GLIMPSES OF GRACE IN JESUS’ GENEALOGY
Matthew 1:1-17 / Luke 3:23-38
(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday Morning December 14th, 2024)
“…the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1)
We all have certain people in our family tree who would be described as less than honorable. In the past they have made foolish decisions that negatively impacted their lives and the lives of others. Many of them continuously do things that bring shame and reproach on the family name. A brief survey of the genealogy of Jesus Christ will show you that our Savior had several “rotten branches” in His family tree as well.
When reading through the Bible and encountering one of the genealogies that are recorded in Chronicles, Ruth, Matthew, or Luke, many people will quickly skim over those names or skip those passages altogether. It is true that these sections of scripture can be difficult, monotonous, and laborious. This is partly because many of the names are unfamiliar to us and difficult to pronounce. However, it is very important for us to examine these passages because in them we find several glimpses of grace.
I would like to look at the lists that are provided in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 and examine some “Glimpses Of Grace In Jesus’ Genealogy”.
As I look out over this assembly of Christians today, I see many examples of people who have experienced the amazing grace of God. It is my prayer that through this message those of us who are born again will be reminded God’s grace and the saving work of the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, I pray that those who do not belong to the Savior will realize that if there was hope for people like Abraham, Tamar, Rahab, David, Solomon, and others, there is hope for you!
We are provided with many examples of God’s grace in the lives of those who are listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately time does not permit us to examine every name that is on this list. However, there are four names that seem to stand out above the others; I am referring to Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. One reason that these names jump off of the page is because they were women and most genealogies in the Bible do not include women. Furthermore, these women were Gentiles. Both Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites, Ruth was a Moabite, and Bathsheba was considered to be a Gentile within Jewish culture because she was married to Uriah the Hittite. (Side note: seeing the names of Gentiles in the family line of Jesus is proof that God had a plan for the Gentiles from the very beginning)
One truth that stands out when considering these women (and everyone else on this list) is the fact that God can use anyone He chooses to accomplish His purposes. Many of Jesus’ earthly ancestors possessed extreme character flaws; in fact, many of them were downright wicked. However, our God is sovereign and He can use sinful and evil people to accomplish His divine purposes. Let’s begin by examining:
I. THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT GOD USES TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES
We serve an all-powerful, all knowing, sovereign God. Since the beginning of time He has proven that He can use anyone He chooses to accomplish His will. A brief survey of Jesus’ genealogy shows us that:
A. GOD USES IMPERFECT PEOPLE
Matthew chapter one and Luke chapter three record many names that are familiar to us. We often point to some of these people as great examples of faith, devotion, and service to God. In fact, quite a few of these people are not only listed in the genealogy of Jesus, their names are recorded in “The Hall Of Faith” over in Hebrews 11. Everyone who is mentioned in that chapter is a shining example of faith in God. However, not a single person mentioned was perfect, in fact each of them had numerous flaws and committed a multitude of sins.
The same is true for us! You may not be the black sheep of your family, you may even have a fantastic reputation among your immediate and extended family members, but we all have issues and sins in our past (and perhaps in the present) that we are not proud of. Like those who are listed in the genealogy of Jesus, we are in desperate need of God’s grace.
- It is no secret that God uses imperfect people, but it may surprise you to learn that:
B. GOD USES REBELLIOUS PEOPLE
Throughout the genealogy of Jesus Christ we are confronted with people who were downright rebellious. The list of rebellious ancestors of Christ begins with Adam. Paul reminds us in Romans 5:12 that, “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”. When the Bible says “all” it means “all”! This means that every single individual in the Jesus’ family lineage was guilty of sin.
One prime example of grievous sin is that of a woman named Tamar.
v3 says that “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar”. Tamar’s first husband was so evil that God put him death. As was the custom in that time and culture, Tamar married her brother-in-law. The bible goes into graphic detail concerning how he refused to provide her with any offspring; as a result, God put him to death as well.
Following the death of her second husband Tamar once again became a childless widow. In response, she dressed herself as a prostitute and seduced her father-in-law. Judah was easily deceived, gave in to temptation, slept with Tamar and this resulted in twins named Perez and Zerah. All of these names are listed in Jesus’ genealogy thus proving that God can use rebellious people to accomplish His purposes.
