established, considering Jesus to have been the messiah would not only have been invalid but the Jews would not have accepted the claim.

f. However, though through Joseph Jesus had a legal claim to David’s throne, the Davidic promise called for more than a legal claim.

g. The promise God made to David was to set up "thy seed after thee" (2Sa 7:12) or a physical decedent (cf. Ac 2:25-30; 13:22-23).

2. There are two genealogies for Jesus in the New Testament as one might suspect, if it had to be proven he was a fleshly descendant of David (and Joseph’s didn’t) just as for any child there are two, one through each of parent.

a. One of course is in Matthew and the other is in Luke, Lu 3:23-38.

b. Matthew's genealogy is in descending order from Abraham through Joseph.

c. Luke recorded Jesus' genealogy, in ascending order from Heli to Adam.

d. From Abraham to David, in both genealogies there is close agreement. Therefore Luke supported Matthew in showing Jesus had a legal claim to David's throne.

(1) However, after David, both genealogies diverge strongly suggesting they follow two separate lines of decedents, otherwise throughout there would be great similarities.

(2) From Matthew's genealogy it is apparent he followed the line that follows the succession of kings.

(3) From Luke's version of Jesus’ genealogy, the line follows through Nathan.

(a) Luke’s intent seems to have been is to show Jesus as a blood descendant of David.

(b) It would also seem apparent that since Matthew traced Joseph’s decedents, and that with the two genealogies differing greatly, that Luke traced Jesus genealogy from Mary's line of desendents .

(c) It makes sense that Luke's version follows Mary's descendants, since Matthew's version gave emphasis to Joseph and the two are not the same genealogy.

(d) Luke’s genealogy then, provides the biological connection for Jesus to David's throne (Lu 3:23-38).

e. Therefore, Matthew showed that Jesus had both a legal (royal through Solomon) claim to David’s throne as well as biological or actual (through Nathan) line to it

f. In addition, he had a line to the blessing promised Abraham.

3. "Son of Abraham,"

a. Matthew's genealogy secondly, tells us that Jesus is the son of Abraham.

(1) What was meant by calling Jesus "the Son of Abraham?"

(2) In calling Jesus Christ "the son of Abraham," the Jews would have thought immediately of God's promises made to Abraham.

(a) Ge 12:2-3 - descendants and blessing to all the world

(b) Ge 13:15-16 - descendants

(d) Ge 18:18 -

(e) Gen 22:17_18 - descendants, land and blessings to the world

(f) Most significant was, Abraham was to have an heir that would bless all the families of the earth.

(g) God did make of Abraham a great nation; his descendants did possess the promised land; and, nations and kings did come from Abraham. However, unfulfilled until the appearance of the Messiah, was God's promise that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through Abraham, .cf. Ps 2:6_9; Isa 11:1-4; 42:1_4.

(3) Matthew used "son of Abraham" to demonstrate that the Old Testament promises (blessing to all nations, Ge 12:3; 22:18) through Abraham and his seed was fulfilled in Jesus, Ga 3:16.

4. Matthew's genealogy demonstrates that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Davidic and Abrahamic promises.

5. It is good to know that Jesus indeed is the one that God promised would come, set up his kingdom which would last forever, and that he is the one that would come to offer us salvation from our problem of sin.

a. This is important for us to know because we too can become a part of those promises.

b. When we are found in Jesus we inherit with him the benefits of the promises (cp. Ga 3:26-29).

Transition: The list of names that were in Jesus' family line might not at first, seem very interesting but as we have seen, interesting indeed they are. Let’s take a closer look at his family line.

II. THE PEOPLE, 1:2-17.

A. Abraham begat Isaac ... Judas begat Phares ... of Thamar; ... Salmon begat Booz of Rachab ... Booz begat Obed of Ruth; ... Obed begat Jesse; ... David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; ..., 1:2-6.

