Son of David

Family tree Abraham to Joseph

Do any of you, when you are reading in the Bible, just glide past the genealogy sections? Today we are not going to do that. Take for instance, just a glance at Matthew 1, you might think, okay Abraham, David, Jesus....doesn’t matter the in between. I hope today you will have a new impression of the genealogy of Christ.

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Matthew 1:1–17 ESV

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.

Quite a family tree from Abraham all the way to Joseph. change slide

Genealogies can be interesting, but do they have any spiritual significance? Those of you who have your bibles, look closely, what stands out to you about this genealogy?

Names of wicked individuals

women mentioned....but also questionable women were mentioned

some generations and names omitted

3 sets of 14 generations

(Women mentioned: Tamar, most of you know the sinful way in which Judah and Tamar had a child.....Rahab, her profession was in prostitution as well. God was able to accomplish something mighty in her. Her decendent was Boaz....who did Boaz end up marrying? Ruth. Ruth was a....? Moabite. Ruth’s place in Jesus’ genealogy hints at the universality of Jesus’ mission, as the law forbade Moabites from entering the Lord’s assembly (Deut 23:3 ). Ruth and Boaz would have a famous great- grandson David…thats the first 14 generations---referred to in Matthew.

Then it says: David fathered solomon and solomon fathered Rehoboam…wait no, did I leave something out? says:

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah....this was so scandalous, Matthew doesn’t even name Bathsheba. David, the man after God’s heart committed an incredibly wicked and sinful deed and tried to cover it up. They lost their first baby, but out of this marriage that had a very sinful beginning came Solomon. That is the last of the women mentioned until Mary. While Mary was chosen by God as a woman of great virtue, to be walking around with a baby bump and no clear husband yet....you might as well have given her a scarlet letter.

Looking at the kings mentioned between david and captivity in Babylon, were there many good kings who did what was pleasing in the sight of God. Some we have to get creative with to say much anything good. Idolatry, multiple wives and concubines, and prostitution, and pagan worship, and even human sacrifice. The mostly decent ones were few and far between.

the line to Christ following their return to Judaea is a little less spelled out in scripture, but the point still stands. What a family tree.

What is Matthew up to in his record of the genealogy?

He mentions all the unmentionable, drawing attention to the black sheep. What is he up to?

Matthew 1:17 ESV

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.

Some will be quick to point out these genealogies of 14 are inaccurate. There were kings ommitted, and generations omitted. Some commentaries I read pointed out, perhaps, by succinctly going with 3 14 generation, it was easier to remember. Although that is true, I give more credit to the biblical author Matthew. He had purpose in drawing attention to Christ’s family tree. And I believe he had purposes with using the somewhat symbolic 14 generations 3 times.

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His family tree was quite symbolic of the state of God’s people. It was filled with wanderer, hypocrites, liars. There were most definitely some bad apples on that family tree. And yet found in this family tree are stories of redemption, warriors, and nobility. It all seems by chance, that some are included from the lineage from Abraham down to David and David down to Joseph. How amazing that we serve a God that allows for choice and free-will, yet we can still see His fingerprints of a divine plan. His plan is for completeness, peace, and freedom from sin. Yes my church family if I can share anything that I believe is certain. God has a plan. His plan is unfolding.

Trusting the plan and letting it unfold is challenging. We want to take matters into our own hands sometimes. There are to many such examples in the Bible, where men of God took a break from being faithful, and took matter into their own hands.

Moses for decades had led His people faithfully, but at a time when they needed water, God gave him the command to speak to a rock, and allow God to perform a miracle, but Moses struck the rock with his staff. God still provided the water, but Moses suffered the consequence of not taking his people into the promised land.

Aaron had acted similarly while Moses was communing with God in the mountain. The people were looking to aaron for answers, desired to be like all the other idol worshippers that had come in contact with and Aaron, the high priest of Israel, led out in it. It seemed for a moment he’d take matters into his hands to unite the people, rather than wait on God.

