Sermon Tone Analysis

Good morning CCLC!

Turn in your Bibles to Matt 1.

Last week we looked at the Gospels in general and Matthew's Gospel specifically, and we covered verse 1 in Matthew that lists 2 significant messianic covenants- the Davidic Covenant and the Abrahamic covenant.

Today, we will examine Jesus' legal lineage through Matthew.

The genealogy in Matthew in one of the most significant, if not the most significant, genealogy in the entire Bible.

I want to take the opportunity to look at this genealogy in relation to Christ, and to understand his earthly lineage by examining some of the people in Jesus' family...His ancestors...their good deeds, their flaws, and what can we learn from them?

How can we relate to them?

This examination will take us into the OT, which I love because it is rich.

Today, we will cover verses 1-6, looking at the Patriarchs, and especially the women listed in Matthew's genealogy.

Next week, we will look at the kings, beginning in Verse 6.

I don't want to rush this teaching and tackle all the genealogy today, so we are going to break this genealogy into two parts over two Sundays.

Please stand with me as we read Matt 1:2-6.

Let's Pray!

The genealogies...nothing is more edifying than reading through a list of names we can barely pronounce!

(sarcasm) Tons of great application here!

My sarcasm reflects the attitude of many people towards genealogies.

Let me remind you that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God."

All scripture is God-breathed...including genealogies.

The genealogy of Jesus Christ especially.

It's quite fascinating really.

Why start with a Genealogy?

* Matthew wrote to the Jews...and based on the covenants listed in verse 1...it was imperative that the Messiah was from the seed of David and the seed of Abraham.

So, Matthew demonstrate Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and David.

A critical point for Jewish readers...the messiah must fulfill the Davidic and Abrahamic covenants mentioned in verse 1.

* The genealogy of Jesus is also a bridge between the OT & the NT.

The OT prophecies, prophets, and writings looked forward to -or pointed to the Coming Messiah.

* The OT ends in Malachi prophesying of the forerunner to the Messiah, and the NT begins with the evidence that Jesus is the rightful King and Messiah.

* You may have heard the saying, "The OT promises are realized in the NT premises."

* Or, as Augustine said, "The New is in the Old concealed; The Old is in the New revealed."

* The genealogies of Jesus revealed or demonstrated that Jesus had a right to the Throne:

* The genealogy in Matthew 1: Demonstrates Jesus' legal right to the throne via Joseph (Jesus' stepfather...Joseph was not Jesus' blood relative, for Jesus was born of the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit).

But, in Jewish custom, if you were adopted, you shared all the legal rights of the adopted family.

So, Jesus, especially as the eldest Son, had all the legal rights to the throne as Joseph's heritage flows through the royal line through David's son Solomon.

But, it is important that Jesus was not of this blood line, because of the curse upon Jeconiah...which we will discuss next week.

* The genealogy in Luke 3: Demonstrates Jesus' lineal right to the throne through Mary.

Follows the blood line through David's son Nathan.

So, through Mary, Jesus was of the blood line to David and Abraham as well.

* You can also make a point that Jesus had a heavenly right to the throne,...

* For in Luke 3:38, it states Jesus is the "son of Adam, the son of God." Adam was not the first of the fathers in Jesus' lineage...the original and first Father was THE Father- God- The true God-Father...sorry Marlon Brando.

* And, in John 1:1, John states Jesus is the word (John 1:14) and "...the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God."

* In Matthew 1:23, we are told Jesus would be called "Immanuel," "God with us."

Jesus came from the throne in heaven to dwell with us...God with us...He has every right to the throne...He is the King and the Messiah.

Beginning in Verse 2, Matthew begins his Genealogy with Abraham.

Luke will trace Jesus' lineage all the way back to Adam, as Luke writes to the Greeks/Gentiles... his Gospel focuses upon Jesus' humanity, and demonstrates Jesus is the Son of Man.

But, Matthew, only needs to concern himself with fulfilment of the covenants in verse 1, so we start with the Patriarch Abraham.

1. Abraham begot Isaac...

2. We will see this word "begot" numerous times today.

Begot means "descent," "birth," "to bring forth"- it means to become the father of.

3.

You will see this word all throughout the lineage until verse 16. "And Jacob begot Joseph" (Jesus' stepfather), but notice it does not say "Joseph begot Jesus."

Verse 16 mentions Joseph was the husband of Mary, "of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ."

4. Beginning with Abraham, we see that Jesus descends from the Patriarchs of Israel (Abraham, Issac, and Jacob).

5. A Patriarch is a father and ruler of a tribe.

6.