2 Abraham <11> begat <1080> (5656) Isaac <2464>; and <1161> Isaac <2464> begat <1080> (5656) Jacob <2384>; and <1161> Jacob <2384> begat <1080> (5656) [Judah ASV] Judas <2455> and <2532> his <846> brethren <80>;

3 [and Judah ASV] And <1161> Judas <2455> begat <1080> (5656) [Perez ASV] Phares <5329> and <2532> [Zerah ASV] Zara <2196> of <1537> [Tamar ASV] Thamar <2283>; and <1161> [Perez ASV] Phares <5329> begat <1080> (5656) [Hezron ASV] Esrom <2074>; and <1161> [Hezron ASV] Esrom <2074> begat <1080> (5656) [{1} Ram ASV] Aram <689>; [{1) Gr Aram} ASV]

4 [and {1} ASV] And <1161> [Ram ASV] Aram <689> begat <1080> (5656) [Amminadab ASV] Aminadab <284>; and <1161> [Amminadab ASV] Aminadab <284> begat <1080> (5656) [Nahshon ASV] Naasson <3476>; and <1161> [Nahshon ASV] Naasson <3476> begat <1080> (5656) Salmon <4533>; [{1) Gr Aram}ASV]

5 [and ASV] And <1161> Salmon <4533> begat <1080> (5656) [Boaz ASV] Booz <1003> of <1537> [Rahab ASV] Rachab <4477>; and <1161> [Boaz ASV] Booz <1003> begat <1080> (5656) Obed <5601> of <1537> Ruth <4503>; and <1161> Obed <5601> begat <1080> (5656) Jesse <2421>;

6 [and ASV] And <1161> Jesse <2421> begat <1080> (5656) David <1138> the king <935>; [And ASV] and <1161> David <1138> the king <935> begat <1080> (5656) Solomon <4672> of <1537> her <3588> that had been the wife of Urias <3774>;

1. Abraham

a. In Egypt, thinking to protect himself from possible death, Abraham once lied about his wife's identity, and was willing for another man to take her as his wife. Pharaoh suffered because of Abraham's sin. Later when Sarah had born him no children, Abraham and Sarah's consented to his taking another wife to get around trusting God to keep his promise.

b. Jacob also spent most of his life deceiving people and also took many wives.

2. Let's consider the women mentioned in the genealogy.

The Forgotten Woman

3. Thamar

a. "Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar . . ."

b. From Ge 38 we can read of the account of Thamar.

(1) She was the Canaanite daughter-in-law of Judah. Because of their wickedness, God had taken the lives of her first two husbands, Er, and his brother Onan.

(a) According to custom, someone from among her dead husband's family was supposed to become her husband in order that she would have an heir since she had no children with her husband. Although Judah promised Thamar a husband, he did not keep his promise. She was forgotten.

(b) Judah promised her that when his younger son, Shelah, was grown he would be her husband and raise up children in his brothers' names. However, when Shelah grew older, Judah failed to keep that promise.

(2) Judah did not have an honorable character and routinely committed adultery and engaged in the use of prostitutes.

(3) Thamar then pretended to be a prostitute to entice Judah, her father-in-law, into doing what he was supposed to have done for her with his sons.

(4) Seeking blessings she sought to encourage Judas to do the right thing.

c. Many people feel like they have been forgotten in life and without security. However, the Lord Jesus died that he might provide security for all. He forgot no one in his decision to come to save us from the penalty of sin, cp. He 13:5.

d. Because we are not forgotten, let's seek to encourage people to do the right thing regarding their sin.

The Fearless Woman

4. Rachab

a. Rahab (Canaanite) we should all know about from the story of Joshua, cf. Jos 1; 2:1-21; 6:22-25; He 11:31; Ja 2:25.

b. Rahab did not act the part of the prostitute, it would seem from scripture that she was the real thing. Because she feared God and respected his people, she protected the two spies Joshua sent to Jericho. Later she married a Hebrew man, Salmon and gave birth to King David's great grandfather, Boaz. The New Testament calls her a woman of faith and action.

