The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 1 Part 1 A Genealogy Of Jesus

Please review the last two posts that provide political and religious context for the New Testament era.

The Old Testament concluded with Malachi rebuking Israel for intermarriage with pagans and for despising worship of God.

All priests had failed the people and Jehovah's name was tarnished by their actions.

Most people were spiritually apathetic and lax concerning right worship of God.

No king had governed Israel for hundreds of years. Rome was now in charge and ruled with an iron hand.

Many Jews conformed to Hellenism and were philosophical rather than being grounded in God's Word.

No prophet had spoken for 400 years after Malachi preached.

Israel needed a perfect prophet, priest and king and many longed for Messiah to come. 

How does the New Testament begin?

It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ. 

Matthew's genealogy is constructed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to emphasize Jesus connection as the Messiah, the son of David. 

Matthew's gospel calls Jesus "son of David" ten times because he presents Jesus as Israel's King in accord with Old Testament prophecy. 

Jesus Christ is son of king David and son of Abraham, the father of faith.

Matthew 1:1-17  The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2)  Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3)  And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4)  And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5)  And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6)  And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7)  And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8)  And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9)  And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10)  And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11)  And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12)  And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13)  And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14)  And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15)  And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16)  And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17)  So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 

The title of Christ's genealogy is unique. 

It is the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, of his ancestors according to the flesh. 

The word "generation" means a book of one's origins.  

The Old Testament begins with the book of the generation of the world by the power of God and it's account is glorious.

Do not miss this important distinction. 

The glory of the New Testament excels that of the Old Testament. 

It begins with genesis of Jesus Christ who created all things (See John 1:1-5; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:1-3; Colossians 1:13-17). 

Christ's genealogy is given as evidence to prove that our Lord Jesus is the son of David, and the son of Abraham. 

Therefore, Jesus Christ is descended from that nation and family out of which the Messiah was to be born. 

Abraham and David received the promises relating to the Messiah. 

It was promised to Abraham that Christ should descend from him (See Genesis 12:3; 22:18). 

God promised king David that Messiah should descend from him (See 2 Samuel 7:12; Psalm 89:3; 132:11). 

Matthew's genealogy clearly demonstrates that Jesus is "son of David", and a "son of Abraham" 

This family connection qualifies Jesus to be the Messiah.

In calling Christ the son of David, and the son of Abraham, Matthew shows that God is faithful to His promise. 

We can fully trust that Jehovah will bring to pass every word that He has spoken.

No other person in history could ever have a more illustrious ancestry than Jesus Christ. 

David was the model king for all Israel and functioned as king and prophet.

Abraham was the friend of God whose faithfulness was taken notice by Jehovah.  

Abraham also functioned as a priest and prophet. 

The offices of priest, king and prophet were never united in one person, until Jesus Christ was born. 

He alone is the perfect prophet, priest, and king sent from God.

The principal function of a prophet was to make known the will of God to men. 

Jesus, the Son of God, came to explicitly declare the will of the Father to all mankind.

The primary function of a priest was to offer sacrifices to God and to make atonement for the sins of the people. 

Christ Jesus was born in order to offer a perfect sacrifice by dying on the cross as God's perfect Passover Lamb.

Christ Jesus was born to die for us, be resurrected for us to intercede for us.

Romans 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The Bible repeatedly declares that Christ suffered "for us. He died "for us." He shed His blood to pay for our sins.

Jesus died bearing our sins. He shed His blood to pay for our sins. 

When we repent of our sins and call on Jesus to save us, His death is counted as our death, because the wages of sin is death.

The Father is now for us not against us when we trust Jesus to save us.

Romans 8:31-34  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33)  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34)  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Christ then rose from the grave and His resurrection is the basis of our salvation. 

Christ's death is our death by faith and His resurrection is our justification by God when we fully believe on Him.

Propitiation means that Jesus' redeeming work on the cross was fully accepted by His Father as the only, perfect payment to ransom our souls.

He is satisfied in the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

This is what the word propitiation means. The prefix "pro" means to be for us. God is now for us, not against us.

The eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ the Son of God and Son of man.

Hebrews 7:1-3  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2)  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3)  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 

Melchizedek was a picture of Jesus Christ as Son of God, High Priest and King.

His interaction with Abraham points us to Christ as our great high priest.

No ancestors of Melchizedek are ever mentioned because God used him to give a preview of Christ as High Priest in the old Testament. 

Melchizedek is like Christ in that his name means a king of righteousness like Christ is. He is a king of peace like Christ is. 

Hebrews 7:24-27  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25)  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26)  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27)  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 

The difference is that Melchisedek died but Christ is the eternal Son of God. He lives forever and His priesthood is both eternal and unchanging.

The foundation of Christ's priesthood is His sacrifice for us on the cross as God's perfect Lamb.

Because He is eternal, Jesus can save to the uttermost all who turn to Him with repentant faith.

Therefore, Jesus Christ was made a high priest. 

By the sacrifice of Himself, Christ made an atonement for the sins of the whole world (See John 3:5-21; 1 John 2:2, and all of Hebrews).

The main function of a king was to protect and care for the people entrusted to his rule.

So Christ as King of kings will rule the nations and judge all people as He governs. He will protect His people from the enemy and will care for them.

Thus, Matthew shows the world that the only perfect prophet, priest and king was born.

In this genealogy only those ancestors of Christ which formed a direct line to Abraham or David are mentioned. 

This is why no mention is made of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, nor of Esau, the son of Isaac. 

Out of all twelve sons of Jacob, only Judah is mentioned.

There are four women named in Jesus' genealogy. 

In a patriarchal society, it’s surprising to include females at all. 

Even so, one might expect to see the matriarchs of the faith like Sarah, Rebekah, or Leah.  

Matthew included Ruth and Rahab who were Gentiles but proved to be loyal.

The inclusion of Gentiles in Christ's genealogy reminds us Jesus' family includes all nations, because He will save all who call upon Him. 

Tamar and Bathsheba were adulteresses while Rahab was a prostitute.

Tamar was shunned by Judah, who took advantage of her in a moment of sin. 

Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute and Bathsheba was taken advantage of by King David.

Yet, Tamar was loyal to her family, Bathsheba was faithful to king David. 

Rahab turned from her sinful ways to follow Jehovah and Ruth turned from idols and followed God. 

This reminds us that in Jesus Christ there is neither Greek, nor Jew, male nor female.

The gospel of Christ is for all people, all nations. 

God will save all who repent on put their trust in Jesus Christ to save them. 

All who are strangers to God's covenant are welcome to the citizenship of the saints, in Christ. 

Romans 8:3-4  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  

It reminds us that Christ took upon Him the likeness of sinful flesh and condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled for us by Christ. 

Therefore, God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to each person who exercises repentant faith in His Son.

Thus, Matthew's genealogy introduces Jesus as King and His gospel will emphasize the King of kings.

Bob