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Text: Matthew 1:1-7, 16
Title: “Who is This Jesus Christ?”
Thesis: To prove Jesus was of the proper descent to be the Messiah
Intro.: The Bible says,
“And Jesus Himself began to be about 30 years of age, being (as was
supposed) the son of Joseph…” (Lk.
3:23)
It is
one thing to claim to be a king, but it is another thing to prove it!
The Jews at the time of Christ knew that God had promised them
deliverance through a King that would ultimately come and remove the yoke of
bondage under which they labored.
This King would then set up His kingdom of righteousness according to the O.T.
prophets, as the son of David. This One was to be their Messiah, and the whole
land was echoing the soon appearing of this King sent from God.
The
problem is that when the King appeared, instead of being born in a palace, He
was born among sheep. Instead of
being arrayed in royal garments, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. Instead of
coming as the Deliverer from the Roman rule, He came as the Deliverer from sin.
Yet all that God promised to the Nation of Israel, in the way of deliverance,
will yet be accomplished at the second coming of Christ.
The Bible says,
“And Jesus Himself began to be
about 30 years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph…”
Matthew’s record of the life of Christ was written to the Jews, who would be
very concerned with Messiah’s background or genealogy. So Matthew presents, in
an orderly fashion & first, the genealogy establishing legal claim for Jesus
Christ as the King of Israel. In fact, the Wisemen called Jesus King of the
Jews; Pilate asked if He was King of the Jews; the Roman soldiers mocked Him as
King of the Jews; the inscription on the Cross stated, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING
OF THE JEWS”; His disciples called Him the King of Israel; the people called
Him, the King of Israel; but God calls Jesus, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS!
In this genealogy is found adequate proof for any sincere investigator
that the claims of Christ to be King and Saviour are more than justified.
Walvoord said, “For this reason, the gospel of Matthew was considered one of the
most important books of the N.T. and was given more prominence than the other
three gospels.”
Text: Matt. 1:1-17 – “Who is This Jesus Christ?” – prayer
I. THE RECORD OF CHRIST’S DESCENT
(v1)
A. It’s Title,
“The book of the generation (‘source, origin’) of Jesus Christ”.
That puts the emphasis where it should
be!
1.
Found in the book (“bibilos”), the only source of authority & knowledge
a. “Book,” in this passage, has two meanings
1) The books of genealogy
a) The Jews kept careful records, for tribal identification and the legal
pedigree depended on them.
b) They were kept in the Temple and destroyed in 70 AD
c) The legal claim, for the Jew, of Jesus Christ to be King of Israel
2) The Book or books of the Bible
a) Though the Jewish genealogies were lost, we have the genealogy that is
preserved by God and will never pass away. (Matt.
5:18)
1.
Jesus (humanity) Christ (Messiah or office)
Note: In Genesis we have the genealogy of the Creation; in Matthew we have the
genealogy of the Creator.
Note: This is the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Joseph, His
step-father, while Luke’s genealogy seems to trace Jesus through Mary’s side.
Matthew’s genealogy was written for the Jews which would only consider the male
side, while Luke wrote for Gentiles which would consider the female side.
Besides, the Holy Spirit wanted there to be no doubt about the background of
Christ, since many O.T. prophecies and promises rest on it. Here is the answer
to those unbelievers in Christ’s day that claimed He was illegitimate.
1. Son
of David (907-837 BC)
a. The kingly line
b. The messianic line (a well-known messianic title)
c. Notice Matt. starts with identifying Jesus as King, & and so he starts
with David
“Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David
according to the flesh”
(Rom. 1:3 & 4:3)
2. Son of Abraham (2166-1910 BC)
a. The line of faith (Gen. 15:6)
b. The messianic line (Gen. 21:12)
“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in
thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen. 12:3)
Note: In calling Christ the son of David and Abraham, Matthew shows that God is
faithful to His promises, and will make good on every word He has spoken.
Though it seemed a long time coming, it did not weaken God’s promise.
Though it seems like the valley of the shadow of death is the condition of the
world, God said that, “Where sin doeth abound, grace does much more abound,” and that
Christ would, “Come as a thief in the
night [of darkness and despair].”
II. THE PROTECTED LINE OF THE PROMISED SEED (v2-15)
A. Abraham to Judas (v2)
1.
Abraham (“father of a multitude”)
a. The line of faith
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the
promise”
(Gal. 3:29)
2.
Isaac (“to laugh”). Abraham’s 1st son, Ishmael, was not a child of
the promised seed.
“…for in Isaac shall thy seed be called”
(Gen. 21:12)
a. The line of sacrifice
“And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, ‘My father’: and he said,
‘Here am I, my son’. And he said, ‘Behold the fire and the wood: but where is
the lamb for a burnt offering?’”
(Gen. 22:7)
3. Jacob (“supplanter”) (“to take the place of by
unfair methods or by treacherous means”).
Jacob supplanted Esau’s birthright, but Esau was not the child of the
promised seed.
a. Father of the 12 tribes of Israel
b. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel
c. The line of the Jewish race
“I Am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not
the God of the dead
(“separated”),
but of the living (not separated)” (Matt. 22:32). The members of the
line of the promised seed are in the presence of God.
4. Judas (“he shall be praised”) 4th son of Leah (Rachel),
first wife of Jacob.
a. The line from the chosen tribe (12) of Israel (Gen.49:10-12)
Gen. 49:10-12 prophetically states, “The
sceptre (mark of authority) shall not
depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
(“son”) come; and unto Him shall the
gathering of the people be. Binding
His foal unto the vine, and His ass’s colt unto the choice vine; He washed His
garments in wine, and His clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red
with wine (judgment),
and his teeth white with milk (conquest).”
b. The line from the chosen land (Micah 5:2)
c. Judah was protected as the land of the coming Messiah.
