WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.140 Matthew's Gospel, the first gospel in the New Testament. 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:18.140 Of course, we shouldn't divide our Bibles up, but yet, anyway, Matthew chapter 1. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:43.399 Matthew chapter 1, starting at verse 1. 00:00:46.620 --> 00:00:50.679 So please follow along with me for the reading. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:58.719 This is the genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:03.359 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac, the father of Jacob. 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:06.640 Jacob, the father of Judah and his brothers. 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:10.620 Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:13.700 Perez, the father of Hezron. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:15.299 Hezron, the father of Ram. 00:01:16.140 --> 00:01:18.480 Ram, the father of Aminadab. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:20.739 Aminadab, the father of Nashon. 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:22.700 Nashon, the father of Salmon. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:26.900 Salmon, the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab. 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:30.460 Boaz, the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:33.060 Obed, the father of Jesse. 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:35.840 And Jesse, the father of King David. 00:01:37.240 --> 00:01:42.200 David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:44.960 Solomon, the father of Rehoboam. 00:01:45.620 --> 00:01:47.540 And Rehoboam, the father of Abijah. 00:01:48.180 --> 00:01:49.820 Abijah, the father of Asa. 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:52.580 Asa, the father of Jehoshaphat. 00:01:52.579 --> 00:01:55.980 And Jehoshaphat, the father of Jehoram. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:57.959 Jehoram, the father of Uzziah. 00:01:58.739 --> 00:02:00.599 And Uzziah, the father of Jotham. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:02.200 Jotham, the father of Ahaz. 00:02:02.539 --> 00:02:04.480 Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah. 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:07.239 Hezekiah, the father of Manasseh. 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:09.520 Manasseh, the father of Amon. 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:11.979 Amon, the father of Josiah. 00:02:12.740 --> 00:02:15.319 And Josiah, the father of Jeconiah. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:18.979 And his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:25.939 After the exile to Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. 00:02:26.579 --> 00:02:28.560 Shealtiel, the father of Zerubbabel. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:31.639 Zerubbabel, the father of Abinihud. 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:34.859 Abinihud, the father of Eliakim. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:39.179 Eliakim, the father of Azor. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:40.919 Azor, the father of Zadok. 00:02:41.339 --> 00:02:43.099 Zadok, the father of Achem. 00:02:43.859 --> 00:02:45.739 Achem, the father of Elihud. 00:02:46.519 --> 00:02:48.539 Elihud, the father of Eleazar. 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:51.539 Eleazar, the father of Matan. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:53.899 Matan, the father of Jacob. 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.039 And Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:01.000 And Mary was the mother of Jesus, who is called the Messiah. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:06.319 Thus there were 14 generations in all, from Abraham to David. 00:03:06.859 --> 00:03:09.579 14 from David to the exile to Babylon. 00:03:09.579 --> 00:03:13.479 And 14 from the exile to the Messiah. 00:03:14.579 --> 00:03:15.719 Let's pray. 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:25.120 Father, thank you for your word. 00:03:26.079 --> 00:03:31.099 Thank you for prophets like Isaiah that we read from earlier, 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:34.139 written hundreds of years ago, 00:03:34.139 --> 00:03:39.000 to tell us the truth of one to come. 00:03:40.399 --> 00:03:42.679 Thank you for Matthew's gospel, 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:47.039 written to show us who that is. 00:03:47.039 --> 00:03:53.539 Father, we pray that as we look at Jesus, the Messiah, 00:03:55.219 --> 00:03:58.539 you would give us fresh eyes and fresh hearts 00:03:58.539 --> 00:04:01.319 to see who Jesus is. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:05.739 That we may wonder in amazement 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:09.439 and worship him with all of our lives. 00:04:10.760 --> 00:04:13.900 We ask for your Holy Spirit to help us. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:16.579 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:04:17.579 --> 00:04:18.120 Amen. 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:18.199 Amen. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:24.899 So who is Jesus? 00:04:27.479 --> 00:04:29.539 How would you answer that question? 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:32.500 If somebody came to you and said, 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:33.519 who is Jesus? 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:34.419 What would you say? 00:04:36.319 --> 00:04:38.839 Well, Matthew answers that question 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:42.480 by starting with a great long list of names. 00:04:42.480 --> 00:04:45.680 Most of them we've never heard of. 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.160 And because we can't even pronounce them, 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:52.040 as you discovered as I read through some of them, 00:04:52.100 --> 00:04:53.460 no matter how much I practice, 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:54.879 I still messed up. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:58.460 What are all these names about? 00:04:59.200 --> 00:05:01.020 We look at them and we think, 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:03.680 not very interesting. 00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:06.340 Let's move on to verse 18. 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:08.859 This is how the birth of Jesus, 00:05:09.019 --> 00:05:10.560 the Messiah, came about. 00:05:12.299 --> 00:05:14.839 But if we believe that God's word 00:05:14.839 --> 00:05:16.419 is written for our good, 00:05:17.419 --> 00:05:19.819 then there must be good reason 00:05:19.819 --> 00:05:23.719 for Matthew writing all of these names 00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:25.479 at the beginning of his gospel. 00:05:26.059 --> 00:05:29.199 So this morning we want to take a fresh look 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:31.899 by looking at all of these names 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:36.839 to discover who Jesus is. 00:05:37.679 --> 00:05:40.479 Four things we're going to look at together. 00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:44.859 First, Jesus is true. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:49.359 Matthew begins his gospel like this, verse 1. 00:05:49.939 --> 00:05:52.879 This is the genealogy of Jesus, 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:54.759 the Messiah, the son of David, 00:05:54.919 --> 00:05:56.139 the son of Abraham. 00:05:57.639 --> 00:05:59.739 Recently I was filling in some forms 00:05:59.740 --> 00:06:02.180 and they were asking for proof of identity 00:06:02.180 --> 00:06:05.579 that Johnny Grant actually exists. 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:08.280 And the proof that they were after 00:06:08.280 --> 00:06:10.000 was my birth certificate. 00:06:10.819 --> 00:06:12.660 And if you open up my birth certificate, 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:14.759 printed on the page in one section, 00:06:15.340 --> 00:06:17.439 says Michael David Grant, 00:06:17.900 --> 00:06:21.220 father of Jonathan Mark Grant. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:24.720 It was evidence that I was a real person, 00:06:25.220 --> 00:06:26.780 not a made-up person, 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:29.280 like my family think I am sometimes. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.679 I'm actually real and alive. 00:06:32.339 --> 00:06:34.419 Well, here at the beginning of Matthew's gospel 00:06:34.419 --> 00:06:36.639 is the proof, the evidence. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:39.439 It's a historical record 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.539 of the family line of Jesus. 00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:45.199 And with great detail, 00:06:45.379 --> 00:06:46.899 Matthew traces Jesus 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:49.979 all the way back to Abraham. 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:51.739 So verse 17, 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:55.119 he says there were 14 generations in all 00:06:55.119 --> 00:06:56.899 from Abraham to David, 00:06:56.899 --> 00:07:00.359 14 from David to the exile to Babylon, 00:07:00.359 --> 00:07:04.679 and 14 from the exile to the Messiah. 