I. The Genealogy “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ”
• Matthew begins this book with these words, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” It is exactly the same phase found in Genesis.
• Moses begins chapter 5 of Genesis “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Mankind was made in the likeness of God.
• NOTE: In The Likeness - Romans 8:3-4 teaches For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us... Jesus came in the likeness of mankind but had no sin.
• NOTE: In The Likeness - Philippians 2:7-9 teaches the Jesus took upon himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
• In Verse 1 There Are Three Messianic Titles For Jesus:
o Jesus Christ – Jeshua (the Lord is Salvation) Christos (Anointed One). Matthew 16 Jesus asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven...”
o Son of David – Jesus asked in Matthew 22:45, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
o Son of Abraham – John 8:56 Jesus said to them, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it and was glad.” Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.”
II. The Generations “So all the generations…” (Covenants)
• Abraham to David (The Abrahamic Covenant) The promises of God established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are recorded in Genesis 12 and state that God would bless Abram in two ways.
(1) God would make Abraham into a great nation and so make his name great.
(2) Through him God would mediate blessing to all people on earth.
• David to Babylon (The Davidic Covenant) The covenant identifies more precisely the lineage of the “offspring” who will mediate international blessing: He will be a royal descendant of Abraham through David. With the great nation promised to Abraham now firmly established, attention zooms in on his royal progeny. This royal line, culminates in an individual, conquering “offspring” who fulfills the promise of Genesis 22:18, “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”
• Babylon to Christ (The New Covenant) Though referred to explicitly as a “new covenant” only once in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31), Jesus declares the New Covenant is established in His sacrifice Luke 22:19-21 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” The New Testament (“covenant”) declares that all God’s covenant promises are realized in and through Jesus, the long-awaited Davidic Messiah and the ultimate offspring of Abraham! 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
III. The Gospel “When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost”
Why is the virgin birth so essential?
• So the prophecy would be fulfilled (Matthew 1:22-23) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us).
• So we would know He was not born of Adam, but born of God! (Romans 5) Paul teaches, 12just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15...For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 17For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. 21so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