Many others on this list prove this fact. Abraham became impatient and instead of waiting on God to provide him with the promised seed, he took the servant of his wife and produced a child with her.
Isaac lied about his relationship with his wife in an effort to protect himself.
Jacob’s very name means “trickster” and he certainly lived up to his name. He stole his brother’s birthright, deceived his father, and received the blessing that belonged to Esau.
David was a great warrior, chosen by God to be the King of His people, and was even described as being “a man after God’s own heart”. However, he was a horrible father and lousy husband. Despite all of the good that he did in the name of the LORD, David was an adulterer and guilty of murder.
These men and women (along with the others in Jesus’ ancestry) prove that God can use imperfect and even rebellious people to accomplish His divine purposes.
- As we move further we will also consider the reality that:
C. GOD USES UNWORTHY PEOPLE
v5 “Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab”
It is believed by many scholars that Rahab may have owned a brothel in Jericho. Though this is disputed by some, it is undeniable that Rahab is described in the Bible as a “harlot”. Even after all of the good that she did for the Israelites, thousands of years later she is still referred to as “Rahab the Harlot”. This would be the equivalent of calling her “Rahab the whore”, or “Rahab the prostitute” in our day.
Rahab helped the Israelites conquer Jericho by hiding and protecting their spies. The Israelites destroyed Jericho, but spared Rahab and her family. Eventually Rahab married Salmon, a prince of the tribe of Judah. As a result she became part of the Israelite community, gave birth to “Boaz”, and was included in the genealogy of Jesus.
v5b …Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.
Most of us know the beautiful story of Boaz and Ruth. In fact, the Book of Ruth contains another list of Jesus’ ancestors in the genealogy of King David. Ruth was a Moabitess, her ancestry was traced back to Abraham’s nephew Lot. Genesis 19 tells the sordid details of the time that Lot’s daughters got him drunk, slept with him, and both became pregnant by him.
Though we look to Ruth as one of the heroes of the faith, when we remember the incestuous family and culture that she came from we can see that God can use unworthy people to accomplish his purposes.
v6 goes on to tell us that “Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah”
Bathsheba is not mentioned by name but we know that she is the one who “had been the wife of Uriah”. We do not know how willing Bathsheba was concerning her affair with David, but we do know beyond any doubt that she became involved in a sexual relationship with the King while her husband was out fighting valiantly on the battlefield. This adulterous affair resulted in the death of the child that was conceived and it prompted David to arrange the death of Uriah in an effort to cover up his transgression.
Though their relationship began in despicable and sinful manner, God eventually blessed David and Bathsheba with a son named “Solomon”. This man became the heir to David’s throne, he built a Temple for the Lord, and he was the wisest man who ever lived. However, even with all of his positive attributes, Solomon married many foreign women and worshipped their false gods. Though they were sinful and unworthy, God chose to use these three people to accomplish His divine purposes and they too are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Though we have only examined a few of the names on this list, each and every person who is mentioned in Matthew chapter one and Luke chapter three were used of God to accomplish His purposes. Each of them were imperfect, none of them were worthy, and some of them were downright rebellious, but God was able to use them for His glory.
In a sense, we are indebted to each individual who is named in Jesus’ genealogy. No matter how honorable or how wicked they were, God used them in a mighty way. Through this family line we were provided with a Savior.
Matthew ends his genealogy with the fact that “Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ” (v16). The name “Jesus” means "God saves" or "Yahweh is salvation". In verse 21 of this chapter Gabriel informs Joseph that Mary will “bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus is called “Christ” and this means "anointed one". Through this long line of imperfect people that we have studied today came the long awaited Promised One of God, the Messiah, our Lord Jesus. Because of this we have hope of salvation.
