1^st – Promised King… vs. 1-2

• 1^st – Son of David… vs. 1
  • The Son of David – the Son of Abraham!
    • Matthew begins his GENEALOGY of Jesus – with David [then Abraham]
    • Abraham lived over a THOUSAND years before King David…
    • Yet David is FIRST name that is given to us in the record of Jesus lineage!
  • Son of David…
    • The Title Son of David is used SIXTEEN times in the NT – TEN of them in this Gospel…
    • Matthew wants us to Know that Jesus is the SON of David…
    • Because he is going to present Jesus as the KING of the Jews…
    • And the only way for someone to be the KING – is to be born into the KINGLY line!
    • In the Bible – people did not CHOSE to be KING – they were BORN to the role…
    • Only the oldest SON of the KING – could become the next KING!
• 2^nd – Son of Judah… vs. 2
  • Abraham begot Isaac – Isaac begot Jacob – and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers!
    • The GENEALOGY [γεννάω] of Jesus begins with Abraham – Isaac – and Jacob…
    • Who are the FATHERS of the Jewish people – Acts 3:13
    • But then immediately focuses in on only ONE of the TWELVE sons of Jacob…
    • JUDAH [praise] – the SON who would become the KINGLY tribe!
  • Blessing of Jacob…
    • Genesis 49:8 – “Judah… your fathers children shall bow down before you.”
    • Before Jacob died – he called all of his sons to bless them…
    • To Judah he prophesied that from him would come the KINGS of Israel [bow down]
    • And they would have the CROWN until SHILOH [peace] came!
    • Genesis 49:10 – “The scepter [power] shall not depart from Judah… until Shiloh comes.”
    • God did not pick JUDAH because he was the BEST of the sons…
    • As we will see – he made a LOT of mistakes – but God still used him…
    • Because the calling of God – is NOT based on our merit – it is according to His GRACE!
• 3^rd – The Promise…
  • The Messiah…
    • God gave several promises about the origin of the MESSIAH [מָשִׁיחַ] – or CHRIST [Χριστός]
    • The MESSIAH had to come from the SEED [singular] of a WOMAN – Genesis 3:15
    • The MESSIAH had to come from the SEED [singular] of Abraham – Genesis 22:18
    • The MESSIAH had to come from the SEED [singular] of David – II Samuel 7:11
  • The Child…
    • Every year around Christmas we tend to quote a verse…
    • The Promise of a SON who would be BORN to be the KING!
    • Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born – unto us a son is given.”
    • There are TWO different references given here to Jesus…
    • He was BORN as a child – speaking of the virgin BIRTH through Mary – Matthew 1:18
    • He was also GIVEN as a son – speaking of him being ADOPTED by Joseph…
    • Because it was NECESSARY for David to NOT be BORN from the Kingly line [cursed]
  • Mighty God…
    • Isaiah 9:6 – “The government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful – Counsellor – the mighty God – the everlasting Father – the Prince of Peace!”
    • There can be no question – Jesus is the mighty GOD – He is the everlasting FATHER…
    • Yet one of the HARDEST things to comprehend is the TRIUNE nature of God…
    • How can there be ONE God – but THREE different persons!
    • There are several different ways that people have tried to describe the Trinity….
    • EGG: yolk – white – shell. But God is NOT separate parts that together form a whole…
    • WATER: ice – liquid – steam. But God does NOT change form into different parts….
    • TRIANGLE: likely the best example – because it is one shape with THREE equal sides…
    • Take away any ONE side – and it is no longer a TRIANGLE!
    • There is likely no perfect example to describe the Trinity…
    • To say that we could understand the complexity of God – would mean our God is small…
    • We are the creation – and only have the simplest understanding of our creator…
    • So although we may not understand HOW – we can believe God is THREE in ONE!
    • I John 5:7 – “There are three that bear record in heaven – the Father – the Word – and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
  • Throne of David…
    • Isaiah 9:7 – “Upon the throne of David [He will sit] …from henceforth even forever.”
