Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 1.
I hope you'll see a theme.
Thanks, Rob.
Do you remember we did Genesis?
Genesis was the first book of the Bible, of the Old Testament.
A theme of beginnings.
Well, Matthew is the beginning of the New Testament.
And it also has themes of beginnings as well.
And, yeah, maybe we'll go to the end of the Bible after we've done Matthew and we'll do Revelation.
And we'll connect it all together.
But I want to just point out to you a little booklet that we have.
You'll find it on the table as you go out the door on your way out.
Pick up a copy, one per family at least to start with.
This booklet is an overview of Matthew's Gospel.
I put it together to help me in my studies so I know where I'm going and what it's all about.
But it will help you too as well as we go through our studies.
It will give you the big story, the big picture of what it's all about.
Some of the big themes to look out for.
And if at any point as we go through Matthew you'll forget, how did we start?
Where does this bit fit in?
How does it all connect?
Well, you can just dip in and check the sections out and read the paragraphs.
And it'll help you remember where we are and what it's all about.
So please do pick up your copy of Matthew's Gospel.
It'll help you and it will be good for you.
Well, we're going to read Matthew chapter 1, verses 1 to 17 together.
Let's read God's Word.
This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar.
Perez the father of Hezron.
Hezron the father of Ram.
Ram the father of Aminadab.
Aminadab the father of Nashon.
Nashon the father of Salmon.
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab.
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth.
Obed the father of Jesse.
And Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife.
Solomon the father of Rehoboam.
Rehoboam the father of Abijah.
Abijah the father of Asa.
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat.
And Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram.
Jehoram the father of Uzziah.
Uzziah the father of Jotham.
Jotham the father of Ahaz.
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.
Hezekiah the father of Manasseh.
Manasseh the father of Amon.
Amon the father of Josiah.
And Josiah the father of Jeconiah.
And his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon, Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.
Abiud the father of Eliakim.
Eliakim the father of Azor.
Azor the father of Zadok.
Zadok the father of Achim.
Achim the father of Elihuud.
Elihuud the father of Eleazar.
Eleazar the father of Matan.
Matan the father of Jacob.
and Jacob, the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary
and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Thus there were 14 generations in all
from Abraham to David, 14 from David to the exile to Babylon
and 14 from the exile to the Messiah.
Well, interesting start.
Let's pray.
Father, we thank you for your word.
Words that have been written down, preserved and recorded for us.
And we thank you now for this gospel,
the good news about Jesus according to Matthew,
written down so that we can read today
and learn about Jesus the Messiah.
And we pray that this would not just be an information exercise,
but that as we learn about the person of Jesus,
as we discover who he is,
what he came to do,
what it is to follow him and walk with him,
that we would experience the person of Jesus
in our own life,
day to day,
throughout our work,
whether we're at school or wherever we are,
that we would know him personally
and intimately.
And that this would be a time of growing,
perhaps for the first time,
stepping out
in a relationship with Jesus.
So, Holy Spirit,
be our teacher.
Shine your light upon Christ
so that we see him in all his greatness.
And would you apply all that we learn to our life
so that we love you
and worship you.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
So, how has your new year gone so far?
One week into it.
In many ways,
the new year gives us an opportunity
for that fresh start,
a new beginning.
The past,
all put behind us,
and with wonderful hopes
for the future.
And so,
with so renewed enthusiasm,
we step out
into our new year.
And we say to ourselves,
yes,
this is going to be different.
This is going to be a good year.
But the problem is,
sooner or later,
our past catches up with us
and our hopes for the future
come crashing down around us.
The memories we so desperately want to leave behind
have a habit of resurfing once again
as people fail us
and we fail ourselves.
And the hopes and dreams we have of the future
come to a shuddering end
as we receive unwanted news from the doctor
or from our employer.
The new beginning,
the fresh start,
eludes us
once again.
Or has it?
Because Matthew begins his gospel
with some good news.
Look at verse 1.
This is the genealogy of.
Now, to our minds,
that's not the best introduction
or the most inspiring opening
for a book.
If Matthew is trying to entice us
and excite us
to continue on
with his writing,
it seems to have
the opposite effect.
