The Father’s Gift of Jesus Messiah
Matthew 1:1-17
I realize that the way to win friends and influence people on a Sunday morning may not be to read the Genealogy of Jesus, but this IS the inspired Word of God and so it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
What is the point of a genealogy? The word for genealogy in Matthew 1 is “genesis”, (the first book of the Bible is Genesis, the book of beginnings) and so a genealogy records beginnings. Normally, it traces the family tree. Who were your forefathers? THIS genealogy is especially important because it is a tribute to and a record of the faithfulness of Almighty God to fulfill HIS Promise for Salvation. This genealogy records the ancestry of Joseph (and Jesus) from Abraham: BUT Remember that Jesus said in John 8:58: "I tell you the truth…before Abraham was born, I am!" And so Jesus precedes Abraham (Luke 3 takes Mary’s lineage to before Adam.)
This genealogy proves Jesus was of the Line of David, even as Old Testament prophecy declared(as does Luke’s). Hear the Record from God’s Word in Matthew 1:
The Record
Matthew 1:1 “The record of the genealogy (the “Genesis”) of Jesus (Yahweh is Salvation, Savior) the Messiah (Christ, khri-stos, the Anointed One) the son of David,("beloved") the son of Abraham (the promise made to be the "father of a multitude") : 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac ("he laughs"; a son of Promise? this couldn’t possibly be true!), Isaac the father of Jacob, ("heel holder" or "supplanter", to hold back, but changed to Israel after he wrestled with God: “God prevails”.) and Jacob the father of Judah (“He (God) shall be praised”) and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez (pronounced “farez”, "breach", one of a twin) and Zerah ("a rising as the sun)" by Tamar ("palm tree”: fruitful, pure, and triumphant), Perez was the father of Hezron, (“surrounded by a wall"-the Lord is my protection.) and Hezron the father of Ram ("high" or "exalted"). 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, ("one of the prince's people"-Are YOU one?) Amminadab the father of Nahshon, (root word “Divine”-the Holy One) and Nahshon the father of Salmon ("garment"-Jesus is our covering). 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (“in him is strength") by Rahab ("wide" as in How wide is God’s mercy, to accept sinners to himself!), Boaz was the father of Obed ("serving"-Jesus came to serve, not to be served) by Ruth (“friendship”), and Obed the father of Jesse ("wealthy"). 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. (David is a picture and forerunner of Christ-“Beloved”-this is my Son in whom I am well-pleased.)
David was (a warrior but He was) the father of Solomon ("peaceful"-Prince of Peace) by Bathsheba ("daughter of an oath"-People are apt to be promise breakers, but God always keeps His promises.) who had been the wife of Uriah ("light of Yahweh"-Jesus is the Light of the World). 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, ("enlarger of the people"-I will build my Church throughout the whole world.) Rehoboam the father of Abijah, ("My Father is Yahweh) and Abijah the father of Asa.(“physician, or cure"-Jesus is the great physician and saves from the death of sin; He alone cures us.) 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, ("whom Yahweh judges"-The Lord is our judge, and he will judge the living and the dead.) Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, ("whom Yahweh has exalted"- The Lord alone is worshiped.) and Joram the father of Uzziah. ("strength of Yahweh"- He is my strength.) 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, ("Yahweh is upright") Jotham the father of Ahaz,(he has grasped or possessed") and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. ("the might of Yahweh”) 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, ("causing to forget") Manasseh the father of Amon, ("builder") and Amon the father of Josiah. (Whom Yahweh heals) 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah ("whom Yahweh establishes") and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. (It appears that the Kingdom of Israel and promises of God have been lost…but wait!)
12 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, (sal-ath-ee-ale') ("I have asked of God") and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. (Born in Babylon- Jesus was born in our Babylon (confusion) in order to be our Savior.) 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, ("my father is majesty") Abihud the father of Eliakim, ("raising up by God"-God raised up to be our Savior!) and Eliakim the father of Azor.("helper") 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, ("just") Zadok the father of Achim, ("the Lord will establish") and Achim the father of Eliud. ("God his Praise") 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar,( "help of God") Eleazar the father of Matthan, (disciple) and Matthan the father of Jacob. ("heel holder" or "supplanter", to hold back, changed to Israel: ‘God prevails’.) 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph ("let him add") the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus (Yahweh is Salvation) was born, who is called the Messiah. (Christ, the Anointed One.)
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.”