    • Israel has not had a KING to rule over them since Zedekiah [587 B.C.]
    • Even since they have been WAITING for the MESSIAH to come from JUDAH – from DAVID…
    • They have been WAITING for Jesus – who is the CHRIST…
    • The Messiah who was BORN to be KING – and He will be the LAST King!
    • Revelation 19:16 – “KING OF KINGS – AND LORD OF LORDS.”

• 2^nd – Unexpected King… vs. 3-6
  • Five Women…
    • There are a total of FIVE women [including Mary] in the GENEALOGY – which is unusual…
    • Traditionally Jews did not put women in their GENEALOGY!
    • Today if someone wants to make [עלייה] – become a citizen of Israel…
    • They have to track their lineage through their MOTHER…
    • Because while we might not know who our DAD is – but we can be sure who our MOTHER is!
    • When we look at WHO these women are – it gets even more interesting…
    • Because FOUR of the FIVE women [other than Mary] – are SCANDALOUS!
  • 1^st – Tamar… vs. 3
    • Unwanted wife…
      • Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar!
      • After Judah sold his brother Joseph into slavery – Genesis 37:26
      • He left his family and married a Canaanite woman [not godly]
      • She bore him THREE sons – Er – Onan – and Shelah…
      • Er married Tamar [also a Canaanite] – but was a wicked man so the Lord killed him…
      • Judah told to Onan take Tamar as his wife – Deuteronomy 25:5-6
      • But he knew they would be accounted as his brothers – so he refused to give her children…
      • This displeased the Lord – so He also killed Onan…
      • Tamar must have looked like a curse to Judah – two dead husbands…
      • So he sent Tamar to the house of her father – to WAIT as a widow till Shelah was older!
    • Who is the Father…
      • After some time –Tamar realized Judah never intended to give her Shelah as a husband…
      • She disguised herself as a prostitute [covered face] and met Judah along the road…
      • The PRICE for her services was a goat – but Judah did not have one on him…
      • Therefore he offered his RING – BELT – and STAFF as a guarantee…
      • Three month later Judah got word Tamar was pregnant [played the prostitute]
      • Genesis 38:24 – “Judah said – Bring her out and let her be burned!”
      • But Tamar took out the RING – BELT – and STAFF…
      • And told Judah these items belong to FATHER of her CHILDREN [twins – Perez and Zerah]!
      • It sounds like something that we would see on a K-Drama on Netflix…
      • But this is the FIRST of the women in the GENEALOGY of Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Rahab… vs. 5
    • Sinner…
      • Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab!
      • Rahab was a GENTILE – a harlot [πόρνη] from the city of Jericho – and a LIAR!
      • When Joshua sent TWO spies into the city – they hid in the house of Rahab…
      • When officials from the city came looking for the spies – Rahab LIED to them…
      • She told them the men had left – but in TRUTH she was hiding them!
    • Saved…
      • Joshua 2:9 – “I know that the LORD has given you the land – that the terror of you has fallen on us – and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt!”
      • All of Jericho was TERRIFIED of the ONE God of Israel – but ONLY Rahab was SAVED…
      • She did not just have FAITH in God – she showed her faith by her WORKS – James 2:25
      • She was willing to protect the spies – showing her FAITH…
      • For this reason she is one of only TWO women in the hall of FAITH – Hebrews 11:31
      • Which tells us that God has the power to use ANYONE…
      • No matter what our PAST – as when we put our FAITH in Jesus – seen in our lives…
      • The amazing POWER of the Gospel has the ability to turn SINNERS into SAINTS…
      • Which means to matter how bad someone might be today – there is hope for tomorrow!
      • I Timothy 1:15 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
  • 3^rd – Ruth… vs. 5-6
    • Moabite…
      • Boaz begot Obed by Ruth – Obed begot Jesse. Jesse begot David the king!
      • Ruth was not a JEW – she was from MOAB!
