Matthew 1:1-17 – Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Matthew was a Jew and needed to convince the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. The Jews’ first requirement was proof of a man’s ancestry before he would be considered royalty. Matthew needed to show that Jesus was directly descended from both Abraham and King David to make Him a legal heir to the throne of Israel. Matthew begins his gospel by demonstrating the qualification of Jesus starting with his genealogy. “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham...” – Matthew 1:1. Matthew shows Jesus’ genealogy from Abraham to David to the exile to Babylon and from the exile to Jesus’ birth. Then Matthew shows Jesus heavenly origin that Jesus was conceived of a virgin as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Matthew divided the list of Jesus’ ancestors into three groups which made it easy to remember. The first section reminds people of their history up to King David. The second section is about the later kings when people didn’t obey God and were prisoners in Babylon. The third section ends with Jesus Christ who rescues sinners.
There are over forty men’s names mention and only five women are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Wife of Uriah (Bathsheba), and Mary. Some of these women were not considered to be “good women”. All but one was connected with some great sin. Normally women were not included in genealogies. They were considered property with no rights and were unimportant. Why do you think these women are included here? Matthew wanted to show that God thinks women are just as important as men and that He gives grace to all people even the undeserving ones.
Tamar was the forgotten woman. Tamar was part of Judah’s family by marrying his son Er. After he died, his brother Onan was to give her a son, but he practiced contraception so she did not become pregnant. This was wicked in the Lord’s sight so he was put to death. Judah told Tamar to go and live as a widow leaving her without an inheritance. She was simply forgotten. Tamar took matters into her own hands and tricked Judah to sleeping with her so she would bear a son. See her story in Gen. 38. Many people feel like they are forgotten, but Jesus died for all, forgetting no one! He does not forget or forsake those who have trusted Him as Savior. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” - Heb. 13:5b.
Rahab was a prostitute. She hid the Israelite spies protecting them from the king of Jericho. Then when the city was destroyed, only her and her family were spared. See her story in Joshua 2. God can use people in His plans, even if they have done wrong things.
Ruth was the foreign woman. After her mother-in-law’s husband died, she went with her mother-in-law back to her country and there she met Boaz. They married and had a son named Obed who was the father of Jesse who was the father of David. See her complete story in the book of Ruth. God received this foreign woman into Jesus’ genealogy just as He receives those foreign to the church into His family.
Bathsheba was the fallen woman. She committed adultery with David. She became the mother of Solomon. See their story in 2 Sam. 11-12. We all fall into sin, but forgiveness is always available.
God loves everyone even the ones with bad reputations and who mess up. Matthew probably included these women to remind us that God can use imperfect people. Both men and women are made in God’s image – Gen 1:26-27. In the fall of man, Gen. 3 both were sinners. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Gal. 3:28.
Mary was the mother of Jesus. She is different from the other women. She is known as the most blessed among all women. She had the highest of all privileges. When she heard from the angel that the miracle of God would take place within her through the Holy Spirit, she accepted it with faith. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” – Luke 1:38. I am sure she went through public disgrace. She was probably the talk of the town. Even her family probably suffered, but what an honor to be chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. This was not the plan Mary had for her life, but she listened, trusted and obeyed God in this difficult situation.
Principle: Jesus has removed all former racial barriers, raised women to spiritual equality, and came into the world to save sinners.
What lessons do you learn from Mary? We learn that we need to accept and trust what God has for us and don’t complain. Don’t worry about what others think. God is with you and will help you through any situation. He has a plan and your best interest at heart.
Matthew 1:18-25 – The Birth of Jesus Christ
Joseph and Mary were promised to marry, but Mary found she was with child through the Holy Spirit. We find more details in Luke 1:26-38. Joseph thought Mary hadn’t been loyal to him. He wanted to divorce her quietly so she would not experience public disgrace. He was compassionate toward her showing the character of God. God showed Joseph the truth in a dream and Joseph believed and obeyed God’s message. He proved his faith in God’s Word by not divorcing her.
Joseph must have known Mary well. He knew her character, her purity, and her honesty. She probable told him that she wasn’t guilty of sexual immorality and I’m sure she told him the words of the angel. Joseph believed her as he believed God. He was a righteous man (Matt. 1:19) to marry a woman already pregnant, knowing there would be lots of gossip.
Two names were given to Mary’s Son: Jesus, meaning God is salvation (Jesus saved us when He paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross); Immanuel, meaning God with us (He is always with us even in times we don’t feel as if He is).
It was the ultimate blessing to be the parents of the Son of God. They had the best seat in the house to watch God’s plan. They received many rewards and blessings both here on earth as well as in heaven.
What does it really mean to be conceived by Holy Spirit? Jesus was born by the direct action of God. God did it this way because He chose to do it this way. No man was involved in the process. Jesus had a human mother and no human father. He is fully human because He came from Mary’s womb. He is fully divine because He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He is God incarnate in human flesh and without any sin in thought, word and deed making Him qualified to be our Savor.
Do you know Christ as Jesus who saves you?
Principle: God often uses difficult circumstances to
accomplish His will.
Join me here next week as we continue our study of Matthew -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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