Family Matters
The rise in popularity of services like ancestry.com and “23 and me”, indicates that people are becoming more and more interested in knowing their genealogy. It demonstrates the importance that people place on knowing who it is they have descended from. Jewish people were aware that the Messiah was prophesied to come through the lineage of David. As such, Matthew began his gospel by sharing the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:1-17), to assure Jewish believers that Jesus was indeed the Messiah who fulfilled prophecy and the covenant promise of God, (that David would have a descendent on the throne forever). I pray that you would know that belief that Jesus is the Christ, does matter! And through your faith in Jesus, you too have become part of the family of God. Amen
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. (Matthew 1:1-6) Matthew began his gospel by immediately identifying the genealogy of Jesus, and connecting Him at the outset to David and Abraham, two of the most important figures in Jewish history. Matthew’s purpose in this was to establish for those familiar with Jewish prophecy, that Jesus is the Messiah. This first set of ancestors called out in Jesus genealogy covered 14 generations from Abraham through David. Matthew did another important thing in that he identified some key women in Jesus genealogy (Tamar, Rahab and Ruth). Typically Jewish genealogy did not include women, but all three of these women played important roles in Gods plan to bring forth the Messiah through the line of Judah and David. As with the men who are listed, these women weren’t perfect, but by listing them, Matthew shows how God can use anyone to accomplish His purposes.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. (Matthew 1:7-11) The next 14 generations listed in Jesus’ genealogy cover His ancestors from King David through the exile of Jews from the promised land into captivity in Babylon. A fourth woman is also mentioned and identified as Solomon’s mother and Uriah’s wife. We would know her as Bathsheba, who was involved in an adulterous union with David.
After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 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 1:12-17) The final 14 generations listed in Jesus’ genealogy begin with the exile and go through to Jesus’ birth. Note that Joseph was listed as Mary’s husband, not as Jesus’ father. Indeed, Joseph was the stepfather of Jesus, but through Mary, Jesus was still in the bloodline of David. Thus Matthew confirms in his gospel that Jesus is in fact from the lineage of David. And Matthew affirms that Jesus is the Messiah!
The remarkable thing about the listing of Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew’s gospel, is how it reveals God’s grace, faithfulness and love for people from all nations, backgrounds and genders. That’s good news for us, because it says to us that the family of God is inclusive. It doesn’t matter your station in life, your background or history, your identity of race ethnicity or gender, God sent Jesus to make you a part of the family. To God, It doesn’t matter what, who or where you come from, but it does matter to Him where you are going. That’s why His grace made a way for us to come to Jesus and be saved. Putting your faith in Jesus makes you a child of God and makes you a part of His family. And that’s important because, without a doubt, in determining how you will spend eternity…. family matters!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