00:07:05.039 --> 00:07:10.399 That's 42 generations of historical fact. 00:07:11.039 --> 00:07:13.799 Hundreds upon hundreds of years. 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:16.780 Well, you say, 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:18.620 Matthew could write anything. 00:07:18.759 --> 00:07:20.740 Anybody could just write a list of names. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:22.800 He might have made all of this up. 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:25.319 Well, recently, 00:07:25.520 --> 00:07:27.360 I discovered just this week 00:07:27.360 --> 00:07:29.980 that the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin 00:07:29.980 --> 00:07:31.660 have put online, 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:33.860 so you can go and check it out for yourself. 00:07:33.980 --> 00:07:35.019 It's quite fascinating. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.280 They've put online their collection 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:41.519 of ancient manuscripts of Jesus Christ. 00:07:41.659 --> 00:07:43.179 And they have some of the earliest 00:07:43.179 --> 00:07:44.479 surviving manuscripts 00:07:44.479 --> 00:07:47.159 that are available to us. 00:07:47.979 --> 00:07:50.239 Gospels like Matthew, 00:07:50.859 --> 00:07:53.099 written within a hundred years 00:07:53.099 --> 00:07:54.919 of Jesus' life. 00:07:55.699 --> 00:07:57.500 And what's important is 00:07:57.500 --> 00:08:01.859 there are actually no first century documents 00:08:01.860 --> 00:08:03.360 that ever say 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.360 Jesus did not exist. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.420 Of all similar documents 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:09.920 written at the same time, 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:11.660 not one of them say 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:13.540 Jesus did not exist. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:16.000 All the early records say 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:16.960 he existed. 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:20.000 No one disputes it. 00:08:20.660 --> 00:08:22.900 And that's what Matthew wants us to know. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:24.860 Right at the very start 00:08:24.860 --> 00:08:26.120 of his Gospel. 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:28.439 He starts with a genealogy. 00:08:28.840 --> 00:08:30.580 Here is a true record. 00:08:30.579 --> 00:08:32.340 This is the true account, 00:08:32.699 --> 00:08:33.539 the evidence, 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.779 proof that Jesus 00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:37.919 is a real person. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:39.939 He is not made up. 00:08:42.439 --> 00:08:45.480 But Jesus is more than just a person. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:49.259 Second, Jesus is God. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:52.240 Look at how Matthew starts. 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:53.759 Verse 2. 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:56.399 Abraham was the father of Isaac, 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:58.039 Isaac the father of Jacob, 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:00.100 Jacob the father of Judah 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:00.779 and his brothers 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:01.620 and so on 00:09:01.620 --> 00:09:02.279 as we read 00:09:02.279 --> 00:09:03.720 one after the other. 00:09:03.800 --> 00:09:04.639 The father of, 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:05.460 the father of, 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.379 the father of. 00:09:06.759 --> 00:09:08.379 Pick it up in verse 15. 00:09:09.279 --> 00:09:11.360 Elihood the father of Eleazar. 00:09:12.120 --> 00:09:14.139 Eleazar the father of Matan. 00:09:14.540 --> 00:09:16.200 Matan the father of Jacob. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.560 And Jacob the father of Joseph. 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:21.100 And Joseph the father of Jesus. 00:09:22.680 --> 00:09:23.840 Is that what it says? 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:28.000 It's what we think it should say. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.080 But it doesn't. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:31.420 Suddenly, 00:09:31.660 --> 00:09:32.920 but yet quite naturally 00:09:32.920 --> 00:09:35.139 without any kind of awkwardness 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:36.660 or any kind of like, 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:38.680 oh now let me tell you this. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.220 It's all quite natural. 00:09:41.780 --> 00:09:44.980 Matthew highlights the divinity of Jesus. 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.019 The God nature of Jesus. 00:09:48.220 --> 00:09:49.960 Look at what it says in verse 16. 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:53.360 And Jacob the father of Joseph. 00:09:55.040 --> 00:09:57.980 Joseph the husband of Mary. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:10:01.759 And Mary was the mother of Jesus 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.860 who is called the Messiah. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.700 He wants us to know that Jesus 00:10:06.700 --> 00:10:10.500 is not the biological father of Jesus. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.220 Mary is the biological mother of Jesus 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:17.420 because she became pregnant supernaturally. 00:10:17.419 --> 00:10:19.919 Matthew will tell us a bit further on 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:20.919 in verse 18. 00:10:21.319 --> 00:10:22.139 Have a look there. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:25.459 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about. 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:28.519 His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph. 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.699 But before they came together, 00:10:30.839 --> 00:10:32.000 before they were married, 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:34.219 before there was a sexual union, 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:37.559 she was found to be pregnant 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:40.099 through the Holy Spirit. 00:10:41.539 --> 00:10:42.939 Now we've got to be clear, 00:10:43.019 --> 00:10:45.419 it wasn't a supernatural birth. 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:48.819 Mary went through the same physical pain 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.939 of having her child 00:10:49.939 --> 00:10:51.740 as every other mother would. 00:10:51.839 --> 00:10:52.740 Probably more. 00:10:53.439 --> 00:10:55.019 She didn't have gas and air 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:56.539 and she didn't have an epidural. 00:10:57.839 --> 00:11:01.139 But it was a supernatural conception. 00:11:02.479 --> 00:11:05.639 And Matthew's point in bringing us to this 00:11:05.639 --> 00:11:07.219 is to show us that Jesus 00:11:07.219 --> 00:11:09.659 is none other than God 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:11.860 in human form. 00:11:12.939 --> 00:11:15.459 Jesus is the God-man. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:17.600 He tells us that. 00:11:17.699 --> 00:11:19.120 Alex actually referred to it 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.179 in the prophecy of Isaiah. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:24.839 But here we have it in Matthew 1, verse 23. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.399 Quoting from Isaiah 7. 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.240 The virgin will conceive 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:30.539 and give birth to a son 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:33.480 and they will call him Emmanuel, 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:38.079 which means God with us. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.200 So in one sense, 00:11:40.340 --> 00:11:42.600 Jesus has a very human account. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.759 We can trace his family line 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.020 all the way back to Abraham. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.720 He's a real person, 00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:49.620 a historical figure. 00:11:50.180 --> 00:11:52.480 But yet the supernatural conception 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.940 shows us that Jesus is God 00:11:54.940 --> 00:11:56.480 come to the world. 00:11:56.800 --> 00:11:58.860 Now no other person 00:11:58.860 --> 00:12:00.920 can claim this. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.379 Jesus is utterly 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:06.320 and completely unique. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.879 As the Christmas carol puts it 00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:10.660 as we sing, 00:12:11.379 --> 00:12:12.640 Veiled in flesh 00:12:12.640 --> 00:12:14.000 the Godhead see, 00:12:14.640 --> 00:12:16.600 hail the incarnate deity, 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:19.440 pleased as man with man to dwell, 00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:22.480 Jesus our Emmanuel. 