The Foreign Woman

5. Ruth was a woman of Moab, and Moabites were enemies of Israel. She moved to Israel after her husband's death and, through her kindness, eventually met and married Booz, Rachab's son, and was the great-grandmother of David.

a. Ruth we can read about in the book that bears her name. You need to know that the Moabites were the result of the sexual union between Lot and his oldest daughter (Gen 39:30_37). The Israelites had nothing but contempt for the Moabites because they had their origins in incest and considered their offspring impure to the tenth generation (Deut 23:3). Furthermore, Ruth was very forward and perhaps a little improper in the way she pursued Boaz at the barley pile while he was under the influence of alcohol. Though Ruth was an aggressive Moabite Matthew includes her too in the family tree of Jesus.

b. The book of Ruth in the Old Testament tells of this woman who was born a foreigner. First of all, she placed her faith in the Lord God of Israel (Ruth 1:16_18). Later, she married Booz.

c. Just as God received this foreign woman into the His Son's genealogy, God receives those who are foreign to his grace into his spiritual family.

The Fallen Woman

6. We can read about Bathsheba (an adulteress ), "Uriah's wife in 2Sa 11. She was the woman who committed adultery with King David and got pregnant and then permitted David to have her husband killed. Also, she plotted to put Solomon on the throne after David's death. Though Bathsheba was an adulteress and an accessory to murder Matthew includes her too in the family tree of Jesus.

a. David and Bath Sheba committed adultery! Her husband was allowed to die in battle. This was a subtle form of murder. However there was forgiveness for David and Bath Sheba. Their story is found in 2 Samuel 11-12.

b. As Christians, we often fall into sin. Although God is not pleased, there is always forgiveness available (1 John 1:8- 2:2)

The Faithful Woman,

7. Finally, in verse 16, we have to consider Mary, the mother of Jesus. She got pregnant under suspicious circumstances. Yes, she was engaged to be married, but she and Joseph were not yet living together as husband and wife. In fact, it was known that Joseph was not the cause of her pregnancy.

a. Mary was a sinner in need of a savior just like the rest of us!

b. However, she was a woman of great faith and character (Luke 1:26-38).

c. We Christians need to remember that faithfulness is a quality that is pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 4:2).

B. Solomon begat ..., 1:7-11.

7 [and ASV] And <1161> Solomon <4672> begat <1080> (5656) [Rehoboam ASV] Roboam <4497>; and <1161> [Rehoboam ASV] Roboam <4497> begat <1080> (5656) [Abijah ASV] Abia <7>; and <1161> [Abijah ASV] Abia <7> begat <1080> (5656) [{1} ASV] Asa <760>; [{1) Gr Asaph} ASV]

8 [and ASV] And <1161> [{1} ASV] Asa <760> begat <1080> (5656) [Jehoshaphat ASV] Josaphat <2498>; and <1161> [Jehoshaphat ASV] Josaphat <2498> begat <1080> (5656) Joram <2496>; and <1161> Joram <2496> begat <1080> (5656) [Uzziah ASV] Ozias <3604>; [{1) Gr Asaph} ASV]

9 [and ASV] And <1161> [Uzziah ASV] Ozias <3604> begat <1080> (5656) [Jotham ASV] Joatham <2488>; and <1161> [Jotham ASV] Joatham <2488> begat <1080> (5656) [Ahaz ASV] Achaz <881>; and <1161> [Ahaz ASV] Achaz <881> begat <1080> (5656) [Hezekiah ASV] Ezekias <1478>;

10 [and ASV] And <1161> [Hezekiah ASV] Ezekias <1478> begat <1080> (5656) [Manasseh ASV] Manasses <3128>; and <1161> [Manasseh ASV] Manasses <3128> begat <1080> (5656) [{1} ASV] Amon <300>; and <1161> [{1} ASV] Amon <300> begat <1080> (5656) [Josiah ASV] Josias <2502>; [{1) Gr Amos} ASV]

