What’s in a Name?

Introduction:

Some people are profoundly interested in genealogies. I find them of some interest, but hardly the stuff sermons are made of—or are they?

The genealogy of Christ is fascinating for the things it shows.

I. It Demonstrates a Cluster of Realities

A. It is structured to point to Christ

B. It shows that Christ had the proper pedigree to be the Messiah

1. It originated in Abraham (settles nationality issue)

2. It came through David (settles His right to reign)

C. In most cases the line runs through the younger brother

1. Thus the preeminence of Christ did not come through inheritance

2. Christ’s greatness came as a result of the will of God

D. It may have some numerical significance

1. It is designed for memory (there are names omitted, etc.) in three groups

2. The last group is missing a name (to show God’s shortening of necessary time between exile and coming of Christ?)

II. It Exposes a Group of False Assumptions

A. That Christianity is chauvinist—four women are included in the list, and with the exception of Ruth, they are not outstanding people

B. That Judaism was totally exclusive—three of the four women mentioned were foreigners, and Bathsheba would be considered one because she was married to a Hittite

C. That the Bible is a book written by human authors—until modern days, authors never made their heroes look bad, and three of the four women have blots on their characters

D. That Joseph was the father of Jesus—note the wording of verse

III. It Annihilates a Flock of Excuses

A. There was a strange lot in His background

1. The women already mentioned

2. At least three foreigners

3. Some rather wicked people

4. Some totally unknown individuals

5. Some good people who did terrible things

B. This mixed multitude teaches us two things

1. Individuals are not conditioned by such people in their backgrounds

2. Individuals are not influenced by what such people did

C. It speaks to the excuses of our day

1. “I can’t serve the Lord because of my bad background”

2. “My mother/father was like this, so I can’t help it”

3. “I don’t make any difference; I’m a nobody”

4. “I have sinned so much that God could never use me”

5. “My background isn’t Christian”

IV. It Advances a Series of Implications

A. The identity of Messiah

B. The source of significance—everyone finds ultimate significance in Him as He is the only source of true significance

C. The limitations of relationship—His own relatives had to receive Him! There is no salvation by ancestry, and each individual must relate to Him individually (cf. with )

Conclusion:

There is so much in this genealogy. The two main things it shows us:

How little our genealogy actually means (His was necessary to establish His royal line), so let’s get rid of all the excuses why we can’t serve and obey;

How important it is to be related to the one to whom the genealogy belongs.

Wood, C. R. (1998). Sermon Outlines on Gospel Passages (pp. 7–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.