A list of unpronounceable names,
most of whom we've never heard of
and we know nothing about.
Well, with a little patience
and careful attention,
we will discover that Matthew
is introducing us to someone
who can give us a new beginning
and a fresh start.
Something that we all long for.
Whether we say,
I'm a follower of Jesus
or I've been following him
for 40 years.
This fresh start
deals with all our past.
Gives us a new hope
for the future
and makes our life possible today.
So as we get into this big list of names,
we're going to look at three things.
A new creation,
a promised king,
and a great saviour.
Three things.
Here's the first one.
A new creation.
The introduction takes us on a journey
that brings us right
to the very start
of the Bible story.
Look at verse 1.
This is the genealogy of.
Now that little phrase,
the only place
that phrase appears
is at the beginning of Genesis.
You can follow on the screen.
This is what it says.
This is the account of,
literally,
this is the genealogy of
the heavens and the earth
when they were created,
when the Lord God
made the earth
and the heavens.
Matthew is intentionally
bringing us back
to the creation of the world.
John's gospel
does something similar,
doesn't it?
In the beginning
was the Word
and the Word was with God.
He's taking us
back to the beginning.
Matthew's doing
exactly the same.
He's bringing us back
to the creation
of the world.
Because we know
that in the beginning
the world was
formless
and empty.
There was darkness
and chaos
and then God spoke
bringing order,
design and beauty.
Something new
had begun.
And that's what
should trigger off
in our minds
as we start
into Matthew's gospel.
This is the genealogy
of here's a new beginning,
here's a fresh start,
a new creation.
Not such a boring
introduction anymore,
is it?
Because you see,
left to ourselves,
our life is very often
formless
and empty.
Without meaning,
without purpose.
So often we experience
darkness and chaos
as terrible things
happen to us.
And in our desperation
to change it all,
we try new things,
we start new projects,
we make ourselves
new promises.
In our longings
to be filled
and satisfied,
we stuff ourselves
with new comforts,
new relationships,
new jobs.
But it's into
all this
restless noise
and into this
relentless striving
that we're introduced
to one person
who can bring about
a new creation
of our lives.
And when we listen
to this person,
when we hear
his words,
he brings about
an order,
a design,
and a beauty.
When we trust him,
he heals us
of all our past,
he secures
our future,
and he gives us
a way to live
today.
It's the kind
of fresh start,
a new beginning
we desire
every day.
Every day
we wake up.
A new creation
formed
out of our
broken,
messed up lives.
So who is
this person?
Who's the one
who brings about
the new creation?
Well,
here we are,
second,
a promised
king.
The new creation
comes through.
Look at verse 1.
This is the genealogy
of Jesus,
the Messiah,
the son of David,
the son of Abraham.
Jesus is the person
who brings about
the new creation
in life.
And to help us
understand
who Jesus is
and why he's
qualified to do this,
Matthew begins
by tracing
his family line
from Abraham
to David
to Jesus.
That's what
the list of names
is.
So from 2
to 6,
Abraham to David
and from 6
through to 16,
David
down to
Jesus.
So let's
follow the family
line
and see
why Jesus
is qualified
to be this
promised king.
first,
Jesus is
the son
of Abraham.
So we read
in verse 2
that Abraham
was the father
of Isaac
and Isaac,
the father
of Jacob
and so on.
You see,
Matthew
intentionally
starts with
Abraham
because that's
where we hear
God's great
promise
to the world.
Do you remember
the great promise?
Go back to
Genesis
chapter 12
in your Bible.
First book
of the Bible,
Genesis
chapter 12.
Here God
promises
to bring
blessing
to the nations,
to the peoples
of the earth.
Genesis
chapter 12
verse 1.
Abraham.
The Lord
said to
Abraham,
later he
would be
called
Abraham.
The Lord
said to
Abraham,
go from
your country,
your people
and your
father's
household
to the
land I
will show
you.
I will
make you
into a
great nation
and I
will bless
you.
I will
make your
name great
and you
will be
a blessing.
I will
bless those
who bless
you and
whoever
curses
you I
will curse.
And here
it comes.
and all
peoples on
earth
will be
blessed
through you.
