Matthew 1:1-17

Caution: Genealogical research can be difficult. Genealogies can be boring. A Genealogical search may expose more than we want to know.

Is difficult. Is by no means boring. Is full of characters most of us wouldn’t brag about.

Distinctions between Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogies of Jesus: Matthew starts with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus Luke starts with Jesus and moves backwards to Adam (son of God). There are people in each gen. that are not in the other. Matthew traces Joseph’s genealogy. Luke appears to be tracing Mary’s genealogy.

Matthew 1:1 (NIV) A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Literally: “This is the book of the Genesis of Jesus Christ”

The expression, “the record of the genealogy” in the Greek text reads, somewhat literally, “the book of the genesis of Jesus Christ.” It is nearly identical with the Greek translations of Genesis 2:4 and 5:1: Gen. 2:4 “This is the book of the genesis of the heavens and the earth ….” Gen. 5:1 “This is the book of the genesis/generations of mankind/Adam ….”

Linked to creation even as John does. Linked to the first man. Everyone in Adam’s genealogy died. Everyone in Jesus’ genealogy died. But everyone in Jesus generation after him lives. Jesus is the start of something new. Everyone “in Adam” dies. Everyone “in Christ” is given the gift of eternal life.

Matthew is careful to show that our Lord’s lineage makes Him both a “son of David,” and a “son of Abraham”: Conclusions: Jesus is the fulfillment of both the Abrahamic (see Galatians 3:15-16) and the Davidic (see Matthew 22:42-46) covenants. Jesus is the legitimate heir to the throne of David; He is the king of Israel. Galatians 3:15-16 (NIV) 15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. Matthew 22:42-46 (NIV) 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Matthew 1:2-6 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, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.

Many of the names in this genealogy from Abraham to David are names that we recognize. These are the names of real people, people who lived many years ago, but real people nevertheless. Conclusion: Jesus was a human being (as well as divine), a real person, born of a line of real people. 1 John 4:1-2 (NIV) 1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

All those listed in Matthew’s Gospel were sinners, and some are really rotten! Conclusion: The blessings of God on His people had/has nothing to do with the good works of men, but can only be explained in terms of the mercy and grace of God.

The Father of faith but had a dysfunctional family. On several occasions lied that Sarah was his sister. Listens to his wife and had a child through Hagar, Sarah’s handmaid.

Deceived his father and stole his brother’s birthright Had competition between his wives Had out of control children Maybe the most dysfunctional family in the Bible

Peeping Tom Adulterer Murderer

Matthew includes four women in his genealogy. Three were Gentile by birth and the fourth (Bathsheba) was married to a Hittite (a Gentile). Three of the women are not high in regards to noble character. Conclusion: God’s promise of salvation through the Messiah was for unworthy sinners, including Gentiles.

A Gentile The daughter-n-in-law of Judah Played the role of a prostitute in order to have a child through Judah.

A Gentile A Prostitute

Moabite (Gentile)

The wife of Uriah Adulterous

 Matthew 1:6-11 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 and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

700 wives 300 concubines Allowed pagan practices and idolatry through his wives.

Arrogance and lack of wisdom divided the Kingdom

These were pretty good kings, though each had his weaknesses.

Ahaz is judged by the Hebrew historians as having committed such abominable Canaanite practices as sacrificing his son and worshiping at high places (2 Kings 16:1-4). He comited Idolatrous abominations (2 Kin. 16:3, 4; 2 Chr. 28:2–4, 22–25). Under his reign Judah was invaded by the kings of Syria and Samaria, 2 Kin. 16:5, 6; 2 Chr. 28:5–8. He robed the temple to purchase aid from the king of Assyria, 2 Kin. 16:7–9, 17, 18; 2 Chr. 28:21. He visited Damascus, obtained a novel pattern of an altar, which he substituted for the altar in the temple in Jerusalem, and otherwise perverted the forms of worship. Because of his wickedness he was “not brought into the sepulchre of the kings.”

Matthew 1: After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, 15 Eliud 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, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Second to last king of Judah Ruled for 100 days Was exiled to Babylon After an imprisonment of thirty-seven years (Jer. 52:31, 33), he was liberated by Evil-merodach, and permitted to occupy a place in the king’s household and sit at his table, receiving “every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life” (52:32–34).

Matthew included names that seem insignificant and unknown to us. Conclusion: Even those not known to us are significant to God.

Mathew took great care in the organization of Jesus’ genealogy. Matthew 1:17 (NIV) 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 Christ.

Everyone after Adam sinned and died. Everyone of Jesus’ descendents died. Death is common to all. Jesus death gives the gift of eternal life. Jesus’ genealogy includes real people. Jesus, though the Son of God was also a man. Jesus had dysfunctional people and dysfunctional families in his genealogy. He died for dysfunctional people with dysfunctional genealogies.