Learning the Gospel from Matthew (Sermon 2)
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Review
Review
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The phrase “the book of the generation of. . .” shows up in what two books of the Bible? Genesis & Matthew
Matthew immediately connects Jesus to what two prominent Jewish figures? David & Abraham
Matthew presents a compelling argument that Jesus of Nazareth is the long awaited Messiah-King.
Genealogy (What was Matthew thinking?)
Genealogy (What was Matthew thinking?)
2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
From sermon #1 we concluded that, because Jesus is related to David & Abraham, then it is possible He could be Israel’s Messiah-King.
Matthew immediately gets his readers attention by presenting Jesus’ genealogy as evidence for his argument.
Three Divisions
Three Divisions
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Matthew divides the genealogy into three even sections
Each section consist of fourteen names
To arrange this list into three even sections of fourteen names, Matthew had to leave out some names.
This was not an unethical practice; it was not unusual to only include the names necessary to make a point
This method was a mnemonic devise used to aid memorization
Section One - from Abraham to David
Matthew reminds his Jewish audience how God formed them in Abraham, and established them as a world power under David
Section Two - from David to the carrying away unto Babylon
In this section is a reminder that the Jews progressed downward after David
Eventually they were conquered by Babylon, and absorbed into the Babylonian empire
Section Three - from the carrying away unto Babylon to Christ
In this section Matthew reminds hisJewish audience that, although they had returned to their land, they essentially continued to live in exile.
At the time Christ came they were absorbed in the Roman empire
BUT, by pointing them to Christ, Matthew points them to the Messiah-King God sent to lead them out of exile.
Matthew used these three divisions to make the Jews focus on their current status as “homebound exiles”
Genealogy & Grace
Genealogy & Grace
A second feature Matthew was addressing is the doctrine of grace
Matthew breaks genealogy protocol by including the names of women
Four women are included in his genealogy
Rahab, Ruth, Tamar, & Bathsheba
Two of these women are gentiles (Rahab & Ruth)
Three of them participated in sexual immorality (Rahab, Tamar, & Bathsheba)
Genealogy as a Wrecking Ball
Genealogy as a Wrecking Ball
William Barclay names three barriers torn down by Matthews genealogy
Barrier between Jew & Gentile
Rahab and Ruth were gentiles but you don’t receive the Messiah without including them
2. Barrier between male & female
Traditionally women had no legal rights and were not included in pedigrees
Matthew broke tradition and included them, placing them on level plane as the males in the line of Christ
3. Barrier between sinner and saint
Each of these women were connected to some type of scandal yet their names are recorded in the record of Jesus lineage
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Matthew intentionally presented the genealogy to make his argument that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah-King.