His Official title and name: Jesus CHRIST
Six generations of sevens are recorded here of the absolutely perfect, precise, providential timing of the birth of Jesus: Only The Sovereign Lord God could accomplish this in order to bring REDEMPTION and SALVATION through HIS CHRIST. It is very important to understand who CHRIST is. (Translated in Matt. 1:1,16 & 17 as Jesus Christ or Jesus Messiah) What does that mean to You, that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah? This genealogy gives the name of Jesus CHRIST born to Mary and Joseph. Then this name and official title for Jesus are used 130 MORE times in the New Testament, so it is absolutely important that we know Jesus as the Christ.
Jesus Christ is THE Promised “Messiah”. The Hebrew word in the OT is Mashiyach. The root word meant “to anoint or to spread a liquid.” In Luke 4:17 we read: “And He (Jesus Christ) opened the book and found the place where it was written, (from Isaiah 61:1) 18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE (the Spirit of the Lord) ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD." (The year of the Lord had arrived!) 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Jesus CHRIST is the One who was ANOINTED, not by oil, but anointed by the Spirit OF God to perform certain tasks of God: to preach, proclaim release, give sight, to set free the oppressed, and to proclaim the LORD!
Many men were anointed in the Old Testament, namely, to serve God as prophets, priests and kings, but JESUS was the ONLY ONE anointed to be Prophet, Priest AND King.
Jesus was a prophet in many ways: He brought the Word of God, He could prophecy future events, including His own vicarious substitutionary death; He performed miracles and healings of divine proportion, and Jesus was anointed as THE prophet in that He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in the flesh. He is the ultimate prophet in that He is the very Word of God Himself: “The Word became flesh.” (Jn 1:14) Today He continues to “prophecy” to us through His Holy Word and indwelling Spirit.
In Hebrews 1:8, the Father declares the Kingship of Jesus (quoted from Ps 45:6-7), “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’ The Father refers to Jesus as “O God,” indicating that Jesus is indeed God, and rules as King.
As High Priest, Jesus Christ would save God’s People from Sin. Hebrews 2:17 tells of Jesus anointing as High Priest: “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Jesus not only was a mediator between God as a Priest, not merely officiating in religious sacraments and services, but He became the sacrifice for sin. He became the REASON for the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. Every time we participate in them, we remember His perfect work for us and honor Him as CHRIST, remembering that Jesus continues to make intercession for us on the Throne of God.
Galatians 4:4 tells us: “But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem (what a wonderful word, “ex-ag-or-ad'-zo”): payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off; metaph. of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Law at the price of his vicarious death) those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
All through our text, the word “Gennao” is the Greek verb translated, “was the father of” (from genos meaning offspring): of men fathering children, (verb). It is the same verb used in these verses: LISTEN CAREFULLY: Matt. 1:20: “But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived (gennao) in her is of the Holy Spirit.” The father of the Child is of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35: The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child (the offspring) shall be called the Son of God.”
In a Jewish sense, it means “of one who brings others over to his way of life, to convert someone, of God making Christ his son, of God making men his sons through faith in Christ's work.”
John 1: 10: He (JESUS CHRIST) was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were BORN, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 3:3-8: “Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old ? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going ; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
The Way that Jesus Christ saves is by His Holy Spirit of God, coming into your heart and giving you NEW LIFE and Birth, being born of the Spirit and born into the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the WAY, the “Genesis”, to be born again. It is only through Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, and through His Spirit that a person is saved! Galatians 3: 13 proclaims: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE "- 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Salvation comes from God the Father through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Anointed Messiah, through the operation of the Holy Spirit…through faith, not works. Your works are too weak to save, but the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, is fully able to accomplish what we cannot. To God alone be the Glory! Great things He has Done!
OUTLINE:
I. Genealogies record beginnings (genesis)
A. This genealogy is a tribute to and a record of the faithfulness of Almighty God to fulfill HIS Promise for Salvation.
B. This genealogy records the ancestry of Joseph.
C. This genealogy proves Jesus to be of the Line of David.
II. This genealogy gives the name of Jesus CHRIST:
A. Jesus Christ is THE Promised “Messiah”. (Mashiyach)
B. Jesus Christ is the “Anointed One”: (Luke 4:17)
1. The ONLY ONE to be Prophet, Priest AND King. (Jn1:14,Heb 1:8)
2. Jesus Christ would save God’s People from Sin. (Heb 2:17, Gal. 4:4-6)
3. Jesus Christ is the way (“Genesis”) to be born again. (“Gennao” born)
(Matt. 1:20, Luke 1:35, John 1:12-13, 3:3-8)
