Matthew 1
November 23, 2022
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (v1)
In ancient days, kings would announce themselves by way of genealogies that highlighted their pedigree, and left out any trace of family scandal. Jesus’ genealogy does just the opposite. Not only are there lots of bad guys in his family tree, like Manasseh and Amon, who worshiped false gods and instituted child sacrifice, but even the so-called “good guys” in his family line were marked by sin:
Abraham pawning his wife off to another man as his sister
Isaac playing favorites with his kids
Jacob being a liar and swindler
David an adulterer and murderer
Jesus’ genealogy highlights that He came through a family line of sinners to show that He came to save sinners.
Lord Jesus, I praise You that loved us enough to enter into the mess of our sin so that you could save us from our sin. Your very name, “Jesus,” means “The Lord saves!” Thank You for entering into the mess of my family tree (and my brokenness) to redeem and rescue me. Just as You came to die to save me, may I, today, live to serve You.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
