Matthew 1:1-17

July Memory Verse: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

Read: Matthew 1:1-17

Today we begin the Gospel of Matthew. If you have been following along with our summer series through the Gospel of Mark on Sunday’s at CPC, then you know that Mark offers a certain focus and style that is important to understand in order to truly understand what the author is intending to communicate—that is true for the Gospel of Matthew as well.

Matthew was written with a Jewish audience in mind; it focuses a lot on Jesus as the Messiah in terms of its Christology. This book is filled with amazing revelation of who Jesus Christ is, not just for a Jewish audience 2000 years ago, but for people living in 2021 as well. We will be confronted with the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7, some of the most robust teaching we see from Jesus in any of the gospels. We see a total of 5 different discourses of Jesus on a variety of issues that center around Jesus as the fulfillment of the Messianic Kingdom that God is establishing.

A great question to ask yourself as you are reading Matthew is: how am I actively living as if Jesus is my ultimate authority?

Today we focus on the first 17 verses of the book of Matthew. These 17 verses always come with a temptation to skip over them because they are seemingly just a list of names. But these names  offer a glimpse into the overall authorial intent Matthew uses through the rest of the book. Michael Wilkins writes, “[Matthew] demonstrates Jesus’ legal claim to the throne of David, emphasizing Jesus’ legal descent from David and Abraham, while Luke’s genealogical record (Luke 3:23-38) emphasizes Jesus’ biological descent from David and Adam.” Essentially, Matthew is setting the stage to establish the arrival of Jesus’ Messiahship and the kingdom of God.

Another interesting point of reference from this genealogy is that it includes the reference to 5 women. Why is this significant? See Wilkins again:

“The inclusion of five women in Jesus’ genealogy—Tamar, Rahab (v. 5), Ruth (v. 5), Bathsheba (“the wife of Uriah,” v. 6), and Mary (v. 16)—is unusual, since descent was usually traced through men as the head of the family. Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles, and Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba were women of questionable character. The lineage is comprised of men, women, adulterers, prostitutes, heroes, and Gentiles—and Jesus will be Savior of all.”

Jesus being the "savior of all" should cause all of us reading this to rejoice that God, in his great mercy, has provided a way through Jesus the Messiah to bring sinners back to Himself. 

What can you learn from genealogies that grows your knowledge, love and obedience to Jesus?

By: Graham Withers

Below, I’ve included a sermon on this passage if you would like to study this further. BONUS: the guy preaching has an incredible Scottish accent.

4 Comments


Korbet Finley - July 1st, 2021 at 6:24am

I Begg your pardon, Graham. I hope to listen to the sermon later today.



The first time someone taught on this genealogy it was story after story, explaining the lives of all the characters, as much as possible -- all well told and capturing the imagination and ending with the greatest story ever told -- the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was so moving and thrilling that my heart was full of gratitude. These were real people with real testimony, just like us today. Won't it be great to speak with them one day, face to face, giving glory to God as we share our love and gratitude for Him?

Lindsay Crawford - July 1st, 2021 at 10:35am

I love the fact that God always does things in a way man would never consider or recommend, including using people of questionable character or stature. He is an awesome God, to be feared and honored.

Paul Dame - July 2nd, 2021 at 7:06am

I took hope to get the chance to listen to the message above. Maybe it will answer my question. The last couple verses cought my attention. God's word has a purpose and I wonder what the significance of 14 generations is.

Norma White - July 2nd, 2021 at 1:25pm

Love the sermon from Alister Begg! That fact that God can use broken people is amazingly wonderful!

The list of Jesus' lineage also shows that these people actually existed and can be traced back generation to generation. This is truth and proof that Jesus is who He says He is!

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