      • When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah – Genesis 19:24
      • Lot fled the city with his family – his wife did not make it [went back]
      • His two daughters thought the whole world had been destroyed…
      • So they got their dad DRUNK – and both slept with him…
      • They gave birth to TWO sons – Moab [Moabites] and Ammi [Ammonites]
    • Cursed…
      • It was the MOABITES who hired Ballam to curse Israel – Numbers 22
      • Therefore a Jew was forbidden to marry a Moabite – Deuteronomy 23:3-6
      • And up to the TENTH generation they were not allowed into the presence of the Lord!
    • Redeemed…
      • If we just looked at where Ruth came from – it would seem there was NO hope…
      • But Ruth walked away from everything to go with her mother in law Naomi…
      • When Boaz saw her – he fell in love with her [gentile – Moabite – cursed]
      • And he became her kinsmen REDEEMER [גָּאַל] – Ruth 4:10
      • Like RUTH – we were all CURSED – and it seemed there was no hope for us…
      • We could not set ourselves free from sin – we could not pay our price…
      • But Jesus came to be our REDEEMER [גָּאַל] – He came to give us a new life!
      • I Peter 1:18-19 – “You know that God paid a ransom to save you… the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.  He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ.”
  • 4^th – Wife of Uriah… vs. 6
    • Bathsheba…
      • David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah!
      • We are NOT given the name of here of the Mother of Solomon – Bathsheba…
      • We are ONLY told she was NOT the wife of David – she was wife of Uriah…
      • Because LORD does not want us to forget about the SIN!
    • Failure…
      • From his rooftop – David saw a beautiful woman bathing – II Samuel 11:2
      • He found out she was MARRIED – but still slept with her…
      • When she became pregnant – he tried to HIDE his sin [brough Uriah back from the war]
      • But Uriah would not lie with his wife – while his men were in the battle…
      • So David had Joab [his commander] – stick Uriah on the front line [murdered him]
      • He ONLY confessed his sin when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan!
      • II Samuel 12:7-9 – “You are the man! You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword. You have taken his wife to be your wife.”
    • Hope…
      • As a result of the sin of David and Bathsheba – their newborn son would die…
      • David was forgiven – but there were still consequences for his SIN…
      • But there was also HOPE – because Bathsheba would have SECOND son – SOLOMON!
      • Why did God put these FOUR women in the GENEALOGY of Jesus – full of SCANDALS…
      • They were CANAANITES [unbelievers] – they were HARLOTS [sinners]
      • They were MOABITES [cursed] – and they were MURDERERS [failures]
      • Because God wants us to know it does not matter where we came from…
      • It does NOT matter what our PAST is – who our FAMILY might be…
      • It does NOT matter what mistakes we have made – we can be a part of the family of God!
• Philippians 3:13-14 – “One thing I do – forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

• 3^rd – Cursed King… vs. 6-11
  • 1^st– The Kingly line… vs. 7-10
    • Divided Kingdom…
      • Solomon begot Rehoboam!
      • After the death of Solomon – the kingdom of Israel was divided [Israel and Judah]
      • Jeroboam the servant of Solomon – was given the TEN northern tribes…
      • Rehoboam the son of Solomon – was only given TWO tribes – JUDAH and Benjamin…
      • During the DIVIDED kingdom – TWENTY kings ruled over Israel – ALL of them BAD…
      • They would eventually be conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC – II Kings 17:23
      • They would be scattered – diaspora – and never return!
    • Good and Bad…
      • Asa begot Jehoshaphat – Jehoshaphat begot Joram – and Joram begot Uzziah.
      • Uzziah begot Jotham – Jotham begot Ahaz – and Ahaz begot Hezekiah.
      • Hezekiah begot Manasseh – Manasseh begot Amon – and Amon begot Josiah!
