Title: The Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Text: Matthew 1: 1-17
Date: 12-23-2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Read our text: Mt 1: 1-17. This time of year, as we think of the birth of Christ we usually begin with verse 18--Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. But Matthew 1 begins with--the book of the generation of Jesus Christ.
This is one of those passages we are prone to skip over. Isn't it is just a long list of names? No. This passage of scripture, like all scripture, is given by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. Every word of this book is of value.
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Proposition: The genealogy of Christ declares Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah--the "seed of Abraham", the "son of David".
Divisions:
1. The Faithfulness of God
2. Salvation by Grace in Christ
3. Sin and Condescension
I. GOD IS FAITHFUL.
God Called Abraham by his Grace (Gen 12:--1-4)
Genesis 12: 1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 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.
God Promised Salvation in Christ and that Christ would come through Abraham (Gen 22: 18; Gal 3: 16; Is 11: 10)
Genesis 22: 18: And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…
Gal 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Isaiah 11: 1: And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Matthew 1: 1--CRIES LOUD AND CLEAR, "God is faithful to fulfill his promises to his children."
Matthew 1: 1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Think of the wars--the divisions of men--the carrying away into captivity--yet, God called and drew and preserved--fulfilling his promise even as he said he would. God is not a man that he should lie (Num 23: 19). God says of all his counsel--"yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it" (Is 46: 11.)
Let us find great peace for our hearts as we see God fulfill his promise--nothing can hinder our God from fulfilling his promise to save us from our sins into final glory with him.
1 Thessalonians 5: 23: And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24: Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].
II. SALVATION IS BY GRACE IN CHRIST JESUS
In the second verse of this genealogy we see God glorifying his chosen Son, in whom God saves by grace.
Matthew 1: 2: Abraham begat Isaac;
Abraham had many other sons--but only Isaac is mentioned--why? He is a picture of Christ--Gen 21: 12:…in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Matthew 1: 2: and Isaac begat Jacob;
Jacob is the supplanter, trickster--sinner--but Jacob is chosen of God, as Christ is chosen of God, therefore Jacob is precious, even as Christ--Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Isaac (Christ) giving life to Jacob (chosen).
· V2: Isaac was chosen and included, but not Ishmael. Jacob was chosen and included, but not Esau.
· Some of the father's were chosen and faithful yet there sons were wicked men, Uzziah (good king), but his son Ahaz was wicked, but his son Hezekiah was chosen and faithful.
· Some here were Gentiles--V5: Rahab & Ruth--
· There are women listed here.
Who then maketh thee to differ? GRACE ALONE!
· Not by bloodlines
· Not by race
· Not by gender
· Not by the will of man
Salvation is by God's grace accomplished by Christ and applied by the Spirit of God in the new heart.
· God's eternal election unto salvation
· God's eternal redemption by Christ alone
· God irresistible call by the Spirit of God
All three are included in this one verse in 1 Peter 1: 2:
1 Peter 1: 2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God, through Sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied
John 1:13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 9: 14: What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15: For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16: So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
III. SIN and CONDESCENSION
If you were sovereign over all things--even the hearts of all men--able to preserve the royal genealogy through which your dearly beloved Son is to come forth--would you preserve that record without spot? We would. Yet, that is not the case with the Lord.
Matthew 1: 3: And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar;…
· Thamar was the daughter-in-law of Judas--this was an incestuous, sinful union (Gen 38: 13-)
Matthew 1:5: And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;
· This is Rahab the harlot giving birth to Boaz.
Matthew 1: 5:…and Booz begat Obed of Ruth;
· Ruth was a Moabitess!
Mt 1:6: And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Urias;
· Bathsheba--adultery and murder.
Why did the Lord Jesus Christ record all of these sinners and these sinful, shameful blots in his family. Why did he come through such a family of sinners?
This history of sin manifests why he came! His family were sinners who could not save themselves from their sins.
Still, why did Christ Jesus--who is separate from sinners, made higher than the heavens--why did he come forth from such a spotted family of brethren?
It declares to us his humility--his coming down, to be made--in all points like unto his brethren, yet without sin.
Romans 8: 3 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.
Philippians 2:6-8: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Hebrews 2: 10: For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee…
Application: Next, time we think to exalt ourselves over those spotted and shameful members in our natural families, especially in the household of faith--let us remember I am the spotted, shameful, black sheep of his family. Yet the Son of God made himself of no reputation, he came down, he identified himself with this spotted sinful one because I was his own brethren--he came down, down, down! By his grace--he has brought all his house--up, up, up!
Hebrews 3: 6: But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
THE END
The Bible Begins with--the Creator, the Word, creating all things. The New Testament begins with Him as well--V1: THE BOOK OF THE GENERATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Truly this BOOK beginning to end is concerning this chosen one--Jesus Christ and his chosen generation, his royal priesthood, his peculiar people. And what is the end of the Book, the end of all things, the end to which this generation shall be brought? the same place it began--v17---UNTO CHRIST!
What is keeping you from believing on Christ and confessing him before men?
· Are you in doubt of his faithfulness--to do you see from this unbroken promise to Abraham that God is faithful to fulfill his Word.
· Are you looking for something in yourself to make you different, acceptable, before cast all into the hands of Christ--the one thing that makes any in the generation of Christ to differ--is they are a chosen generation, made accepted in Christ the Beloved!
· Are you too proud to come down off your throne? Behold, Christ came down to save his brethren, to glorify his Father--come down, bow to Christ's feet, trust Christ, the Father will be pleased and you will show no greater love to your brethren!
· The end of all things is at hand--Believe on Christ the End and find rest for your weary souls!
AMEN!