An Unexpected Lineage

Opening Comments:

Please meet me in your copy of God’s Word in Matthew 1:1-17 . (Page 757) . We are three week away from Christmas and as we enter the holiday season, we often have certain expectations about how things will go. We envision perfectly decorated trees, joyful family gatherings, and heartfelt expressions of love and gratitude. But let's be honest – things don't always go as planned. Unexpected guests show up, the turkey doesn't turn out quite right, or a long-standing family conflict rears its head. The holiday season can be full of unexpected twists and turns.

But what if I told you that the story of Jesus' birth and life is also full of unexpected twists and turns? In fact, Jesus' very lineage is marked by unexpected characters and surprising turns of events. As we explore the genealogy of Jesus this morning, we'll discover that God's plan of redemption is full of unexpected surprises – and that's precisely what makes it so beautiful.

Matthew 1:1–17 ESV

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 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.

Introduction:

In the four biblical accounts of Christ's life (the Gospels), we find two distinct versions of His genealogy. These accounts examine Christ's ancestral history from different perspectives. Luke's genealogy traces Jesus' lineage through His mother, Mary, all the way back to Adam. This emphasizes Jesus' humanity, demonstrating that the promised Messiah became a man. Since Luke wrote primarily for Gentiles, who often viewed God as distant and uninvolved in human affairs, he needed to present Christ as the God-man – fully human and fully divine.

Matthew's genealogy differs significantly. Writing for a primarily Jewish audience, which placed great emphasis on pure genealogy, Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph's family line, back to King David and Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. By doing so, Matthew shows that Jesus was legally a pure Jewish descendant, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and establishing His claim to Messiahship and the throne of Israel.

The genealogy of Christ offers rich and fertile ground for exploration, yielding valuable insights for those who delve into its depths. Although it may not read as expected, Jesus' lineage includes individuals who are far from exemplary – some are even notorious.

This unexpected cast of characters provides for us 6 valuable lessons, as we examine "the unexpected lineage of Christ" today.

1.) Jesus lineage shows Him to be the legal heir. (v.1)

The world places a huge emphasis on genealogy and genetic makeup.

Ancestry.com, 23 and me, etc.

But the lineage of Christ was not given in order to satisfy curiosity about his roots in order that his followers could brag about his ancestors.

Matthew traces the roots of Jesus in order to prove that he was the promised Messiah.  

The messiah had to be both the son of Abraham and the son of David.

A.) God gave to Abraham and his seed the promise of blessing for the whole world.  

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

B.) God gave to David and His seed the promise of eternal government.  

He first gave this promise in 2 Samuel 7 but it is summarized for us in 1 Chronicles 17:11-14

1 Chronicles 17:11–14 ESV

11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, 14 but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’ ”

The Jews believed these promises, so Matthew set out to prove Jesus, the Christ of God, was the promised son of Abraham and David. 

Generation after generation of Jews looked and longed for the promised deliverer of Israel. If Matthew can prove to his audience that Jesus roots go all the way back to Abraham and David, then he will have shown them (and us) how seriously to take Jesus as the Messiah.

Application: Why does this matter to us?

Believers share in the blessings of Abraham and the eternal reign promised to David.

Romans 4:11 ESV

11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

Romans 4:16 ESV

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Jesus actually came through the line of David and Abraham.

Everyone must take the claim seriously. Jesus Made the claim of Messiahship and generations of people after him have experienced his presence and power as the Messiah. Matthew began the witness and untold thousands have followed.

If Jesus and his followers are telling the truth and you reject it, then you are making a fatal mistake.

II.) Jesus lineage encourages believers scattered aboard (v2) 

When Matthew wrote his gospel, Rome ruled the world, and Rome, just as the Babylonians generations before, had scattered the Jews all over the world.

Matthew wrote to a scattered audience of Jews, who needed to know that God’s promises regarding Messiah and been fulfilled.

Believers often feel just as scattered in this world; lonely, frustrated, depressed, without purpose, or significance. You may feel stuck in a rut, and going nowhere. You may feel that God is far away and unapproachable. You may think that God will not answer or meet your need.

Matthew says to everyone: that every believer is in line to receive the promise of God to Abraham and David.