00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:25.379 Jesus is true. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:26.080 He's real. 00:12:26.200 --> 00:12:27.040 He's a person. 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:29.560 But he's much more than that. 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:31.380 Jesus is God 00:12:31.380 --> 00:12:33.380 in human flesh. 00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:35.659 So, 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.039 Jesus is true. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:38.179 Jesus is God. 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.399 Jesus is 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:41.759 the Messiah. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.399 Now we're going to spend 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:44.220 a little bit longer 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.460 looking at this. 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.539 He wants us, 00:12:46.620 --> 00:12:48.000 Matthew wants us to know 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.779 who 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.600 Jesus 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:50.639 is. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.019 So verse 1, 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.320 this is the genealogy 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:54.000 of Jesus 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.419 the Messiah. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:58.580 Now what does it mean 00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.799 Jesus is the Messiah? 00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:00.980 We hear that word a lot 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.940 at this time of year. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:03.960 Well, I expect 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.960 you probably have 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:05.680 a little note 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:07.300 at the bottom of your Bible. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:09.280 You might have a little letter 00:13:09.280 --> 00:13:10.900 beside Messiah 00:13:10.900 --> 00:13:12.300 and then down at the very bottom 00:13:12.300 --> 00:13:13.140 of the page 00:13:13.140 --> 00:13:15.260 you've probably got a little note 00:13:15.260 --> 00:13:16.400 where it tells us 00:13:16.400 --> 00:13:17.900 that Messiah, 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:19.040 Messiah is simply 00:13:19.040 --> 00:13:20.200 a Hebrew word 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.680 and the Greek 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:23.080 corresponding word 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:23.920 is Christ. 00:13:25.020 --> 00:13:26.360 So Hebrew was, 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:27.320 the Old Testament 00:13:27.320 --> 00:13:28.580 was written in Hebrew, 00:13:28.920 --> 00:13:29.760 the New Testament 00:13:29.760 --> 00:13:30.980 written in Greek. 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:31.980 Greek 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.379 and they both mean 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.800 anointed one. 00:13:35.659 --> 00:13:36.340 It's simply, 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:37.460 Messiah is simply 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:38.279 a title. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:40.680 Sometimes we see 00:13:40.680 --> 00:13:41.500 in the New Testament 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.700 Jesus Christ. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.940 It means Jesus 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:44.779 the Messiah, 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.360 the anointed one. 00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:48.080 But more specifically, 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:48.840 Messiah 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:50.159 is a king 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:52.039 who is chosen, 00:13:52.539 --> 00:13:53.480 specially chosen 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:54.080 by God, 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:54.980 set apart 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.060 by God, 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.159 for God. 00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:59.759 and all the way 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:01.039 through the Old Testament, 00:14:01.299 --> 00:14:02.360 God had promised 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:04.279 that a king 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.120 would come 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:07.159 chosen by God 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:08.959 to bring salvation. 00:14:09.159 --> 00:14:09.639 And Matthew 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:10.279 is claiming 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.039 at the beginning 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.980 of his gospel 00:14:11.980 --> 00:14:13.240 that Jesus 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:15.379 is the Messiah. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:16.319 Messiah, 00:14:16.579 --> 00:14:17.059 if you like, 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.299 with a capital M, 00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.319 the ultimate 00:14:19.319 --> 00:14:20.939 and final Messiah. 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.940 Messiah. 00:14:21.940 --> 00:14:23.040 And to help us 00:14:23.040 --> 00:14:23.940 grasp this, 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.340 Matthew orders 00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.540 his genealogy 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:27.500 very carefully. 00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:28.760 So he tells us 00:14:28.760 --> 00:14:29.800 in verse 17, 00:14:30.260 --> 00:14:31.940 there were 14 generations 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:32.940 from Abraham 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.900 to David, 00:14:34.440 --> 00:14:36.300 14 from David 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:37.500 to the exile 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.200 to Babylon, 00:14:38.660 --> 00:14:40.540 and 14 from exile 00:14:40.540 --> 00:14:41.640 to the Messiah. 00:14:41.900 --> 00:14:43.400 He divides it up 00:14:43.400 --> 00:14:44.400 intentionally, 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.659 and the beginning 00:14:45.659 --> 00:14:46.840 of each section, 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:47.740 Abraham, 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.259 David, 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.740 and the exile 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.340 are all significant. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.840 So let's have a look 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.220 at them in turn 00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:56.720 to help us understand 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.819 who Jesus is 00:14:58.819 --> 00:15:00.000 as the Messiah. 00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.600 So first, 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:02.659 we have Abraham 00:15:02.659 --> 00:15:04.459 in verse 2. 00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:07.980 Abraham was the father 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:08.579 of Isaac 00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.919 and Isaac the father 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:10.600 of Jacob. 00:15:11.079 --> 00:15:12.079 Now why Abraham? 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:12.439 Well, 00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:14.400 remember God's 00:15:14.400 --> 00:15:15.660 promise to Abraham. 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:16.560 We're going to do 00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:17.380 a bit of flicking 00:15:17.380 --> 00:15:18.680 back and forth here, 00:15:18.780 --> 00:15:19.700 so keep your finger 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:21.200 in Matthew chapter 1 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:22.500 and go back 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:25.320 to Genesis chapter 12. 00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:40.780 So Genesis chapter 12, 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:42.579 God's promise here 00:15:42.579 --> 00:15:43.299 he was called 00:15:43.299 --> 00:15:44.059 Abraham, 00:15:44.860 --> 00:15:46.799 later changed 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:47.899 to Abraham. 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.279 So let's read 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:52.899 verse 1, 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.600 chapter 12. 00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:54.740 The Lord had said 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.480 to Abraham, 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.879 go from your country, 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.519 your people, 00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.179 and your house, 00:15:58.579 --> 00:15:59.299 father's household, 00:15:59.299 --> 00:15:59.899 to the land 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.620 I will show you. 