Jesus' Genealogy

 

            Searching for our ancestors has become a popular fad these days.  DNA tests and genealogy websites that can trace your ancestry back 100’s of years have reconnected long lost relatives, helped to solve crimes, and often made what we thought we knew about our family’s history to be completely wrong. 

            Fortunately, for us when it comes to the genealogy of Jesus, there are no mistakes.  For those of you who get bored by that long list of names in Matthew 1 and Luke 3, hang with me for a few minutes as I attempt to point out the blessings that God gives us even through a genealogy.

            When you first look at the two listings of Christ’s heritage, you think there must be a mistake because they are somewhat different.  But then, God doesn’t make mistakes so there has to be a logical explanation, and there is.   In Jesus’ time, the Jews determined a man’s lineage by his father’s ancestry. Matthew was writing to the Jews, so it was important for him to show that Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, was a descendant of David.  Luke, on the other hand, was writing to gentiles, who just wanted to know if Jesus was truly a descendant of David, which he was through his mother, Mary. 

            Both these Gospel writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were concerned with one thing:  showing that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about his lineage.  Each account includes Abraham, Jacob, Judah, and David.  In Genesis 12: 1 – 3 and again in Genesis 22:18, God promised that through Abraham’s descendants all the peoples of the earth would be blessed.  God repeats that promise to Jacob in Genesis 28: 14.  Later, in Genesis 49:10, God determines that the promised Messiah would come from the line of Judah, one of the 12 patriarchs.  Finally, in II Samuel 7: 12 – 16, God promises David that the Messiah would be his descendant and sit on his throne.  Jesus fulfilled each of these prophecies.

            As remarkable as that is, even more remarkable are the kind of people that God included in Jesus’ lineage.  Now, I’m sure that we all probably have a few less-than-reputable people in our family trees, but Jesus seemed to get more than His share.  Jacob tricked his brother and his father to get a blessing.  Judah refused to obey the Jewish law and then had sexual relations with a prostitute that turned out to be his daughter-in-law.  Then, there’s David – an adulterer and a murderer. 

            Even more astounding is the fact that Matthew’s listing includes 4 women.  That alone is amazing since the Jews had a low opinion of women, but when you consider who the women were, it is almost beyond belief.  Those included were Tamar, the daughter-in-law turned prostitute who seduced Judah, Rahab, a prostitute, Ruth, a gentile from the despicable Moabites, and the ex-Mrs. Uriah, also known as Bathsheba, who was seduced by David. 

            Yet, when you consider both the men and women that God included in Jesus’ lineage, it just reinforces Jesus’ purpose and ministry.  God doesn’t care about power and position.  He doesn’t care about our sinful baggage or what we have done.  He sent His only Son to save us, all of us, from the lowliest prostitute to the murdering adulterer.  Jesus made it clear that He didn’t come to call the righteous, not that any of us can claim that title, but He came to call sinners.  What more fitting way for God to make it clear to us that He accepts us just as we are than to show His acceptance of Jesus’ ancestors by making them a part of the greatest blessing this world has ever known? 

            Jesus accepts you just as you are!  Don’t turn your back on Him because you don’t think you're worthy.  His blood will wash you white as snow!

Matthew 9: 12 - 13