God meets the believers need in Christ and will fulfill his promises to him.

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Romans 8:16–17 ESV

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Titus 3:7 ESV

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

III.) Jesus lineage symbolizes God’s mercy (v3-6) 

In the genealogy of Christ you will find the name of four women, which is unusual.

Not only are they women, but these are 3 gentile women and one sinner, which is unheard of in a Jewish genealogy.  

But each of them are wonderful example of God’s grace and mercy.

Tamar was a seductress and adulterous who God reached (Gen 38:24) 

Rahab was a gentile prostitute who was saved from judgement because of her faith in God and in His people. (Joshua 2)

Ruth was a citizen of a nation that the Jews hated, but she was a woman who chose to be associated with God and his people (Ruth 1) 

Bathsheba deliberately sinned with David, but along with David sought the forgiveness of God (2 Samuel 11-12) 

All of them prove that there are no barriers to God’s mercy. 

He will have mercy upon anyone who calls upon him, no matter the sex, nationality or sin. 

Just glance at these four women in the lineage of christ and you will see God’s mercy on full display.

All four of these women are a beautiful picture of the gospel of Christ. Their sins are forgiven and they are accepted by God as his own.

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Titus 3:5 ESV

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

IV.). Jesus linage demonstrates that Gods grace is not inherited (v 7-10) 

There are both good and bad kings in the lineage of Christ.  

Just because one King was good, does not mean that his goodness was inherited by the next.  

Good-Solomon, Asa, Jehosaphat

Wicked- Rehoboam, Abia, Jorom

Godliness and righteousness are not inherited.

Every human being stands as an individual before God and is responsible for their own life and behavior. You may have godly parents and a godly family, but that is not passed from one person to another. You must confront Christ for yourself.

Matthew 3:8–9 ESV

8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

V.) Jesus lineage emphasizes the power of God to keep his promises (vs 11-16)

A.) In delivering His people through terrible times: The Babylonian captivity (v 11-15)

Matthew displays this so prominently because it shows that God preserved the Jews through the impossible, an attempt to eradicate them. God did it in order to preserve the line of the messiah who had now come.

B.) In sending forth the Messiah (v 16) 

The same power that has preserved the Jews from being stomped out as a people is the same power that fulfilled his promise to send his son.

That should cause the believer to take note that the power and promises of God. This world brings despair, depression, discouragement. But there is a sure victory in the promises of God!”

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

It was centuries before God fulfilled his promise to send his son. Many despaired, some forsook, others mocked but God in His time kept his promise —

Liken this to the second coming.

2 Peter 3:3–4 ESV

3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

VI.) Jesus lineage symbolizes generations of spiritual history (v 17)

 Abraham- David: birth and growth to Israel 

David- Babylonian captivity: regressions and enslavement  

Babylon-Christ: liberation and triumph

-Liken this to the Gospel.

 A.) Man was born and purposed to rule like a king”

Genesis 1:26–27 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

B.) Man lost that dominion through sin and its consequences.

Romans 5:12 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

C.) Man can now be liberated and restored in Christ.

Romans 5:8–10 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Conclusion:

Jesus' unexpected lineage, reminds us that God's plan of redemption is full of surprises. Jesus' lineage is marked by individuals who were far from perfect, yet God used them to fulfill His promises.

So what does this mean for us today?

Firstly, it reminds us that our salvation is not based on our own merits or ancestry, but solely on our faith in Christ. If you haven't already, I encourage you to put your faith in Jesus today.

Secondly, it encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty, even when things don't make sense. We see that God preserved the line of the Messiah despite impossible odds, and we can trust that He is working everything out for our good.

Lastly, it reminds us that we are part of a larger spiritual history that spans generations. We are connected to the believers who came before us, and we have a responsibility to pass on the faith to those who come after us.

Invitation:

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season, let us remember the unexpected twists and turns of His lineage. Let us marvel at God's mercy, sovereignty, and faithfulness. And let us respond with faith, trust, and obedience.

May the unexpected lineage of Jesus Christ encourage and inspire you to trust in Him, even when the road ahead seems uncertain. May you experience the joy, peace, and hope that come from knowing Jesus, the Messiah, who was born to save us from our sins.