      • During the DIVIDED kingdom – TWENTY kings ruled over JUDAH…
      • We are only given THIRTEEN of those names here in Matthew…
      • EIGHT of the TWENTY kings of Judah were GOOD [six mentioned here]
      • But that still means the majority of the kings [twelve] did EVIL in the sight of the LORD…
      • They would eventually become so BAD – God would send them into CAPTIVITY [Babylon]
      • But God did NOT reject them – after SEVENTY years – they came back – Jeremiah 29:10
      • Why would God reject Israel – but NOT Judah…
      • It was not because they were BETTER – in the end they were just as bad [if not worse]
      • It was because God is ALWAYS faithful to His Word…
      • And He promised the KING [Jesus] would come from Judah – from the line of David!
  • 2^nd – The Curse… vs. 11
    • Wicked King…
      • Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon!
      • Jeconiah – also called Jehoiachin – was one of the LAST kings of Judah [Zedekiah was the last]
      • But Jehoiachin was such a wicked King – that God cursed his line!
      • Jeremiah 22:30 – “Thus says the LORD: Write this man down as childless… none of his descendants shall… [sit] on the throne of David and [rule] anymore in Judah.”
    • The problem…
      • God promised that a son of David would always sit on the throne of Israel – II Samuel 7:16
      • But because of Jehoiachin – the line was cursed so no King from David can sit on the throne…
      • It might seem that God broke His Word – unable to fulfill His promise!

• 4^th – Adopted King… vs. 12-17
  • 1^st – Not by Might… vs. 12-15
    • After they were brought to Babylon – Jeconiah begot Shealtiel – and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel!
    • When JUDAH returned from Babylon – they were led by Zerubbabel – Ezra 2:2
    • He was in the KINGLY line – but was never allowed to become king [cursed line]
    • He had been given the impossible task of rebuilding the Temple…
    • Overwhelmed – and likely discouraged – the prophet Zechariah gave him a WORD from God!
    • Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might nor by power – but by My Spirit. Says the LORD of hosts.”
    • When we are overwhelmed and discouraged – and things seem impossible…
    • We need to remember that God never asks us to do things in OUR power…
    • By His power – He can make a way – where there seems to be no way!
  • 2^nd – Adopted… vs. 16
    • And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary – of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ!
    • We are given TWO different genealogies in the Gospels…
    • Matthew follows the kingly line through SOLOMON – that ends with Joseph…
    • Luke follows the kingly line through NATHAN [different son of David] – that ends with Mary…
    • If Jesus had been the SON of Joseph He could NOT have been king…
    • But as the ADOPTED son of Joseph – Jesus inherited the rights of the Royal lineage…
    • While as the SON of Mary He was in the direct lineage of David…
    • Thus He avoided the CURSE placed on the kingly line!
    • Funny how God seems to always see a way even when we cannot…
    • Perhaps we are in an impossible situation – you see no way out…
    • Know that we serve the God of the impossible – only believe!
  • 3^rd – Fourteen… vs. 17
    • Three divisions…
      • All the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations.
      • From David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations.
      • From the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations!
      • As a final note we are told there are THREE sets of FOURTEEN names…
      • Divining up the list into THREE period of history…
      • From Abraham to David – from David to Babylon – and from Babylon to Jesus…
    • The numbers…
      • As we have mentioned – there are NOT just FOURTEEN people in each of these times…
      • There are a number of generations that are skipped – so why FOURTEEN!
      • The simple unfortunate answer is – we do NOT know…
      • I read numerous views that tried to read into the DEEPER meaning of the numbers…
      • But it is usually unwise to read TOO much – when the Bible says VERY little…
      • Best to leave it at – Matthew simply wanted to evenly divide the THREE periods of History!
    • Missing one…
      • There is also a problem – FOURTEEN time THREE equals FORTY TWO…
      • But there are only FORTY ONE names listed in the GENEALOGY – ONE is missing!
      • The best answer may be in the verse itself…
      • We are told the GENERATIONS from Abraham to David – then David to Babylon…
      • Matthew counts the name of David TWICE…
      • Because his purpose is to show that Jesus – is the SON of David – the KING of the Jews!