Chapter Overview
The book of Matthew opens with the lineage of Jesus through his earthly father Joseph. Tying Jesus back to King David, the tribe of Judah, and Abraham, is a powerful opening point for the Jewish reader. This means that Jesus is the One spoken of in the great promises God made to these mighty men of faith. Jesus is the Messiah for which they were waiting! If you are looking to get more out of this genealogy, take a pencil and box in the names you recognize. There are some great men and women of faith listed here. Following this, Matthew continues to confirm Jesus as the Savior from the prophets, by citing Isaiah and telling the story of Jesus being born of a virgin, just as the Hebrew Scripture taught.
God planned to send Christ to become “God with us” from the foundation of the world. He chose to carry this out through the nation of Israel. God was incredibly patient for 2000 years, dating back to the days of Abraham. Repeatedly, He promised that all would be blessed, a Ruler would be established, and His Son would be the Savior of His people. We are enjoying the fulfillment and substance of that promise. From the moment a virgin gave birth to a child, the world was changed. We are blessed as a result of that change. Praise be to God for waiting patiently, enduring lovingly, and sending His Son to save us.
Great Father of Abraham, Judah, and David, we direct all praise and honor to Your mighty name. Thank you for working through the patriarchs, families, and kings to bring about “the Messiah” with His spiritual and eternal blessings. Thank you for Mary and Joseph’s faith and for the wonderful moment when Your divine Son entered this world on our behalf. Please give us the humility to be grateful and the faith to live out the intent of Christ’s coming. Show us what it means to be set apart as holy people: redeemed, purchased, and ruled by Your beloved Son.
Thought Questions
- 1How can you draw faith-building value from a study of genealogies? What does it mean that Matthew links well-known biblical figures together?
- 2Why is the virgin prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 the right place to start building a case for Christ? How is the uniqueness of this miracle still potent today?
- 3What will be different about your day because you know God patiently and meticulously planned out the coming of Christ for your benefit?