Matthew 1:1-5

¹ A record of the family history of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, a descendant of Abraham.

² Abraham was father of Isaac, and Isaac was father of Jacob, and Jacob was father of Judah and his brothers,

³ and Judah was father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez was father of Hezron, and Hezron was father of Ram,

⁴ and Ram was father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was father of Nahshon, and Nahshon was father of Salmon,

⁵ and Salmon was father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz was father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed was father of Jesse,

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Family History

Matthew saw it necessary to establish a link between the Christ he believed in and the person who lived and walked in history. Although Matthew was a believer, he saw no contradiction in seeking historical verification of what he believed. He was not worried that his faith would be shaken by looking into the family history of Jesus.

What he discovered bolstered his faith. He found that God had been at work in the family of Christ for millennia. Jesus as a man descended from Abraham, the man to whom God promised that he would be a blessing to many nations, and would father many nations. Jesus was going to be the ultimate fulfillment of those promises.

Jesus as a man descended from Jacob, a deceiver who was blessed by God in spite of his character. God inspired him to become more than he was.

Jesus as a man descended from Ruth, a foreign woman who found grace in the eyes of Boaz, and in God’s eyes. She was rescued by love.

Jesus as a man descended from David, a man after God’s own heart, a king whom God established, and to whom God promised a descendent who would rule eternally. Jesus was that descendant.

God of history, thank you for the way you have shown your love to us in the past, and intervened in our family history to reveal your presence. Thank you for who we are. Inspire us to become more than we are.