11 [and ASV] And <1161> [Josiah ASV] Josias <2502> begat <1080> (5656) [Jechoniah ASV] Jechonias <2423> and <2532> his <846> brethren <80>, [at the time of the ASV] about the time <1909> they were [{1} carrying ASV] carried away <3350> to Babylon <897>: {Josias...: some read, Josias begat Jakim, and Jakim begat Jechonias} [{1) Or removal to Babylon} ASV]

1. King Solomon with his 700 wives was no saint and the line goes downhill from there.

2. Rehoboam, his son began to provoke God with idolatry and lost 5/6 of the kingdom.(1 Kings 14: 21 _31) There were some good kings in that line. "

3. Asa is a marvel. In spite of the fact that his father was a sinful man, and his mother a heathen woman, he yet shines forth as one of Judah's most godly kings."

4. Jehoshaphat, his son also walked in the ways of the Lord as did Hezekiah.

5. Jehoram, and Ahaziah did evil. When he died his mother destroyed all the royal sons except for Joash.

6. Manasseh was a wicked man, who carried idolatry to new heights, even sacrificing children, and brought down the wrath of God upon the nation.

7. Amon his son was also evil.

8. Josiah turned the nation back to the Lord and renovated the temple once again, even reinstituting the Passover."There was no king like him, before him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses. Nor did any like him arise after him." But, from that point on, wickedness prevailed, until the nation was carried away to the Babylonian captivity.

9. By comparing Matthew's genealogy to that given in 1Ch 3:5-16, one notices that Matthew left a few names:

a. In western society we call for biological accuracy and completeness in genealogies but it wasn't so for the Jews.

(1) "The genealogy was not intended to be a simple ancestral record, but a resume of redemptive history." [1]

(2) For example, Luke, contains more generations than does Matthew.

(3) In addition, they both have different starting point and cover a different time span.

(4) Luke's list goes from Adam to Jesus whereas Matthew's goes from Abraham to Jesus.

(5) However, even in the time period where the two genealogies overlap, Luke's is much longer with 56 names compared to Matthew's 41.

(6) Also, the two lists are in reverse order: Luke's starts with Jesus whereas Matthew's ends with Jesus.

(7) Furthermore, Matthew's list traces Jesus' ancestry through David's son Solomon whereas Luke's traces Jesus' ancestry through David's son Nathan.

b. In 1:8, between Joram and Ozias belong three generations, Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah, 1Ch 3:11-12.

c. In 1:11, Jehoakim, the father of Jechonias and the son of Josias, was left out between Josias and Jechonias, 1Ch 3:15

(1) In addition, thought he text mentioned “his brethren” Jechonias had no brothers.

(2) The reference may have been to his three uncles, Jehoahaz, Zedekiah and Shallum.

d. There are also names to consider in verses 12-16.

C. ... after they were brought to Babylon ..., 1:12-16.

12 And <1161> after <3326> they were brought <3350> [the {1} carrying away ASV] to Babylon <897>, [Jechoniah ASV] Jechonias <2423> begat <1080> (5656) [{2} Shealtiel ASV] Salathiel <4528>; and <1161> [{2} Shealtiel ASV] Salathiel <4528> begat <1080> (5656) [Zerubbabel ASV] Zorobabel <2216>; [{1) Or removal to Babylon 2) Gr Salathiel} ASV]

13 [and ASV] And <1161> [Zerubbabel ASV] Zorobabel <2216> begat <1080> (5656) Abiud <10>; and <1161> Abiud <10> begat <1080> (5656) Eliakim <1662>; and <1161> Eliakim <1662> begat <1080> (5656) Azor <107>;

14 [and ASV] And <1161> Azor <107> begat <1080> (5656) Sadoc <4524>; and <1161> Sadoc <4524> begat <1080> (5656) Achim <885>; and <1161> Achim <885> begat <1080> (5656) Eliud <1664>;

15 [and ASV] And <1161> Eliud <1664> begat <1080> (5656) Eleazar <1648>; and <1161> Eleazar <1648> begat <1080> (5656) Matthan <3157>; and <1161> Matthan <3157> begat <1080> (5656) Jacob <2384>;

16 [and ASV] And <1161> Jacob <2384> begat <1080> (5656) Joseph <2501> the husband <435> of Mary <3137> , of <1537> whom <3739> was born <1080> (5681) Jesus <2424>, who <3588> is called <3004> (5746) Christ <5547>.

