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
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