Matthew 1:2-17 The Family Tree of Jesus Christ
Introduction: There is a different spelling for some of these names than in the Old Testament. Most Bible readers skip such passages. The word “begat” means to become the father or forefather. The family tree is divided into three lists. (verse 17). Note the chart that David closes one list and begins another. Also Josias, the skeptics claim that the Bible has an error here and that two of the lists only have thirteen names.
A. Abraham heads the list.
1. It was to him that the
promise was made to send the seed thru his family line.
2. Yet not all of Abraham’s
family was included in the covenant.
(Not Ishmael, nor the sons of Keturah).
3. The covenant was confirmed
with Isaac.
B. Isaac was next on the
list. (But the covenant was not
confirmed with his son Esau.)
C. The covenant was confirmed
with Jacob. (From this point forward it
is both a family matter and a racial lineage.
Jesus was to be born of the Hebrew race.)
D. Surprisingly two Gentile
women are in the ancestry of Jesus, Rahab and Ruth.
Vs. 5.
1. Rahab was in her early life a
woman of disrepute.
2. Hebrews
A. Saul is not listed because
he was not in this family.
B. David was not only the first
king, but he was promised an heir who would sit on the throne forever.
1. This king would be the Seed
promised to Abraham.
2. Therefore, the Christ must be
of David’s lineage.
C. Three kings are omitted by
Matthew.
1. Ahaziah, Joash,
and Amaziah reigned between Joram
and Ozias. I
Chronicles
2. Various explanations have
been offered. (I do not know the full
explanation. Here is what I do know.)
3. Matthew wrote by
inspiration; it was God who chose to omit these three kings; God had His
reason.
A. Josias is the only king named.
1. The Babylonians conquered
2. There were actually three
other kings, but they were all subservient to
3. They were Jehoiakim, his son Jehoiachin,
and his brother Zedekiah.
4. Zedekiah rebelled against
B. The most difficult problem
is the name Jacob in vs. 15-16, whereas Luke says “Heli”,
Luke 3:23
1. The most prominent
explanation is that Matthew gives the genealogy thru Joseph and Luke, thru
Mary. (“Son” in the sense of
“son-in-law”.)
2. Another - - A Levarite marriage is involved.
3. A possibility - - there
could be two names for the same man.
C. Matthew is careful not to
call Joseph the father of Jesus, Vs. 16.
(Jesus is virgin born.)
D. Jesus still has the right to
the throne.
Conclusion: Jesus is thru the Hebrews, but is the Savior
for all men.
1. Abraham |
David |
Josiah |
2. Isaac |
Solomon |
Jechoniah (II
Chron. 36:8-10) |
3. Jacob |
Roboam |
Salathiel |
4. Judas |
Abijah |
Zerubbabel |
5. Pharez |
Asa |
Abiud |
6. Hezron |
Jehoshaphat |
Eliakim |
7. Ram |
Joram (I Chron. |
Azor |
8. Amminadab |
Uzziah |
Sadoc |
9. Nahshon |
Jotham |
Achim |
10.
Salmon |
Ahaz |
Eliud |
11.
Boaz |
Hezekiah |
Eleazar |
12.
Obed |
Manasseh |
Matthan |
13.
Jesse |
Amon |
Jacob |
14.
David |
Josiah |
Joseph |
Preached at