Bible Study

We started a new book of the Bible at church, the Gospel of Matthew, so I thought I would see if you would follow along with us. I absolutely love teaching through it.  It starts off with God announcing Jesus’ genealogy.  While this does not seem overly important to us, it was to the Jewish people who were the target of his Gospel. In order to prove that Jesus was the Messiah, Matthew had to show that He was a Son of David as well as a Child of Abraham. Both of these goals are accomplished but in surprising ways. Where the Jewish people were expecting a Royal King who confirmed their greatness, Jesus sets out His family line to the world that is less than perfect according to their standards. His lineage includes murderers, adulterers and outright evil kings. His family also includes prostitutes, foreigners and poor virgins from a little town named Nazareth.

It is an imperfect line of people who are perfect for a Savior King.  Jesus was reaching the humble, the excluded and the foolish even in His family tree. It is noteworthy that it is called the genealogy of Jesus!