Weekly Sermons

Matthew’s Extended Manger Scene

When the Holy Spirit had Matthew write his gospel, he began by adding over 40 more people to his manger scene, trailing all the way back to Abraham. He did it to beautifully demonstrate that Jesus was indeed the Promised Redeemer! 

Matthew 1:1-17

Genealogies are especially important to establish a King’s right to a throne. Royalty depends on heredity. In verses 1-17 Matthew establishes Jesus’ human heredity, and then in verses 18-25 he establishes Jesus’ divine heredity!

The days of the kinsmen                                                                                     V. 2-6

But instead of including Sarah and other ladies of note, Matthew chose stories that illustrate God’s mercy, grace, steadfast love and forgiveness of sins – stories that show He is the God of new beginnings. 

He can do it for you as well! With God it’s not where you come from, it’s where He is taking you to!

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.    -Hebrews 11:31  

Christ is the true and better Boaz – the ultimate Kinsman Redeemer!

The days of the kings                                                                                           V. 6-11

In 2 Samuel 7 David was promised by God that the future Messiah King of Israel would come from his descendants. 

Every individual generation had to decide to love and obey God; but our totally faithful God kept His unconditional promises to Abraham and David to keep the line going and to bless the world through their Seed, the coming Messiah King.      

The days of the curse                                                                                           V. 12-16

The name Jechoniah (also called Jehoiachin) means “God anointed.” But he was such a wicked man that Jeremiah stripped God out of his name, calling him just Coniah. This also included a curse on the descendants of Coniah going forward.  

Thus says the Lord: “Write this man down as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days, for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David and ruling again in Judah.”                        -Jeremiah 22:30

In Jeremiah’s first mention of Jeconiah, he is cursed, childless, and deported. In Jeremiah’s second mention years later, he is released, restored, and the father of many!

Matthew’s genealogy through the Kings of Judah shows Jesus’ legal right to rule. But Mary’s line in Luke 3, shows Jesus was also descended through David’s son Nathan, ensuring the biological line is intact.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree.”  -Galatians 3:13