The Genealogy of Jesus The Messiah

 

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

 

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

 

Matthew 1:1-6

 

…and Eliud the Father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the Father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

 

Matthew 1:15-16

 

God had specific reasons for the names He included in the beginning of Matthew’s gospel. It may seem like a long, boring list of names, but those names serve at least two purposes. They provided the framework by which true Hebrews could establish their family roots and maintain religious purity against outside influences. Second, the names reflected the sovereign work of God. They revealed God’s dealings in the past, which resulted in the birth of the Messiah. The LORD used all kinds of people in the lineage of Jesus – farmers, kings, a prostitute, adulterers, and liars. When we read this list, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness.

 

As you think about being a part of God’s family by faith in Christ, remember His faithfulness to you and His desire to use you to bring about His purposes. Life’s purpose is found in a person – Jesus Christ.

 

Our Daily BreadSeptember 14, 2007