David, the great warrior King of Israel, took a break from being faithful, entering into an affair with Bathsheeba. And when this affair produced a son, rather, than repent, he tried to cover it up! Could he no longer see God’s record of redemption? Because of his pride and wickedness, two innocent deaths happened. The death of Uriah, and also the death of his son.

Its easy look at these instances in scripture and wonder, what was going on in their head that caused them to act so foolishly. They should have known. God had done literal miracles in their life, who could they be so senseless. But honestly take a look at your life, and I’m sure you’ll find plenty where you might ask a similar question. You might say, How could I have been so foolish? Or maybe you know your family tree, and maybe know some of the sins of your father and mother, and then maybe you didn’t learn from them either. I can say openly, I’m thankful my list of shortcomins and failures are not recorded to be read all around the world. I’m happy I can say, I’m forgiven. But looking back, I know I’ve had the same problem that the Bible heroes we just mentioned. I have at times lost sight and trust in the plan. Yet although we have slipped a time or two. We, can still be, not only mentioned, but counted in the family. How good is it to know that? Isn’t God amazing, he never gives up on us. Never.

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Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle recounts a story of his daughter in his book fresh wind, fresh fire. He, pastoring, a large church, had enjoyed watching his daughter grow up and had been a strong Christian and a role model for his other kids. Around the time of her becoming an upperclassman in highschool, she began making poor decisions. She began to surround herself with bad influences. Slowly an almost invisibly to the busy pastor, his daughter was becoming lost. She openly rebelled against her parents. She had boyfriend that no parent wants for their daughter. once she turned 18, she pulled away to a point, where rarely did the pastor and his wife know where there daughter was. This was strain to Jim and his wife’s relationship, and was a strain on their relationship with God. Jim recounts it was a tuesday prayer meeting, when one of his attendees raised her hand and said, pastor I feel impressed, that we change the course of the prayer meeting, and spend time only praying for your daughter. Jim, overwelmed broke down and for the first time admitted to his group of prayer warriors his brokenness and need for prayer for his daughter. The group prayed for the next hour a prayer of intercession, asking God to work in her heart. Jim recounts he came home that evening to his wife and said, “its over” God is going to bring her back. 32 hours later, Jim recounts his wife running into their bedroom, “she’s home! she’s home!” Jim rushed downstairs and met his daughter in an emotional embrace. The first thing his daughter exclaimed to him, was “Daddy, who was praying for me? who prayed for me???

Through a prayer of intercession a family was restored.

Christ’s life was one of interceding for a fallen humanity. It was his purpose. Redeeming the family tree. change slide

Looking back at verse 17 we have 3 groups of 14 generations mentioned. They are listed as 14 even though as I mentioned earlier, some were ommitted. So why 14? Well if we do some math, something interesting happens. If we were to divide each 14, by 2 we’d be left with six 7’s. 6 is obviously not the completed picture its 7.

If we are to think like the first-century hearers, we must recognize that the importance of the number fourteen is that it is a multiple of (that ever-so-important number) seven. Matthew is implying that the entire flow of God's history of creating a people for himself shows that Jesus the Christ is our Sabbath rest.

Forty-two, not Fourteen

Three sets of fourteen is six sets of seven. The operative number here is not really fourteen but forty-two. And no, forty-two is not the answer to life, the universe, and everything; actually it is the precursor to the one who is the meaning of everything. Jesus Christ is the seventh week of history; he is the completion and the culmination; he inaugurates the last days.

So why did Matthew make a point of specifying the number of generations? Simply put, genealogy and numerology were important to 1st century Jews as they are to most people throughout history. It's vital that the Messiah descend from Abraham and David. So Matthew recorded the lineage from Abraham to David and from David to Jesus. When he did so, he must have noticed that there were roughly the same number of men from the start of the Jewish people to its height, as from the start of the Jewish kingdom to its end, as from the captivity to Jesus. There weren't 14 generations exactly, however. So Matthew edited the list by jumping from grand- or great-grandfathers to their later decedent ("son of" can mean any male decedent).

The image that Matthew seems to invoke that of a deep plan in human history managed by God and culminating in the person of Jesus.

