COV LIFE BLOG

Matthew 1:1-17 – Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham

[Matthew] calls Jesus the Son of David.  When he says that, he is telling you that Jesus is the one in whom we find the fulfillment of all the promises that were made to David.  In fact, the whole genealogy is structured around David’s house.  If you look at verses 1-6, you see the origins of David’s line.  From Abraham to David’s father.  If you look at verses 7-11, you see the rise and the decline of the house of David.  If you look at verses 12-17, you see the descent into obscurity into the house of David.  In fact, it is almost if the house of David is going to go extinct.  It is going to go underground.  It ceases to rule in Israel.  The whole genealogy is structured around that.  And isn’t it beautiful that just when you think David’s line has become extinct, then the root comes from the stump of Jesse.
 
Then the branch, the righteous branch comes, who is a greater king and a greater Lord then David or his descendants ever were.  Matthew is reminding you that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise that God had given when he promised to put on David’s throne a son who would rule forever and ever.  That was not fulfilled in Solomon as glorious as was his reign.  And it was not fulfilled in the sum total of the kings of Israel as impressive as that reign was.  No, the fulfillment of that promise of God in II Samuel 7 was in Christ.  
 
Notice also in the phrase in verse 1.  Jesus is the son of Abraham.   Matthew is reminding you that he is the fulfillment of all the promises of God to Abraham. He is the fulfillment of the substitution on Mount Moriah when that ram was caught in the thicket bush and substituted for Isaac.  He is the ultimate one who would be substituted for the house of Israel.
 
Isn’t it interesting by the way that this genealogy begins with a supernatural birth and it ends with a supernatural birth.  It begins with the birth of Abraham’s son Isaac.  Supernatural.  Not exactly like the virgin birth of Christ.  For Abraham and Sarah came together and yet they were beyond the age of child bearing.  Supernaturally Isaac has been brought into the world.  Christ is brought into the world supernaturally.  Even in a way that transcends this.  All of these themes are recorded to remind us that Jesus is the Messiah.  He is the one hoped for by the people of God.    
 
This genealogy teaches us that Jesus is divine.  He is not only the Messiah, He is the Son of God.  We see this stressed again in verse 16 and in verse 1.  Jesus is virgin born.  He is supernaturally conceived.  That supernatural conception of Christ, that virgin birth of Christ is meant to point to His divine origins and character. 
 
If you will embrace these truths, then you will begin an adventure of blessing that will never fail you, but will grow into eternity.  For if you will embrace Jesus as the Messiah, as the Savior of the world, as Son of God and Son of man, you will find in Him delights which transcend your ability to comprehend.  He is our all in all, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of man, the Savior of the world.

Ligon Duncan

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SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read Matthew 1:1-17 and consider the significance of Jesus’ genealogy particularly that he is described as the son of Abraham, the son of David, and most importantly, the Messiah, the son of God. What difference does this make when we consider his coming?

SONG FOR THIS WEEK
What Child Is This? by Shane and Shane