1. From Zorobabel’s name onward, none of the people mentioned are found in the Old Testament.

2. It is important to note that the usual "begat [by a man] of [a woman] was changed in verse 16.

a. In verse 16 Matthew did not write that Joseph "begat" Jesus of Mary but that Jesus was born of Mary.

(1) "whom" is feminine and in Greek pronouns agree with their antecedent in gender, therefore it is clear the reference is only to Mary and not Joseph.

(2) Matthew was making clear the truth of verses 18-25, that Mary was a virgin, when she gave birth to Jesus.

(3) Mary and Joseph had no sexually encounters, as is acceptable for a husband and wife, until after Jesus was born.

b. It was not until after Jesus’ birth that other children were born to Mary through Joseph.

D. ... So all the generations from Abraham ... unto Christ ... (1:17).

17 So <3767> all <3956> the generations <1074> from <575> Abraham <11> [unto ASV] to <2193> David <1138> are fourteen <1180> generations <1074>; and <2532> from <575> David <1138> [unto ASV] until <2193> [{1} ASV] the carrying away <3350> [to ASV] into Babylon <897> [fourteen ASV] are fourteen <1180> generations <1074>; and <2532> from <575> the [{1} ASV] carrying away <3350> [to ASV] into Babylon <897> unto <2193> [the ASV] Christ <5547> [fourteen ASV] are fourteen <1180> generations <1074>. [{1) Or removal to Babylon} ASV]

1. The genealogies:

a. prove Jesus was the legal heir to throne of David (not a usurper).

b. God fulfilled His promise to David _ Acts 13:23 (Rom. 1:3).

c. Show God's providence work to bring a messiah to save us from our problem with sin.

2. One of the things we learn from the list of famous and infamous names in Jesus' family line is that they were just ordinary people like you and me. In his plan for salvation God used many people, some of which who were obvious sinners. With his genealogy, Jesus broke down all barriers of race - Jew and Gentile; all distinction of sex - male and female; and any other distinction righteous and unrighteous, saint and sinner.

a. In Matthew's telling the line of people up to Jesus's birth into this world, is of such encouragement. It let's us know that God works with those less than perfect. God works through people, even broken, hurting, suffering people. God works through generations. God works through the everyday stuff of life on this planet.

b. As they had become part of his earthly family you and I can become part of this heavenly family.

c. It doesn't matter what we have done in life. If we are willing to obey his gospel, and to live a life struggling victoriously against sin, he will bring us into his family to live eteranlly with him in heaven.

d. John said, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." (John 1:12) Matthew 1:1-17 just gives us the beginning of his family tree. Is your name yet included?

CONCLUSION:

Jesus' genealogy and birth emphasize the great care God took to save us from our sins and to grant us eternal life. You might think that God may not have interest in you because of the mistake in your background but take a look at the list of people in Jesus' genealogy. Clearly, God can use any of us to bring about his purpose. When we are willing to follow his way he will even graft us into his family.

Preached:

Fargo, ND May 7, 2000

Pottersville, MO May 6, 2001

Sources:

jrprice, Life of Christ, Part 2), JESUS OF NAZARETH:

HIS GENEALOGY AND BIRTH

Harry Heintz, The Name Game

[1] Kenneth Chumbley, The Gospel of Matthew,

"Jesus: Son of David, Son of Abraham", Adrian Dieleman

Jack Peters, SPECIAL WOMEN