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:02.220 I will make you 00:16:02.220 --> 00:16:03.139 into a great nation 00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.459 and I will bless you. 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.459 I will make your name 00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:07.220 great and you 00:16:07.220 --> 00:16:08.199 will be a blessing. 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:09.980 I will bless those 00:16:09.980 --> 00:16:11.040 who bless you 00:16:11.040 --> 00:16:12.240 and whoever curses you 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.900 I will curse 00:16:12.900 --> 00:16:14.460 and all peoples on earth 00:16:14.460 --> 00:16:15.620 will be blessed 00:16:15.620 --> 00:16:16.820 through you. 00:16:17.259 --> 00:16:18.960 It's hard to miss it, 00:16:19.040 --> 00:16:19.520 isn't it? 00:16:20.220 --> 00:16:22.180 God is going to bless. 00:16:23.140 --> 00:16:24.160 It's the opposite 00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.200 of the curse. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.840 Instead of death 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.640 and disorder, 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.400 there will be joy 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:30.440 and beauty 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:32.180 and that blessing 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.800 is going to come, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.720 have a look at verse 3 again, 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.660 to all peoples 00:16:37.660 --> 00:16:40.320 or to all the nations 00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:41.200 on the earth 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.379 and all the nations, 00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:44.080 all the people 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.600 on the earth 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.379 will be blessed 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:47.000 through you. 00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:49.700 God is promising 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.139 that he is going 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:53.000 to raise up someone, 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:55.700 one specific person 00:16:55.700 --> 00:16:57.500 from the family 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.360 of Abraham 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.800 who is going 00:16:59.800 --> 00:17:01.360 to reverse the curse 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.259 and bring blessing 00:17:03.259 --> 00:17:04.900 to the nations. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.420 So when we are back 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.319 in Matthew chapter 1, 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.440 we see that Matthew 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:12.339 starts his genealogy 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:13.500 of Jesus 00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.839 with Abraham 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.180 to show us, 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.660 to trace all the way back, 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:18.259 to show us 00:17:18.259 --> 00:17:19.019 that Jesus 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.779 is the promised one 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.000 from Abraham's 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.960 family line 00:17:22.960 --> 00:17:24.000 who is going 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.160 to bring the blessing 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:26.680 to reverse 00:17:26.680 --> 00:17:27.980 the curse. 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.120 Jesus. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.700 And then we have 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.839 in the next section 00:17:31.839 --> 00:17:32.519 David. 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.000 David, 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:36.079 the king. 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:36.779 We have been 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:38.120 learning about him 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:39.019 from one king. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.099 So let's pick it up 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.099 at the beginning 00:17:41.099 --> 00:17:42.180 of verse 6, 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.720 Matthew chapter 1. 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.400 And Jesse, 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.319 the father 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.680 of King David. 00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.200 And David 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.000 was the father 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.819 of Solomon. 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:52.559 Well, 00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.000 why has he 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.839 included David? 00:17:53.839 --> 00:17:55.199 Well, 00:17:55.399 --> 00:17:57.039 God also promised 00:17:57.039 --> 00:17:58.339 something to David. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:59.659 Remember what God 00:17:59.659 --> 00:18:00.599 had said to David. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:01.740 Have a look back 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.959 in 2 Samuel 00:18:02.959 --> 00:18:04.899 chapter 7. 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.480 It's on page 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.980 310. 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:09.799 2 Samuel 00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:10.859 chapter 7, 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.679 which is on page 00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.899 310. 00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:19.900 So we're building 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.880 a picture here 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.700 to understand 00:18:21.700 --> 00:18:22.440 what it means 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.060 that Jesus 00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:24.000 is the Messiah. 00:18:24.540 --> 00:18:25.900 He's the promised 00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:26.360 one 00:18:26.360 --> 00:18:27.940 to bring blessing 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:31.040 from Abraham's 00:18:31.040 --> 00:18:31.880 family line. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.620 And now we have 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:35.140 something God 00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.980 said to David. 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.860 2 Samuel 00:18:36.860 --> 00:18:37.640 chapter 7 00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:38.560 verse 12. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:41.040 God's speaking 00:18:41.040 --> 00:18:41.460 to David. 00:18:41.580 --> 00:18:41.820 He says, 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.800 when your days 00:18:42.800 --> 00:18:43.560 are over 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:44.940 and you rest 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:46.019 with your ancestors, 00:18:46.179 --> 00:18:46.659 in other words, 00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.440 when you die, 00:18:47.879 --> 00:18:49.220 I will raise up 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:50.799 from your offspring 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:52.279 to succeed you 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.619 your own flesh 00:18:53.619 --> 00:18:53.980 and blood 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.240 and I will establish 00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.639 his kingdom. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.740 Verse 16. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.419 Your house, 00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.700 your family 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.279 and your kingdom 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.740 shall endure 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.639 forever 00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.619 before me. 00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:08.700 Your throne 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:10.200 shall be established 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:11.720 forever. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:14.299 God is promising 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:14.880 to David 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:15.500 he is going 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.539 to raise up 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.740 a king 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:18.720 from the line 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:19.180 of David 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:20.740 but an eternal king. 00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.200 Now this isn't 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:23.079 different to the 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.120 promise to Abraham. 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:25.680 It's a continuation 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.000 and an extension 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.339 of the promise 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.059 to Abraham. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.519 From the line 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.380 of King David 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.539 will come a king 00:19:33.539 --> 00:19:35.539 and that king 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.460 is going to bring 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.160 blessing 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:39.039 to all the nations. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.720 a king 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.519 will come 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.819 who is going 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.559 to reverse 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:43.180 the curse 00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:43.659 and bring 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:44.220 blessing. 00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.119 So as Matthew 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:47.099 continues his 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.619 genealogy of Jesus 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.000 from Abraham 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:51.480 down to David 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.639 he does so 00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.500 to show us 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.279 that Jesus 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.960 is this promised 00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:56.619 king 00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:58.399 to bring 00:19:58.399 --> 00:19:58.899 blessing. 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.519 The third 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.000 division 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.180 is the 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.859 exile. 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:06.819 Have a look 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.279 at Matthew 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:07.980 chapter 1 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.679 verse 11 00:20:08.679 --> 00:20:09.220 we have 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.460 Josiah 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.899 the father 00:20:11.899 --> 00:20:12.819 of Jeconiah 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:14.059 and his 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.480 brothers 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.359 at the time 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:16.359 of the exile 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:17.200 to Babylon. 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.960 After the 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:20.460 exile to Babylon 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:22.019 Jeconiah 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.839 was the father 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.960 of Shealtiel. 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:25.379 Now it might 00:20:25.379 --> 00:20:26.220 seem strange 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:27.119 Matthew 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:27.799 doesn't use 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.519 a name here. 00:20:28.619 --> 00:20:29.399 He had Abraham 00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.220 he had David 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:30.939 why didn't he 00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:31.939 use another name? 00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:32.980 Instead 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.559 Matthew 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:34.099 has chosen 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.599 to use 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.319 an event. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.879 He says 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.619 after 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.939 the exile. 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.579 Now the 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.319 exile was 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.139 a major 00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:42.859 event in 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:43.339 the history 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:43.959 of God's 00:20:43.959 --> 00:20:44.740 people Israel. 00:20:45.539 --> 00:20:46.319 Because the 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:46.799 people had 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.539 disobeyed 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:47.759 God 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.419 and failed 00:20:48.419 --> 00:20:48.799 God 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:49.500 they were 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.359 whipped off 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:51.639 into exile 00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.299 by the 00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.299 Babylonians. 00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.039 And for 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.559 those who 00:20:55.559 --> 00:20:55.959 were put 00:20:55.959 --> 00:20:56.679 in exile 00:20:56.679 --> 00:20:57.559 it seemed 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.439 like everything 00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.159 was over. 00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:00.179 It had all 00:21:00.179 --> 00:21:00.719 finished. 00:21:01.179 --> 00:21:01.959 The promises 00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:02.619 that God 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:03.039 had made 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:03.359 in the 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:03.980 past of 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.500 a king 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.139 who was 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:05.579 going to 00:21:05.579 --> 00:21:06.139 come and 00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:07.039 bring blessing 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:08.180 was all 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:08.500 over. 00:21:08.599 --> 00:21:08.839 It was 00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.420 finished. 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.279 Any chance 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:11.740 of things 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.299 being put 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:13.079 right was 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.639 all gone 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.139 because they 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:14.559 were now 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.220 in exile. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:15.960 Everything 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.399 had been 00:21:16.399 --> 00:21:16.940 destroyed. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.680 But God 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.519 spoke into 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.579 that situation 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.519 to the people 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:23.940 when they 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.279 were in 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.539 exile with 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.480 a promise. 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.420 Not a 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.279 new promise 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.460 but a 00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.279 reminder of 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:30.779 the same 00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.680 promises he'd 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.159 been making 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:32.840 all the way 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:33.200 along. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:33.720 A 00:21:33.720 --> 00:21:34.420 continuation 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.960 of the 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.740 very first 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.160 promise. 00:21:38.540 --> 00:21:39.019 Let's see 00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.540 what God 00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.660 spoke to 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.380 those people. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:41.920 Have a look 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:42.380 back at 00:21:42.380 --> 00:21:42.820 Jeremiah 00:21:42.820 --> 00:21:44.660 chapter 29 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:47.060 which is 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:47.580 on page 00:21:47.580 --> 00:21:49.000 790. 00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.259 Jeremiah 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.380 29 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:55.779 and verse 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.320 10. 00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:56.380 10. 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:56.420 10. 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:56.460 10. 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:56.480 10. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:56.519 10. 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:56.580 10. 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.460 10. 00:21:58.460 --> 00:22:00.380 10. 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:00.460 10. 00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:00.519 10. 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.460 10. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:04.019 10. 00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.640 10. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.299 11. 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:05.539 10. 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:05.819 11. 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:05.900 10. 00:22:05.900 --> 00:22:09.720 11. 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.000 11. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.240 11. 00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.519 10. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.319 20. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.579 10. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.360 20. 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:27.480 20. 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.240 11. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.299 21. 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:36.259 the Lord says, verse 10, when 70 years are completed for Babylon, after 70 years of being 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:43.180 in exile, God says, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:50.639 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:57.180 Plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will 00:22:57.180 --> 00:23:04.180 listen to you. You will seek me and find me and when you seek me with all your heart, 00:23:04.539 --> 00:23:10.580 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. Literally, 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:18.019 I am going to restore you. I will gather you from all the nations and the places where I have banished 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:24.360 you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:35.279 What a promise! God will keep his promise to raise up a king to bring blessing of restoration 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:43.719 and of hope. And the plans, verse 11, the plans God has for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper 00:23:43.719 --> 00:23:51.240 you and not to harm you, are not just good things happening in your life and wealth and money and 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:59.440 pleasure and all these sorts of things. The plans to prosper you is a person. The person of Jesus, 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:08.680 the King, the Messiah. So Matthew carefully orders his genealogy to show us that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:15.099 Jesus is the promised one from the line of Abraham. Jesus is the King who's come to bless. 00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:25.099 Jesus is the one to restore us from exile. Because in a sense, we are all in exile from God because of our sin. 00:24:25.899 --> 00:24:34.759 And Jesus is the Messiah come to restore us. The chosen one set apart by God to bring salvation. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:46.720 So Matthew works his way through his genealogy. And he shows us he's from Abraham, David, from the exile to the Messiah, 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:57.400 Jesus himself. So in summary, with all of this, we could say Jesus is the Messiah to bring about a new beginning, 00:24:57.400 --> 00:25:04.640 a fresh start. Look again at how Matthew starts his genealogy, verse 1. 00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:21.480 This is the genealogy of Jesus. Literally, it says, this is the book of genealogy. This is the book of genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah. 00:25:21.480 --> 00:25:30.539 Now Matthew chooses his words very carefully. Because there are only two other times we actually get this introduction 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:37.019 in the whole Bible, and they both come in Genesis. I want us to see a connection here. 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:41.819 Go back to Genesis chapter 2, at the beginning of your Bible. 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:49.980 So keep in mind how Matthew is introducing it. This is the book of genealogy of Jesus, the Messiah. 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:57.279 And then we go to Genesis 2. So chapter 1 of Genesis is all about God's creation, 00:25:58.139 --> 00:26:02.339 and how God began everything, how everything was good and beautiful. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:06.279 And then we read in chapter 2, verse 4, 00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:11.879 this is the account of the heavens and the earth. 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:17.419 Now I'm not a Hebrew scholar. I trust the experts on this. 00:26:17.959 --> 00:26:23.480 But they tell us that it is exactly the same as how Matthew starts his gospel. 00:26:23.919 --> 00:26:27.679 This is the book of the genealogy of the heavens and the earth. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:31.220 You might be saying, well, what's so interesting about that? 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:36.259 Well, Matthew picks up the same phrase and applies it to Jesus. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:41.240 Just as there was a genealogy, just as there was a beginning to the heavens and the earth, 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:48.980 the creation, Jesus, the Messiah, is the one who's going to come and bring about a new creation. 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:56.480 Jesus is the Messiah, God's King, who's going to bring blessing and restoration. 00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:01.079 He's going to reverse the curse. He's going to make everything new. 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:06.519 He's going to bring a fresh start to all those who have been broken by sin. 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:12.920 Just as God spoke into creation and brought everything new and beautiful, 00:27:13.380 --> 00:27:21.920 so God has brought his Son into the world to bring about a new beginning, a fresh start. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:26.279 So can we see what Matthew is introducing us to? 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:27.980 Jesus is true. 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:32.800 But he's not just a person. He is God. 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:39.800 The promised Messiah come to put everything right and make everything new. 00:27:41.320 --> 00:27:49.920 Which means that Jesus is our Saviour, which is good news for everyone. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:55.200 Early genealogies that we have, looking at Matthew chapter 1, 00:27:56.060 --> 00:27:59.759 were written not only to identify a person, 00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:05.160 but it was also written to highlight your status or your pedigree. 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:09.420 So if you could find somebody important in your family line, 00:28:09.820 --> 00:28:12.320 well, then it gave you extra clout and kudos. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:15.099 You know, people looked up to you. 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:18.059 If you could find royalty in your line, 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.939 well, you are somebody great. 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:26.039 In fact, historians tell us that Herod the Great, 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:28.439 king at the time of Jesus, 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.319 actually changed his genealogy. 