December 13, 2020
Matthew 1:1-17—Joseph
“An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Matthew 1:1
If you are like me, when you see a Bible genealogy, your first inclination may be to skim through it quickly or maybe even skip over it entirely and go immediately to the next story. But after thinking about this for a while, I have realized that there is a purpose to seeing all these names within these genealogies. This one at the beginning of the New Testament seems especially important. The word “genealogy” itself comes from the Greek word genesis, which means “origin, beginning, or coming into being.” Here Matthew introduces us to a new beginning in revelation history, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In addition, Matthew is telling us that Jesus is a descendant of some of the most important people in biblical history. The connection to King David is important because God promised that a descendant of David would sit on the throne of Israel forever.
By examining the specifics of this lengthy genealogy, Matthew is showing that the long-promised Messiah, the greatest deliverer of God’s people, has come to fulfill all of God’s promises.
Do you sometimes wonder if God keeps his promises? I know that question sometimes creeps into my thoughts. This genealogy shows that he certainly does! So the next time that little bit of doubt creeps into your head, just remember that through the power of Jesus the Messiah, we can live and serve today with the utmost confidence that God always fulfills his promises!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for being our God who always keeps his promises and reassures us, even in times of doubt. Most importantly, we thank you for the promise of Jesus returning as King of kings, to sit on the throne of David – where He will reign in righteousness and rule in justice forever. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Jeff Shouse