- We have seen the kind of people that God uses to accomplish His purposes, now I would like for us to examine:
II. THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT GOD CHOOSES TO RECEIVE SALVATION
Not a single person who ever has been saved was perfect, many were exceedingly rebellious, and none were worthy. The same is true for those who will be saved in the future. However, the Bible assures us that before the foundation of the world God chose a people for Himself. Those who are in that number should be eternally grateful that:
A. GOD CHOOSES IMPERFECT PEOPLE
The Bible records numerous examples of imperfect men and women who received salvation through Christ. For proof of this we don’t have to look any further than the men whom Jesus chose to be His Apostles. Peter’s flaws were many, James and John had quick tempers, Nathaniel was a skeptic; on and on it goes. Not a single one of the Apostles was perfect but they were chosen. They received salvation and spent the remainder of their lives living for Jesus and advancing His Kingdom.
After one of Jesus’ early miracles, Simon Peter fell on his knees at the feet of Jesus and cried, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man”. Peter was 100% correct, but instead of leaving Him alone, Jesus commanded Peter to follow Him and to be one of His Disciples. Jesus was not concerned with Peter’s past or even his present circumstances, Jesus knew what Peter could be and He saved his soul and used him in a mighty way.
There is not a single person in this building today who is perfect. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. This means that we are all guilty and in desperate need of God’s grace. Thankfully, God’s grace abounds and it is available to imperfect people.
- In His infinite wisdom and divine sovereignty, God not only chooses imperfect people, He chooses rebellious people to receive salvation. Notice:
B. GOD CHOOSES REBELLIOUS PEOPLE
We have a tendency to put people in certain categories. We may look at some as being honorable, religious, or even righteous; then we look at others as being wicked, evil and rebellious. The problem is that we judge according to man’s standards and man’s standards are not what matters. The most moral (and even the most religious) person you know is a vile wretched sinner apart from Jesus Christ. Isaiah 64:6 says, “we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”.
You may have lived a good, moral, and honorable life according to man’s standards, but if you are not “in Christ” you are a rebellious, Hellbound sinner. Romans 3:10-12 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” The wonderful news for us all is that God chooses rebellious sinners to receive salvation through Jesus Christ.
Some of you may believe what I am saying but you can’t grasp the reality that a Holy God could (or would) choose to save you from your sins and deliver you from your rebellious condition. You have it in your mind that you are not worthy to receive salvation. The fact is, you are correct, none of us are worthy but the Bible makes it clear that:
C. GOD CHOOSES UNWORTHY PEOPLE
The Old and New Testaments give us many examples of people who were obviously unworthy to receive salvation. The reality is that no one who ever lived was/is worthy of God’s grace, that is why it is called grace! Grace is defined as the unmerited or undeserved favor of God.
Even on our best day we could never deserve the love, mercy, grace, and salvation that God has chosen to provide for us. This is especially apparent when we consider the fact that in order to secure our salvation, God had to sacrifice His one and only Son.
We were ungodly and unworthy but Jesus willingly laid down His life for us. Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”. Later in that chapter Paul says that “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Though we are unworthy and could never do a single thing to deserve salvation, we possess great hope because God chooses unworthy people to receive salvation.
The names and stories that we have considered today serve a great evidence that no one here is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Many of the names recorded in Jesus’ genealogy should help you to grasp the fact that it doesn’t matter where you have been, what you have done, or what you are currently doing, you can become a portrait of God’s grace!
You may currently be an alcoholic or a lifelong a drug addict, you have the opportunity to receive salvation today. Others may be immersed in sexual sins; you may a homosexual or you are involved in detestable heterosexual sins. There is good news for you as well and that is the fact that you have the opportunity to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that several people here today are consumed with guilt, dealing with depression, filled with anger, and desperate for a glimmer of hope. The scriptures that we have considered today prove to us that there is hope and it is found in Jesus Christ. He did what we could never do! He left His home in Heaven, came to earth and lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death on our behalf, He was buried, rose again, ascended to Heaven and assumed His place at the right hand of the Father. Because of His finished work, those who are imperfect, rebellious, and unworthy have the opportunity to receive salvation because of the amazing grace of God!
I invite you to repent and believe in Jesus for salvation today. If you will surrender to Him, then you can become a part of God’s family and like so many others, you can be a great example of the amazing grace of God.
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