I like how Desire of Ages puts it: change slide

“But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s purposes know no haste and no delay.”

White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages (Vol. 3, p. 32). Pacific Press Publishing Association.

It is the story of the rise and fall of a people and the redemption of that story when a new "King of the Jews" was born. We are meant to be reminded of the very familiar names that take up the bulk of Jesus' genealogy and remember their triumphs and failures.

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“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, … to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4, 5.

lets not forget to two important central figures just before Jesus was born. By all appearances to the public around them, an accident had taken place, and the babe to be named Jesus was born in shame. But public opinion would not be an accurate depiction of the Christmas story. As we have mentioned time over time, Heaven had a plan. Mary’s role was planned. Joseph’s role was also planned centuries before.

One thing, in studying about Joseph, the father of Jesus, was that the scriptures appear to indicate he was an honorable man. change slide

Matthew 1:18–19 ESV

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

The text indicates it wasn’t his own virtue he was attempting to protect, but that of his new bride. However, he is not yet a believer in this precious gift and responsibility that has been given to Mary, which is described in more detail in Luke chapter 1. If you ever have a chance to see Sight and Sound’s musical production of the Christmas story, it is worth every penny to see. I love the way it depicted Joseph. No matter how honorable a man he was, this was one of those moments that it would hard to avoid the appearance of wrong doing. He wanted nothing more than to father a child with Mary, but like this?? Is there anyone here who would not have experienced the same hesitancy that Joseph felt? change slide

Matthew 1:20 ESV

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

You know, God doesn’t send an angel to appear to us in person or in a dream for that matter, every time we have questions, but you know in this matter, Joseph, as well as Mary’s role in “the plan” was just to important.

The angel addresses Joseph as “Son of David.” This is no small detail that should just be glossed over, as another title. It was a reminder to him of just what his bloodline was. Some may surmise, maybe Joseph didn’t already know his heritage. Context does support that theory, as #1 family lineage was very important in this day.

#2 He was about to be on his way to Bethlehem the city of David for census because of his lineage and his family ties to this region.

Maybe he wasn’t aware the savior’s line had been prophesied to be his. But he knew his family tree.

The angel shares with him what is to take place and that he was to a play significant role. His first role was to marry the woman he loved, Mary and to take care of her while she was carrying the savior babe.

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Matthew 1:21 ESV

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

He will save the people from their sins???! This was the Christ he had heard about!

“For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had awaited the Saviour’s coming. Upon this event they had rested their brightest hopes.” -DA

Desire of Ages adds: change slide

The Saviour’s coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and Eve first heard the promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-born son, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those who first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive the hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not all rightly interpreted the message. Century after century passed away; the voices of the prophets ceased.”

White, E. G. (1898). The Desire of Ages (Vol. 3, p. 31).

Many of the people had forgotten about the coming savior, altogether, and those who remembered mostly misunderstood the savior’s purpose.

Now Joseph is being reminded of his lineage, and reminded of God’s promise to Adam and Eve, His promise to Abraham, and David.

As David had been annointed King over Israel, Mary and Joseph had been called themselves to watch over a King.

The angel assured Joseph, he was not only a part of a long thought up plan, but that he played an integral role. change slide

Matthew 1:22–24 ESV

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife,

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Without Joseph and His betrothed Mary, accepting this precious call…the tree is not complete.

Without Christ, we especially don’t have a completed tree. Without Christ, all we have is a bunch of rotten apples not worth much of anything. But his presence restores the picture. His presence gives us hope! His presence reminds us to trust in His plan. There had been prophecies as early as with Adam and Eve that there was a plan of redemption, somewhere a long the line, most stopped trusting the plan. God’s plan is unchanged. He came, and he lived and died. Now the final step is underway. Heaven is beginning to stir, because Christ’s second coming is right around the corner. The Family tree is going to be restored!!! Let’s not lose sight of his plan like we’ve seen so many do. Let’s keep our eyes on jesus. His plan of redemption of the world is just around the corner!”