MATTHEW 1:1 – “The Book (account) of the generation (lineage) of Jesus Christ (Saviour, Messiah), the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (the Incarnation, God becoming man [Isa. 7:14; II Sam. 7:16, 19; Gen. 12:1-3; 17:7; Gal. 3:16]).”

Matthew, Chapter 1 and Luke, Chapter 3 give us the Genealogy of Christ. In Matthew 1, the genealogy is that of Joseph, and in Luke it is of Mary.

I have no doubt that many Christians have come to these Chapters and wondered to themselves, why were these genealogies given? Why did the Holy Spirit place them for us to read? Perhaps some have even thought to themselves that these genealogies are not very important. However, these two Chapters are two of the most important chapters in the Bible, and for the following reasons.

THE BIBLE, GOD’S WORD

The Bible is God’s Word to man. It was not written by men, but written by God as the Holy Spirit Moved upon the patriarchs of old, and told them what to write.

II Peter 1:20-21 says, “Knowing this first, that no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the Prophecy (the Word of God) came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” So when you hold the King James Bible in your hands, you can be certain that you are holding the very Word of God. Therefore, everything written in the Bible is important, and not to be dismissed as just some information that’s not that important.

In these genealogies we see the very Heart of God and His Plan to redeem humanity. This is what we learn from these genealogies.

THE FALL

The reason humanity is in the miserable condition that it is in, is because of sin. The Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden has brought upon this world all of the heartache and tragedy associated with sin.

In a sense, Adam was the federal head of the entirety of the human family, at least in the manner of procreation. It was God’s Plan that Adam and Eve would bring forth “Sons of God,” but, because of his sin, “Sons of Adam” came forth, which continues unto this day. Because Adam sinned, from that day forward, all who would come forth would be “fallen,” born into sin, and born a sinner.

So when Adam fell, it looked as if Satan had won the day, inasmuch as man within himself could not, and cannot, save himself.

The Fall of man is the destruction of man and civilization as we know it. Nothing works quite right; man does not think or function as God intended because he is born in sin.

Because of the Fall, man is a perverted creature. Man is selfish; man is consumed with self and trying to satisfy the cravings of self.

THE “FIRST” ADAM

As the first Adam fell, and through him all are broken and in the same condition, it looked like Satan had won. As stated, man cannot redeem himself, neither could Angels redeem man as they are another creation altogether. Simply put, as it was a man that sinned, it would have to be a man to redeem. But how could that be? Man’s bloodline is polluted; a sinner cannot redeem a sinner.

THE “LAST” ADAM

As stated, Satan thought he had everything wrapped up, but, what he didn’t count on was God becoming man. Paul said in Romans 5:15, “For if through the offense of one (Adam) many be dead, much more the Grace of God, and the Gift by Grace, which is by One Man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many.”

So Jesus, in order to redeem man, had to become a man Himself, hence, the genealogy became extremely important.

GRACE

So when one reads these genealogies you are reading the Grace of God given to an undeserving humanity, by God becoming man, and dying on Calvary’s Cross as the Only Sacrifice the Father would accept. Please get the picture, man is doomed, we have nothing of worth to give Him. We are unclean and undone, but Christ linking His Name with poor fallen humanity exemplifies the Grace of God. It is no Honor for Jesus to be called “the Son of David, the Son of Abraham,” but, it is an extreme honor for man to have his name linked to Christ. Each and every name in this genealogy represents poor, pitiful, fallen humanity, with no way to save themselves from wrath and doom, and the bondage of sin. Yet, through this fallen Family, Jesus Christ, the Anointed Saviour, God’s Only Son, came to become man and the Perfect Sacrifice. Man could not bring forth a perfect man, but God could and did. Every time I read these genealogies, the words of Paul in Ephesians 2:4-7 ring out in my soul, “But God, Who is rich in Mercy, for His great Love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins , has quickened us together with Christ, (by Grace you are Saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His Grace in His Kindness toward us through Jesus Christ.”

Man is born in sin, born to die, but God became man, and paid the debt of sin that man could not pay.

WHAT GOD CAN DO

Verse 2 begins with Abraham. Abram, as he was first named, was an idol worshipper from Ur of the Chaldees. Not only a Pagan idol worshipper, but his family business was the manufacturing of idols. Yet, God got a hold of him, changed his name, and made him a great nation, and gave to him the Doctrine of Justification by Faith.

JACOB

His name means “deceiver,” “surplanter,” “heel catcher,” a picture of all of us. But God would take him and make him to be known as Israel. His life, a picture of Sanctification.

THAMAR, RAHAB, RUTH AND BATH-SHEBA

In Verse 3, Thamar is mentioned, the first of four women found in this genealogy. They are placed in this order, a Hebrew, a Gentile, a Gentile, and a Hebrew. Thamar and Bath-sheba committed adultery; Rahab was a harlot. “But God, Who is rich in Mercy.”

I ask you, “Do you see it? Do you get it?” These are not just names on a piece of paper, but they are the Grace of God. When you read these names, you are reading your Testimony; you are reading your Salvation.

Every time you read about them you should rejoice, you should shout the praises of our Saviour, for this is our story, this is our song! “The Book of the Generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Your Evangelist, Donnie Swaggart