THE MESSIAH’S GENEALOGY
Matthew 1:1-17
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: (1)
chapter 1
1. This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3. Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
4. Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5. Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
6. and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7. Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,
8. Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9. Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10. Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,
11. and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12. After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13. Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
14. Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud,
15. Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
16. and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17. Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
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1. Matthew starts his gospel account with the genealogy of Jesus. He emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s plan and Jesus’ right to be the king of the Jews as he notes Jesus as the son of Abraham and the son of David.
2. Among all fathers recorded in the genealogy, there were several mothers of faith mentioned: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba who had been Uriah’s wife (1:6). These women, some of them even as Gentiles, carried extraordinary faith in trusting God’s plan and blessings through his promises. Matthew shows the grace of God, turning any inequities into a blessing, when we trust him fully and submit to his will.
3. The third part of the genealogy starts with the darkest time in Israel’s history: the Babylonian captivity. God does not tolerate his children’s disobedience forever. However, we find hope in him as we realize that he carries out his plan despite human errors and inadequacies. God has the big picture in his mind and patiently waits for the right time. Will you put your trust in him today and ask to be part of his plan?
Prayer: Father, you are faithful to your promise and your plans are perfect. Thank you for the gift I receive in Jesus, who is the proof of your love, and Savior of my life.
One Word: God carries out his plan