Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38

Reading 3: 

Text: Matthew 1:1-17

“1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.”

Text: Luke 3:23-38

“23 Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

If I am honest for most of my adult life when I have been in study of God’s Word I have skimmed or skipped passages of genealogy.  The names are hard to read and points of application on the surface seem nonexistent. 

The first reading today is from the book of Matthew.  Early church leaders unanimously agreed that Matthew, one of the original apostles, was the author of this book.  As we will see Matthew writes heavily from a Jewish perspective and the writing seems clearly directed toward a primary Jewish audience.  Matthew grew up Jewish and it only makes sense that his unique perspective would be that of a Jew.  The date of Matthew’s writing is often debated and not as specifically known as the other gospels however what we do know is that Matthew’s writing occurred in the mid to late 1st c.  

Matthew’s reading takes focus on Jesus’ linage sequentially from Abraham to Mary.  Writing to a Jewish audience Matthew desires his greek speaking and Jewish thinking audience to understand how God’s work in and among His people had been working and was now at a climax in Christ.  

Side note:  An artist by the name of Andrew Peterson has written a fun song entitled “Matthew’s Begats”.  It is fun and I would suggest a listen after reading todays text (it’s the video at the top here…)

As you can see Luke’s writing and record of genealogy differs from Matthew’s.  While Matthew begins with Abraham and moves to Jesus Luke’s begins with Jesus and moves back through Abraham to Adam.  We must remember Luke is writing his account to Theophilus and writes in account starting with Jesus and then tying back to God’s plan through the ages.  In contrast Matthew’s focus is connecting what his Jewish audience is already well versed in (The linage of Israel).

It amazes me God’s plan through life.  Often in our days it seems things are either unfair or on the opposite spectrum we seem to be in the right place at the right time.  Matthew and Luke’s writing reveal to us that God has a plan.  It is in this truth of God’s plan I find great encouragement and motivation.  I am encouraged in the fact that my life is not a coincidence.  I have been made for a purpose and in part of a greater plan.  I am motivated in the fact that God is at work and has something for me to do!  As you read this I hope you become more encouraged and motivated for the days God has given us.  If not I encourage you to re-read the passage and perhaps listen to Andrew Peterson’s song and consider God’s great plan and gift of Jesus to you.