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.639 He took all the bad names out, 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:35.200 all the people he didn't like, 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.539 who had bad character, 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:40.539 to make sure he just had a nice family line. 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:43.460 The kind of people you don't want in your family, 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.480 he removed. 00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.539 He cut them out. 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:49.539 Now look at the genealogy of Jesus. 00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:52.180 We've got some really important names. 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.139 We've looked at them. 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:55.619 Abraham and David. 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:59.759 But look who else turns up in this big long list of names. 00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.639 Look at verse 3. 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:04.859 Judah, the father of Perez, 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:09.479 and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar. 00:29:10.979 --> 00:29:14.299 Matthew includes a whole load of mothers, women. 00:29:15.319 --> 00:29:16.579 So we have Tamar. 00:29:17.639 --> 00:29:18.839 And then verse 5. 00:29:19.479 --> 00:29:21.879 We have Salmon, the father of Boaz, 00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.799 whose mother was Rahab. 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:26.779 And Boaz, the father of Obed, 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.379 whose mother was Ruth. 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.819 And then in verse 6, 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:33.559 we have Jesse, the father of King David. 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:35.799 And David was the father of Solomon, 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:38.799 whose mother had been Uriah's wife. 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.379 Do you remember Uriah's wife was Bathsheba? 00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:47.579 So we've got Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Uriah's wife. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:49.980 Not only are they all women, 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.480 which was completely unheard of. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:55.299 You didn't find women written in genealogies. 00:29:55.380 --> 00:29:57.620 They were considered unimportant back then. 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:03.700 But each one of them is written in, 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:06.140 specifically and intentionally, 00:30:06.380 --> 00:30:12.640 because each one is a story of brokenness and sin. 00:30:13.640 --> 00:30:16.099 Tamar, that we read about in verse 3, 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:19.660 was she was the daughter-in-law of Judah. 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:22.600 And if we read the account in Genesis, 00:30:22.800 --> 00:30:26.240 it tells us that Tamar tricked her father-in-law 00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:29.880 into sleeping with her by dressing up as a prostitute. 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:35.400 The whole family was about deceiving and deception and lies. 00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:37.840 Their whole family was an utter mess. 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:43.140 And then we read about Rahab in verse 5. 00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:45.680 Rahab, do you remember her? 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:49.080 She was the one who let the spies in when they went to explore the land. 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.980 But she was a prostitute. 00:30:52.120 --> 00:30:54.420 Now there's nothing glamorous about that. 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:57.420 In those times, as is mostly the case today, 00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:59.160 it wasn't by choice. 00:31:00.100 --> 00:31:02.519 It was something done as a last resort. 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:05.980 You lived your life in danger, used and abused. 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:08.340 You tried to trick people. 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:11.559 You were responsible for breaking up families. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:16.059 And yet Rahab is here. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.720 Ruth, verse 5, 00:31:18.959 --> 00:31:22.159 where she was a foreigner and an outsider. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.720 People who came from her country, 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:26.039 the country of Moab, 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.500 were despised. 00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.039 They were the enemy. 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.980 You kicked people like that out. 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:35.319 And then in verse 6, 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.740 we have Uriah's wife. 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.799 We know her as Bathsheba. 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.559 In verse 6. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:43.799 She was involved in one of the greatest scandals 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.759 in the whole Bible. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:47.160 We know the story, don't we? 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:49.440 David used his power as king 00:31:49.440 --> 00:31:51.819 and her vulnerability 00:31:51.819 --> 00:31:54.980 and went off and had an affair with her. 00:31:55.200 --> 00:31:56.700 And everything was all fine. 00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:58.240 It was all nice and secretive 00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.620 until she became pregnant. 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:02.019 Now what was he going to do? 00:32:03.459 --> 00:32:05.399 Well, David arranged to have her husband 00:32:05.399 --> 00:32:06.539 knocked off in battle. 00:32:07.439 --> 00:32:08.500 Get him out the way. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:10.779 Kings could do that, you know. 00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:15.559 So in this story of Jesus' family line, 00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:16.659 we have incest. 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:18.199 We have outsiders. 00:32:18.439 --> 00:32:19.539 We have prostitutes. 00:32:19.659 --> 00:32:20.639 We have adultery. 00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:21.959 We have murder. 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:26.119 They're all sinful, broken people. 00:32:26.899 --> 00:32:28.259 They're the kind of people 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.859 who you kind of don't want 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:31.099 in your family history. 00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:33.039 You don't like to talk about it. 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:34.240 You don't mention it. 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:36.920 You get a big black pen 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:38.720 and you cover over their names. 00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:41.220 You don't want their shame 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.339 hanging over you. 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:46.599 Well, we might write them off. 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:50.019 But God writes them in. 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:52.619 They're all included 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:55.779 into the family of Jesus. 00:32:57.039 --> 00:33:00.519 You see, Jesus is good news. 00:33:01.500 --> 00:33:04.519 Can you see what Matthew is telling us 00:33:04.519 --> 00:33:05.700 about Jesus? 00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.980 Jesus is true. 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.639 Jesus is God. 00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.440 The promised King 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:14.759 to bring the blessing of restoration, 00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:17.039 to make everything new. 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.759 I'm the Messiah 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.819 who's come to bring 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.599 a new beginning, 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.579 a fresh start 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.899 in the lives of those 00:33:22.899 --> 00:33:24.079 broken by sin. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:28.259 You see, sin exiles us from God. 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:30.500 But God has promised us 00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.339 through Jesus 00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:32.920 to bring us back. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.920 Jesus came for us 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.000 to die for us, 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:37.440 to take the blame 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.619 for our past 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:41.980 and to restore us to Himself. 00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:45.819 Jesus came not to exclude people, 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:48.439 but He came to welcome people 00:33:48.439 --> 00:33:49.879 into His family. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:51.619 There is no person 00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:54.619 that is so far outside of God, 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.799 their past so broken 00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.939 and so messy 00:33:58.939 --> 00:34:01.099 that He cannot bring them in. 00:34:01.899 --> 00:34:04.419 No matter what your gender identity, 00:34:04.919 --> 00:34:06.740 no matter what your nationality 00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.740 or your culture, 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:10.299 no matter what your life's experience, 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:12.199 no matter what your past is, 00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.880 no matter your private 00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.200 and secret sins 00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:16.579 that weigh you down 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:18.280 and keep you awake at night, 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.420 Jesus welcomes you. 00:34:22.720 --> 00:34:24.900 And it's the same today. 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.280 Jesus the Messiah 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:29.340 has come to give people like us 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:30.660 a new beginning, 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:33.519 to be a new creation. 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:36.800 When we repent of our sin, 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:38.960 when we entrust our life to Jesus, 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:41.159 we receive a new beginning. 00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.900 The past, 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.780 all of it, 00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.300 is covered over. 00:34:46.019 --> 00:34:47.519 The shame is removed. 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:49.559 We are given a new record. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:52.440 Our names are now written in bold 00:34:52.440 --> 00:34:55.019 into the family line of Jesus. 00:34:55.579 --> 00:34:57.079 We belong to Him. 00:34:59.320 --> 00:35:01.699 And here's even greater news. 00:35:01.699 --> 00:35:05.339 Even when we sin now. 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.239 Even as people 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:08.859 who may belong to Jesus 00:35:08.859 --> 00:35:10.099 and part of His family. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.980 Even when we mess up 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.259 today, tomorrow, 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.019 our names remain 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:17.519 in His family. 00:35:18.319 --> 00:35:19.500 It's like they have been 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.460 written down 00:35:20.460 --> 00:35:21.899 with permanent ink. 00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:23.219 No sin, 00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:24.000 no doubt, 00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:24.980 no failure 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.859 can rub our names 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:28.559 out of God's family. 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:32.380 As we sometimes sing, 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:35.099 my name is graven 00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:36.539 on His hands. 00:35:37.400 --> 00:35:38.820 My name is written 00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:40.420 on His heart. 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:42.619 I know that while 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.840 in heaven He stands, 00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:45.059 no tongue 00:35:45.059 --> 00:35:47.719 can bid me thence depart. 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:49.059 Nobody can tell me 00:35:49.059 --> 00:35:49.679 I'm out. 00:35:51.259 --> 00:35:51.779 Nothing. 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:53.799 Not even my sin. 00:35:54.599 --> 00:35:55.299 No one. 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:57.380 Not even Satan himself. 00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.400 Not even 00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:59.200 death 00:35:59.200 --> 00:36:01.039 can take you 00:36:01.039 --> 00:36:03.079 out of God's family. 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.280 Why? 00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:06.599 Because Jesus 00:36:06.599 --> 00:36:08.340 is the Messiah. 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:11.619 God's promised King 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:13.079 who has come 00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:14.320 to bring the blessing 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.599 of restoration 00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.880 to people like us. 00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.240 To give us 00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:20.160 a new beginning, 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:21.280 a fresh start, 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.740 a new creation 00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:25.619 to live life for Him 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:27.320 in the new world. 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:27.420 world. 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:30.920 As we said earlier, 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.320 one day 00:36:32.320 --> 00:36:34.100 we will see 00:36:34.100 --> 00:36:35.380 our brother 00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.320 Jesus 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:38.059 face to face 00:36:38.059 --> 00:36:39.480 in the eternal 00:36:39.480 --> 00:36:39.980 kingdom. 00:36:39.980 --> 00:36:40.039 kingdom. 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:42.260 We will be with Him. 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:43.920 We will talk to 00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.619 His Father 00:36:44.619 --> 00:36:46.400 and the nations 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.659 that have come 00:36:47.659 --> 00:36:48.380 to Jesus 00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:50.039 from all history 00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:50.960 and all time 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.880 and all places. 00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.000 Those who have 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:54.280 trusted in Jesus 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:55.059 the Messiah 00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:57.619 will be with Him, 00:36:58.340 --> 00:36:59.760 His eternal family, 00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.960 forever and forever 00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:04.960 in His eternal kingdom. 00:37:06.460 --> 00:37:08.139 So who is Jesus? 00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:11.599 Well, let's not ignore 00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:13.780 these wonderful names 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:16.320 that God has put 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.099 intentionally 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.159 and deliberately 00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:19.619 at the start 00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:20.820 of Matthew's Gospel 00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:22.159 to tell us 00:37:22.159 --> 00:37:24.099 that Jesus is true, 00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.760 a real person, 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.980 not made up. 00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:29.320 He's God, 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:31.500 the Messiah. 00:37:33.059 --> 00:37:34.579 He is good news 00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:36.599 for people like us. 00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.559 Good news for the world. 00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:41.320 Good news to tell people 00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:42.760 about Jesus. 00:37:43.760 --> 00:37:44.619 Let's pray. 00:37:44.619 --> 00:38:01.199 Good news to tell people 00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:09.980 that God can zob 00:38:10.319 --> 00:38:10.920 on through. 00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:13.420 Good news.