The nation of Israel began with God calling Abraham and forming a covenant with Abraham and later reaffirming the covenant to Issac in Gen 26.

7. The first time we see the name Israel in the Bible is Gen 32:28, when God changes Jacob's name (heal-catcher) to Israel "God prevails."

8. From, Jacob are born 12 sons, who are the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel.

9. From these Patriarchs, there are men and women, who stepped out in faith...and we should follow their lead in this.

We are also to live in faith, and be obedient to God's calling on our lives.

10.

We also see a very human side in this lineage, where these Patriarchs made many humanly and fleshly choices in life and caused harm to themselves, their families, other people, and sometimes to God's name.

11.

One of the best aspects of the Bible is that it is veracious...it represents the truth...it is honest.

In standard Chronicles of kings in secular history, the flaws and mistakes of the kings are not highlighted, but the Bible tells it like it is.

It's one of many reasons we can trust the Bible.

12.

We will see today that Jesus comes from a very human family, filled with triumphs, and shortcomings...just like our families...just like us.

He is "God with us."

He understands us, and despite us, he welcomes us into His family, He loves us, and He calls us to His purposes.

13.

At the end of Verse 2, we see Jesus is from the Tribe of Judah, and in Luke 3:33, in Mary's lineage, we also see Jesus is from the Tribe of Judah.

14.

In Gen 49, when Jacob was in his last days, he spoke final words to his sons and prophesied over them.

To his son Judah he spoke these very prophetic words pointing to Jesus...

15.

Gen 49:9-10 (for simplicity, I will be reading the NLT version) "Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness-who dares to rouse him?

10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor."

And, in other versions, this coming one is named Shiloh, which is a messianic title.

16.

Judah's tribe became the kingly tribe.

David was from the tribe of Judah, and Jesus was from the tribe of Judah.

17.

The 12 Tribes each had a flag for their tribe, and Judah's depicted a Lion, as Judah was referenced by Jacob as a young Lion, or a Lion's whelp.

18.

The Lion is the king of the beasts...the lion is powerful, fierce and majestic, just like the kingly line was, and just like all will see in Jesus' 2nd coming.

19.

In Rev 5:5, one of the elders referred to Jesus as "...the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David..." as Jesus will reclaim the scroll spoken of in Rev 5...the title deed to the earth...ruling as King.

20.

And, let's not forget, Matthew portrayed Jesus as the King, and his Gospel was assigned the Cherub's face of a Lion, as the lion is king of the animals, and Jesus is the King, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

21.

Interwoven symbolism of Jesus throughout the word of God.

Let's continue in verses 3-6...

In verses 3-5, besides Boaz (from the Book of Ruth) the men of Jesus' lineage are a little more obscure.

1.

We read about Perez and Zerah , the twin sons of Judah by Tamar, in Gen 38.

You may recall the account of the "Scarlet Thread."

2. Nahshon in verse 4 in briefly mentioned in opening chapters of Numbers, but very little is known about him.

He was the leader of the Tribe of Judah during Moses' time.

So, you could put a "pin on the map" of Jesus genealogy, that Nahshon was a contemporary of Moses.

3. Of Obed, we hear brief mentions of him in Ruth and in 1 Sam 16, he is the son of Boaz and Ruth, the Grandfather of David.

4. Of Jesse, we see Samuel visit Jesse in 1 Sam 16, but the focus is more upon the examination of his sons, and the selection of and anointing of David.

5. David is often referred to, in what seems a derogatory sense, as the "son of Jesse" instead by name by Saul.

6. Isa 11:1 and 10 speaks of the Messiah coming from the stem or the root of Jesse... but, generally speaking Jesse is also a more obscure biblical character.

7. But, who does stand out in in these verses are the women Tamar and Ruth...and here is why.

8. Beginning in verse 3, we see the first of 5 women appearing in Jesus' genealogy which is fascinating, because Jews did not list women in their genealogies.

In fact, none of these 5 women in the Matt 1 genealogy are listed in the Luke 3 genealogy.

Luke 3 is comprised entirely of men, which was a normal genealogy back then.

9. Woman had very little recognition, rights, and opportunities.

10.

Pharisees were known to regularly pray: "Thank You, God, that I am not a slave, a Gentile, or a woman."

11.

Jesus and Christianity has done much for the equality of women.

In fact, even today, compare women's rights in countries that have not been influenced by Christianity as a nation.

Muslim nations, for ex., oppress women heavily.

12.

Of the women listed, it is quite fascinating who made the list in Matthew's genealogy...not Sarah, Rebekah, or Rachel, instead...