Introduction of the Gospel

Luke 1:1-4

What calling did Luke have upon His life? (v. 1)

On what kind of people did Luke rely for his information? (v. 2)

What credentials did Luke use to back up the trustworthiness of what he wrote? (v. 3)

A perfect understanding, ALL things, from the first.

What reasons did Luke give for deciding to write his Gospel? (vs. 3-4)

To give an orderly account of the life of Jesus.

That Theophilus would know with certainty those things.

John 1:1-5

What is the relationship between the Word and God? (vs. 1-2)

What role did the Word play in the creation of all things? (v. 3)

How was the “life” the light of men? (v. 4)

It was a life of freedom, fulfillment, and faith.

What does “the darkness did not comprehend it” mean? (v. 5)

Comprehend means overcome. The Darkness could not overcome the light of Christ.

This means it tried to. It denied Jesus and tried to defeat Him, but could not. Christ overcame and claimed the victory over darkness and those who dwell in it.

Matthew 1:1-17

Whose genealogy is Matthew tracing? (v. 1)

Of Jesus!

What prominent ancestors of Christ are mentioned? (v. 1)

Abraham and David.

Abraham was considered the “Father of Faith”. He was highly respected then, and still is now as one of the patriarchs of faith. He is even held in high regard by other religions of the East outside of Christianity.

Genesis 18:17–18 NKJV

17 And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, 18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

David

David was the greatest king Israel ever had. He was a Godly king. He was a man after God’s own heart. He loved God and followed Him faithfully.

Jeremiah 23:5–6 NKJV

5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 11:1 NKJV

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

Who is the only person in the record who is listed with his title? (v. 6)

David the king

What four women are mentioned in this genealogy? (vs. 3, 5, 6)

Tamar - wicked beyond measure.

Rahab - Was wicked but took a step of faith.

Ruth - A godly woman who sought God in everything.

Bathsheba - A woman who was forced into evil but God loved anyway.

Which parent of Christ is being traced in this genealogy? (v. 16)

Joseph

Luke 3:23-38

Whose genealogy is Luke tracing? (v. 23)

Jesus!

What prominent ancestors of Christ are mentioned? (vs. 31, 33-34)

David, Judah, Abraham.

What is the significance of those names?

Abraham was considered the “Father of Faith”.

Acts 3:24–26 NKJV

24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

The Messiah was called a “Lion from the tribe of Judah.”

Genesis 49:9 NKJV

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?

Revelation 5:5 NKJV

5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

David was the greatest king Israel ever had; a man after God’s own heart. The Messiah was to be a descendant of David.

Matthew 21:9 NKJV

9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

Luke 1:32 NKJV

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

How does both genealogies (Matthew & Luke) benefit us?

They both provide the information we need to clarify the genealogical requirements of Jesus! It takes away any doubt that might be possible that Jesus was not qualified to be the Messiah.

How does having the information of Jesus’ lineage help us?

Knowing that Jesus meets the genealogical requirements of the Messiah from both parents simply amplifies our belief in Jesus as the prophesied Messiah.