Christ’s Genealogy
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Matthew 1:1
The Old Testament begins with a genealogy list in Genesis 5:1 revealing how it all started with Adam. This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him.
It is remarkably interesting that God created mankind in His image, then in the incarnation, Jesus Christ came to this earth in man’s image as the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45).
It is not uncommon for us to avoid the genealogical lists in the Bible like the plague. It is like reading through the telephone book with many names we cannot begin to pronounce. Yet every name listed in the Word of God had a purpose as to why God placed it in His Word. We need to keep in mind that All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is PROFITABLE (2 Timothy 3:16).
There are two genealogical lists for the lineage of Jesus Christ – Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23 – 38. The Greek word for generation is “genesis,” which can also be translated “nativity.” So, are these lists profitable to us? Obviously, they would be important because God determined them to be so. Here are several other reasons we should read them and seek to understand their significance.
1. The most obvious reason is that they provide a genealogical line to Christ whose life and ministry was prophesied in the Old Testament two thousand years prior to His birth in Bethlehem.
A. The son of David reveals Messiah’s royal descent.
B. The son of Abraham reveals Messiah’s physical heritage.
2. They demonstrate God’s plans and purposes carried out through people, even through people like Aram, Aminadab, Naasson and Salmon (Matt. 1:4).
3. God created us originally to live forever – for fellowship and His pleasure. But sin ruined that, and the effects of sin can be seen in many genealogical lines.
Christ’s physical line was not unblemished which is one major reason He was not born of Joseph. In Matthew 1:6, David begat Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Here the secret of a sinning saint turns up in the New Testament. There are no secret sins for God has a way of bringing them into the open. It was like an albatross of shame that hung around the neck of David, but Solomon, the innocent party in David’s sin is also marked by sin. It reminds us that we should think twice about secret sin.
4. God created mankind for fellowship and His good pleasure (Revelation 4:11). As you read through these lists, you will find saints whose faith we can follow, some who had a close fellowship with God which ought to be the desire of every believer.
5. The genealogical lists would have been especially important to the children of Israel because they established family heritage rights, particularly when it came to the matter of property and inheritance. These were used for determining where to pitch their tents in the wilderness and where they were to live when the land was parceled out once they were in the Promised Land.
6. For us, they reveal how God had chosen Israel for a prominent role in history. The children of Israel were always known as the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
7. Surviving Jews recognized through these lists that just as God used their ancestors to honor Him, they also could be used of God. It is encouraging to note that we can be used of God.
8. These lists today make it clear who has the right to the land of Israel and Palestine.
In Matthew’s list of Christ’s genealogy, there are five women mentioned – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and finally Mary, the wife of Joseph. Tamar and Rahab are remembered for their impurity while Ruth is remembered for her purity – an outsider. Tamar was a Canaanite, Rahab was from Jericho, and Ruth a Moabitess. Some who were outside the camp did better than those within the camp. Think on this because there are some people we might strain at welcoming into our church fellowship who were actually part of Christ’s bloodline. We need to be careful here about making judgment calls for we are told, Of such were some of you (I Cor. 6:11). And then Paul reminds us: But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. It is incredible that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Thank God today for His love, mercy and grace shown to us in the incarnation and work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Look at the names in the two genealogical lists and praise God that the history of His great plan of redemption is so well preserved and we can see His plans and purposes from the first day of creation until now. We have an incredible God. That is something that we should recognize as central in this Christmas season.
The notes for this devotional are taken from my Wednesday Evening Bible Study at Bethany Bible Church.
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.