The Genealogy of the Messiah

Introduction:

People are very interested in genealogies.  They want to know who their ancestors were and how they lived.  Some want to know if they are descendants of royalty.  Genealogies were very important in Biblical times as well.  William Barclay, in his commentary on Matthew, wrote:  “The reason for this interest in pedigrees was that the Jews set the greatest possible store on purity of lineage.  If in any man there was the slightest admixture of foreign blood, he lost his right to be called a Jew and a member of the people of God.”

The Scriptures place much emphasis on the genealogy of Jesus Christ.  (Hebrews 7:14)  Padfield notes four reasons for the recording of Christ’s lineage and what they prove.

Body:

I. Christ Fulfilled God’s Promise to Abraham

· God’s promise to Abraham  (Genesis 17:4-8)

· Matthew begins his genealogy by stating Christ was a descendant of Abraham.  (Matthew 1:1)

· This shows that Jesus was of the nation and the family out of which the Messiah would come.  It was promised to Abraham the Christ would descend from him.  (Genesis 22:18)

II. Christ’s Right to Be King on David’s Throne

· God promised to establish David’s throne forever. (II Samuel 7:12-13)

· Matthew’s genealogy informs that Jesus is a descendant of David.  (Matthew 1:16)

· Angel Gabriel’s statement to Mary  (Luke 1:32-33)

· Christ is now on David’s throne.  (Acts 2:29-36)

III. Christ’s Throne Is Not on Earth

· Christ is a descendant of Jeconiah.  (Matthew 1:12)

· Jeconiah would never have a descendant sitting on the throne of David or ruling in Judah.  (Jeremiah 22:24-30)

· Christ is currently ruling on His throne.  (Revelation 3:21)

· Therefore, His throne is not on earth but in heaven.  (John 18:36-37)

IV. Importance of Gentiles and Women

· Christ was a descendant of Rahab.  (Matthew 1:5)  She had been a prostitute in Jericho.

· Christ was a descendant of Ruth.  (Ruth 1:5)  She was a Gentile woman from the land of Moab.

· Christ was a descendant of Tamar who was an adulteress.  (Matthew 1:3)

· These are mentioned probably to show Christ is the Savior of Jew and Gentile, male and female.  (Galatians 3:28)

Conclusion:

Read Luke 1:67-73.  “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:  Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David, As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, Who have been since the world began, That we should be saved from our enemies And from the hand of all who hate us.  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:”

Bobby Stafford     October 27, 2013