A NEW BEGINNING - GENEALOGY OF A KING

Matthew 1:1-17 - Genealogy of Jesus - A New Beginning

We just concluded our 26-week series on the Parables of Jesus.

Instead of waiting for January to start our new series, I am starting our 74-week series – The Gospel of Matthew – going verse by verse.

Purpose of Matthew was to demonstrate and convince the Jews that this Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah – quotes the OT over 60 times!

The theme of Matthew is Jesus, King of the Jews

Today we begin with A New Beginning - Genealogy of the King of the Jews – let us Pray!

A NEW BEGINNING

Matthew 1:1–17 – The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 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.

Sermon Title: "The Genealogy of the King"

Introduction:

The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ – Biblos geneseos – book of beginning –

A New Beginning with Jesus – A New Beginning with how relate to and have access to a Holy God

Luke and Matthew both do the genealogy of Jesus – Matthew, a Hebrew, starts with Abraham where the covenant begins and works his way up to Joseph and Mary through Joseph’s linage – Luke – a Greek starts with Mary and from Mary and goes all the way to Adam and Eve, the origin of mankind.

A man’s ancestors, beginnings, have something to do with both his character and his life

The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 provides more than just a list of names. It reveals key truths about the nature of God's kingdom, His faithfulness to His promises, and the people through whom He chose to work.

In this passage, we see God's sovereign hand at work throughout history. Each name in the genealogy tells a story of God's grace, redemption, and faithfulness.

1. Son of God—He existed before creation.

2. Son of Abraham—He existed before the Ten Commandments were given.

3. Son of Man—Christ came in the form of man

4. Son of David—He existed before and after the Prophets. Isaiah 9:7 – 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.

5. Promise - The first promise of Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of man. Genesis 3:15 – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

6. Personality Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

7. Christ was born of a virgin (compare Matt. 1:23).

8. Power – Christ, the Ruler. Some day He shall rule, and we His children shall rule with Him. Isaiah 9:6 – 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.

1. God's Faithfulness to His Promises (Matthew 1:1-6)

Explanation: Matthew starts with two major covenants: God’s promise to Abraham (that through his seed all nations would be blessed) and to David (that his throne would be established forever). This genealogy traces the fulfillment of these promises, showing that Jesus is the long-awaited fulfillment of the promises to both Abraham and David.

v5-6 –Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.

Here is where the Kingship line starts –

Legal ancestry

Application:

God keeps His promises: In a world that often feels uncertain, we can trust that God will keep every promise He has made. Just as Jesus came in the fullness of time, God's plans for our lives will unfold in His perfect timing.

Hope in God's faithfulness: If God fulfilled His promises in the past, He will be faithful to fulfill His promises for the future. Trust in God’s timing and sovereignty, even when life seems uncertain.

Proof of Jesus’ Humanity: Connection to the whole human race – Israel and gentiles

Came for all people – we will see that next

2. God Uses Imperfect People for His Purposes (Matthew 1:3-6, 16-17)

Text: “Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar... and David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.”

Explanation: The genealogy includes individuals with morally questionable backgrounds: Tamar (slept w/ Judah her father in law to give birth to Perez), Rahab (the prostitute who saved the spies and eventually gave birth to Boaz), Ruth (Non-Israelite who gave birth to David’s grandfather Obed), Bathsheba, and even David himself. Each of these people were part of God’s redemptive plan despite their flaws and sins.

Application:

God uses broken people: This reminds us that God can use anyone, regardless of their past mistakes or moral failures. No one is beyond God's redeeming grace. God’s purposes are not thwarted by human imperfection.

Redemption and grace: We may feel disqualified by our past, but God can redeem any story. His grace is greater than our sin, and He can use us for His kingdom purposes, no matter our history.

Matthew includes 5 women – unnecessary with the fathers – highly unusual

Matthew made it a point to include those who would be marginalized and thought lower of – Jesus never did

As a church we must ask ourselves – how are visibly representing this commitment to reach out to the oppressed and marginalized of society with the good news of salvation in Christ.

Not only did Matthew include them – they are elevated to prominence due to being listed in the genealogy

As a body of Christ we must not simply just minister those but elevate the marginalized and forgotten

Matthew highlights who God can use – when we are obedient – no matter who we are we play an important role in God’s Redemptive Plan

3. Jesus is the Fulfillment of God's Redemptive Plan (Matthew 1:16-17)

Text: “And Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 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.”

Explanation: The genealogy culminates in Jesus, Man, Jew, King who is the Messiah (the Christ), who is the ultimate fulfillment of the story of God's people. The three sets of fourteen generations point to God's perfect plan of redemption, culminating in Jesus’ birth.

Application:

Jesus is the center of history: The birth of Jesus marks the most important event in human history. Our lives find their ultimate meaning in Him. Every promise, every hope, and every prophecy pointed to Jesus.

Live with purpose: Just as Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan, our lives are also part of God's grand narrative. As believers, we have been included in God's redemptive plan through Christ, and we are called to live with a purpose that reflects His kingdom.

Conclusion:

The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-17 invites us to marvel at God's sovereignty, His faithfulness, and His ability to work through flawed individuals to bring about His perfect plan.

As we reflect on these truths, let us trust in God's promises, embrace His grace in our lives, and live with the purpose of being part of His redemptive story.

Matthew’s start of his Good News focuses on the theological depth of the genealogy. His audience was a Jewish audience so this beginning shows that it’s not just a historical list of famous people and not so famous but a message of hope, grace, and divine purpose.

To extend that message of Hope that Christmas brings let us have the trustees come up and collect for Samaritans Purse – for Christmas we collect so we can provide fruit groves, chickens and goats to not only provide food but also a source of income as well Believers Care Packages with Bibles in native language where Christianity is persecuted. Let us pray!