Lessons in Luke #1- Looking unto Jesus! Luke: Bridging the Gap between the Old and New Testments

The 14 Generations

Matthew 1:1–6 “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers,

and Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez became the father of Hezron, and Hezron became the father of Aram, and Aram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,

and Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David the king. And David became the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,”

It’s an interesting side thought about the 14 generations that are involved in the coming of Jesus Christ to the Earth. It is also important to point out the significance of the number 400. There were 400 years of living in Egypt that led to slavery. There were also 400 years of silence from God between the Old and New Testaments. Each time period brought about a yearning in people’s hearts for a deliverer/redeemer /Messiah to set Israel free. Matthew helps us make the jump from Genesis to Luke and that is where we begin. The King James Bible says that these are the generations, hence the title. It is equally translated The book of genealogy of Jesus. The word book is “Biblos,” or Bible, the Word of God. In all actuality, this chapter opens with a loud boom. That what this verse is. It is a thunderclap of truth, in your face and mine that Jesus is on the way. The Old Testament story has been on pause for 400 years since Malachi and the Israelites are starting to stir.

Matthew reverses the genealogy and says,Jesus is the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. These words are capitalized because these are recognized names of Jesus. Matthew no doubt reversed the order for compaction with the understanding that Jesus belonged to everyone in between. The order is then told in verses 2- 6. Without this list, the lineage may be uncertain. Here it is a plain record of the genealogy starting with Abraham. The list is impressive and the characters may be a bit flawed but aren’t we all. The List: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, and David. The first 14. Solomon is listed with the first 14 but he goes with the next train leaving the station. We have only dealt with the first four guys over the time spent in Genesis , but oh what an impact they have on the Bible record. So much so, that their names are used as names for Jesus. Jesus is the the Son of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Romans and other books use some of these names in the introduction of their books to display the power, glory and majesty of the Son of God. Romans 1:1- 6

King James Version (Chapter 1)

1 PAUL, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ

In particular, the seed of David brought about our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the flesh. Us, as the church are a part of that lineage, because we have received grace from the One who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness. Do you sense that connection to Christ that we as believers have and do you have that sense of connection that Jesus has with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and of course, eventually David?

We will not take time to go through the entire 14 generations, but we can see them listed here, but we do want to pay particular attention to verses 15- 17 of Matthew 1.

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

Take note of Joseph in verse 16. Had the throne physically remained in the house of David, Joseph would have been on the throne. With Jesus as his first born, He could have been King. Joseph is not intended to be the birth father as Jesus was born of Mary, but rather Matthew gives us the legal ancestry of the physical descent.

Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Luke 1:1-4.

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

The life of Christ must have taken on a various array of books(Many-vs.1) throughout the years. Luke undertakes to do also for the purpose of writing an orderly account of Jesus’ life for Theophilus, who shall become “Ted” to us for the next few weeks. I’m sure the apostles who wrote were among the “many” but not limited to them. Luke says that it makes good sense for him to do the same. Ted probably had a little or a lot of royalty status as the reference to “most excellent” Theophilus. The purpose is not just to write another narrative, but rather to write so that Christ’s followers would have certainty, safety, security, and accuracy in the many details of the One, Jesus Christ.

Jesus did not arrive in a vacuum or a greenhouse to shield him away from the multitudes by as verse 2 says there were many “eyewitnesses and ministers of the word” who had left a written account. Jesus was real. Many was the company that wrote about him that actually saw the Physical Jesus. Luke writes from the accounts of those who did see and touch him. Luke, the beloved physician, did not. Amazing! Jesus turns men and women into writers and teachers to the glory of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course, not everyone who wrote became one of the gospel record, the Bible. This account is special because of the way it ministers and encourages through accuracy.

Zechariah and Elizabeth 1:5-7

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

Time and location are tremendously important to the narrative because of prophecy. When it says, “in the days of Herod of Judea,” we take note that this is necessary. Zechariah was priest and his wife was Elizabeth. He was of the priests, the line of Abijah, and Elizabeth was of the line of Aaron. Both walked with God and led holy lives, but they had no children. Elizabeth was advanced in years and so was far enough along that she would never get a Christmas ornament from Wally Bronner for their first child. They were barren. Just as things were probably never going to change, God is about to step into the picture with one of His angels.