Salvation History and Messiah

Introduction

The peak of the OT was 1000/900BC. This is followed by prophetic warning, decimation and exile… and a somewhat pitiful return to the land.

“The Valley of Elah”

Transfer of property required accurate knowledge of pedigree. Royal succession is not to be random!

Abraham, the father of the Messiah

The covenant of grace - a fresh start in salvation history.

Faith expressed in (growing) obedience is the hallmark of Abrahamic faith. Jn 8:39

Promises of offspring, land and being a blessing to all families of the earth; (Gen 12:2-3; 17:8; 22:17-18. This is how God always planned to fulfil his promise to bless the nations. (Great commission)

Promises that will never be fulfilled in Abraham’s day; promises that will be fulfilled despite so much evidence to the contrary!

David, the forerunner of the Messiah

More rich (OT) promises fulfilled! (Ps 72:17; 2 Sam 7:16). Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of God’s promises to David.

The Exile and the need for the Messiah

Many read the OT as be like/don’t be like him/her!

Even Messiah’s genealogy has many glorious, wicked, foreign, unknown characters!

The house of David is hacked down… but there is a shoot on the stump! (Is 11:1, Rom 15:12).

The genealogy is full of the good and the very wicked… and all were both! None were able to save themselves; all needed the Redeemer.

Jesus the Messiah.

Page 248 Goldsworthy.

You like OT promises? Land, descendants and blessings… we find them in Messiah. He is true Israel, the embodiment of representative Israel and Israel’s king forever.

Jesus is the climax of 3x14.

Many disparage the origin of Jesus (Mt 13:54-58; Mk 6:3; Lk 4:22; Jn 7:40-41; 8:41)

A New Genesis!

Study

Do you think God is capricious? Do you have confidence in God’s knowledge, ability and commitment?

Mt 1:1-6; 11, 16-17.

From vv 1 and 17 what do you think is important for Mt in this genealogy?

Why, in telling us about Jesus would Matthew point so directly at Abraham? (See Gen 12:1-3; 15:1-6; 22:16-18).

Why, in telling us about Jesus would Matthew point so directly at king David? (See 2 Sam 7:4-17

Why, in telling us about Jesus would Matthew point so directly at the exile?