5. And Judah’s brethren (11 other tribes)
a. This is a clear statement that the Messianic line was to be derived
from the chosen nation and no other nation
B. Judas to A’ram (v3)
1. Tamar (“palm tree”).
a. One of 4 women mentioned: a Canaanite (Gentile)
b. Conceived the twins, Pha’res & Zara, by Judah, her father-in-law, by
deception (involving both of them) (Gen. 38), but God’s purposes are always
worked out despite man’s sin.
2.
Pha’res/Pharez (“a breach”). Because he was born first despite Zara’s hand
coming out first and tied with a scarlet thread. So Pharez is counted in the
line (so we have the 2nd supplanter!)
a. From the line of the Bethlehemites, a vary numerous family
b. From the prophetic line of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
3.
Esrom/Hezron (“enclosed”).
a. Nothing else said of him, but in the line of Christ.
4. A’ram/Ram (“high”)
a. In the line of the earliest patriarchs. Elihu, friend of Job,
was said to be of this family (Job 32:2).
1. Amin’adab (“one of the prince’s people”).
a. Father-in-law of Aaron; his daughter Elisheba was married to Aaron
b. From the line of the High Priests, though Christ was an High
Priest after the order of Melchisedec
2. Naas’son (“enchanter”).
a. He was a famous leader/prince of the Nation of Israel in their
wilderness march.
b. From the line of the princes
Isa. 9:6 calls Messiah “…the Prince of
peace.”
3. Sal’mon/Salma (“a garment”)
a. Husband of Ra’chab/Rahab (Joshua 2:1).
b. Not much else written, but in the line of Christ
4. Ra’chab/Rahab (“wide”). Called a harlot because she ran a lodging
place.
a. Though the scriptures do not say so, because of her interaction with
Joshua, she must have been a proselyte.
b. 2nd Gentile women in the line of Christ (all
included)
D. Sal’mon to Jesse
(v5)
1. Bo’oz/Boaz (“in him is strength”). The hero of the Book of Ruth.
a. In the line of the kinsman redeemer (one who steps in to buy
back a family obligation)
2. Ruth (“a female friend”). Daughter-in-law of Naomi of Bethlehem. Returned
with Naomi from Moab, where she met Boaz
a. 3rd Gentile female in the line of Christ
3. Obed (“serving”).
a. Nothing else said of him, but in the line of Christ
4. Jesse (“wealthy”). The father of the greatest king of Israel
a. In the line of being associated with the king
b. A Bethlehemite
c. Almost always mentioned in the context of David
d. Two of the most precious promises of the Messiah come out of Jesse:
Isa. 11:1
“And there shall come forth a Rod out of
the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:”
Isa. 11:10
“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for
an Ensign of the people; to It (the ensign)
shall the Gentiles seek: and His rest shall be glorious.”
Note: Your position in life is not as important as your purpose for life!
E. Jesse to Solomon (v6)
1. David (“beloved”). The 2nd king of Israel
a. Only person with the title “king” added to his name
Said to be “A man after God’s own heart.”
(Acts 13:22)
b. In the line of kings, from which the ultimate King shall sit on
David’s throne in Jerusalem
c. Yet, in the line of flawed mankind
1) Adultery, murder, poor father, and refused the honor of building the
Temple to God
2. Solomon (“peaceful”). The 3rd king of Israel, and the
wisest & richest man of his generation
a. David/Bathsheba’s son
b. Builder of the Temple
c. Solomon was a prolific writer, composing 1,005 songs and 3,000
proverbs
d. In the line of kings
e.
In the line of great wisdom
f. In the line of very flawed mankind
1) Allowed too many foreign wives too much influence over his life
3. Bathsheba (“daughter of an oath”). Wife of Urias/Uriah, perhaps the
most honorable soldier that King David had.
a. Her father, a Gentile, fought for David
b. Her husband, a Gentile, fought for David
c. 4th Gentile female in the line of Christ
1. The line of kings
1. Joseph (“let him add”), the husband of Mary
a. The step-father of Jesus
b. He was physically excluded from the birth of Jesus
c. He was spiritually included in the birth of Jesus
d. He was righteous before God and his heart longed to see the Messiah
2. Mary/Miriam (“rebellion”) The physical mother of Jesus, but only in an
arm’s-length sense.
a. She neither knew a man at conception, and her sin-nature was isolated
from the baby.
b. Out of whom (fem. sing.), Mary and Mary alone, was born Jesus
3. Jesus (“Jehovah is salvation”)
a. Who is called [by name] Christ (“anointed One”)
Concl: The road from Abraham to
Jesus Christ was a rocky road, full of ruts, washouts, rock slides, mud, and
dangerous corners! Maybe that is why
John the Baptist came as, “The voice of
him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight
in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the
glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for
the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”
(Isa. 40:3-5)
But
Matthew has proven two things: First that humanly speaking, Jesus Christ was the
promised descendent of Abraham and David. No one else stood up to make those
claims, and no one since has stood up and tried to claim this throne-right!
Only Jesus had the proper credentials for this office.
Second, that, while fully man, Jesus Christ had no earthly father, but was born
of a virgin, just as the O.T. prophesied.
No other person has ever tried to make that claim!!
Jesus Christ is exactly who Matthew shows He is, the coming King of glory
and the present Saviour of the world!
In
other words, we can have full and complete confidence in God’s words.
What He says He will do—it is already done!
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