What a
grand
promise.
God makes
the promise
to Abraham
that through
his family
the nations
of the world
all the
people groups
would be
blessed.
Now if we're
going to make
sense of this
promised blessing
we need to
remember that
God had brought
a curse
upon the
world
and the
people.
A curse
because of
people's
rebellion.
We read
about that
in Genesis
chapter 3.
A curse
that left
people
separated
from God
living in
a world
full of
disorder
decay
and death
and now
in Genesis
12
God makes
this great
big announcement
his promise
to undo
and reverse
the curse.
I'm going
to bring
blessing.
And how
is God
going to
do that?
Well God
not only
promised to
Abraham that
he would
bring blessing
he promised
Abraham that
from his
family there
would be a
bunch of
kings that
were going
to come
from his
family.
So go on
a couple of
pages to
Genesis 17
and verse
6.
Again God
is speaking
more promises
to Abraham.
Genesis 17
verse 6.
God says
to Abraham
I will
make you
very fruitful
I will
make nations
of you
and kings
will come
from you.
Go on
to verse
15.
God also
said to
Abraham
as for
Sarah
your wife
you are
no longer
to call
her Sarah
her name
will be
Sarah
I will
bless her
and will
surely
give you
a son
by her
I will
bless her
so that
she will
be the
mother
of nations
kings of
peoples
will come
from her
so can you
get this
grand big
promise
God says
I'm going
to bless
the nations
and the
blessing is
going to
come through
a bunch
of kings
that are
going to
come from
you
so he
starts
with
Abraham
Jesus
the
son
of
Abraham
and then
it's
Jesus
the
son
of
David
Matthew
records
for us
that from
Abraham
comes
the king
of David
and so
we continue
on with
David
because
that's
where we
see
God's
great big
promise
being
worked
out
so let's
jump ahead
to
2 Samuel
chapter 7
just keep
going
to
2 Samuel
chapter 7
if you're
using a
church
bible
it's on
page
310
if you're
using the
church
bible
2 Samuel
chapter 7
you see
as the
generations
pass by
all the way
from Abraham
through all
these people
and you can
read about
all these
people in
the old
testament
we're
introduced
to one
of the
kings
that had
been
promised
from
Abraham
and that
king
is
David
and God
restates
the promise
to king
David
but this
time
there's
something
different
the promise
is tied
to
one
person
to come
so let's
pick it up
in chapter
7
the end
of verse
11
God is
speaking
to David
he says
the Lord
declares
to you
that the
Lord himself
will establish
a house
for you
when he
talks about
a house
not such
a physical
building
but a
nation
a people
he says
I will
establish
a house
for you
when your
days are
over
and you
rest with
your
ancestors
I will
raise up
your
offspring
to succeed
you
your own
flesh
and blood
and I
will
establish
his
kingdom
he
is the
one
who will
build
a house
for my
name
and I
will
establish
the throne
of his
kingdom
forever
verse
16
your
house
and your
kingdom
shall
endure
forever
before me
your
throne
shall
be
established
forever
you see
God is
promising
to bless
the nations
but that's
going to be
fulfilled
in one
person to
come
one king
who was
to come
a king
who would
establish
a new
kingdom
a new
creation
kind of
kingdom
a kingdom
of new
beginnings
and fresh
starts
a kingdom
that would
last
forever
where there
would be
no more
curse
let's go
back to
Matthew
so
Jesus
is the
son
of Abraham
the son
of David
Matthew
gives us
all these
lists of
names
and he
traces the
genealogy
from
verse 2
Abraham
to David
and then
all the way
let's read
verse 16
and Jacob
the father
of Joseph
the husband
of Mary
and Mary
was the
mother of
Jesus
who is
called
the Messiah
Messiah
is a
Hebrew word
simply means
anointed one
well we're
familiar with
the other
phrase
aren't we
Jesus
the Christ
Christ
is Greek
for
anointed
one
so when
someone
became
king
they were
anointed
oil
was
poured
on
their
head
it was
affirmed
and confirming
their position
of absolute
power and
supreme
authority
well here
Jesus
the king
Jesus
the Messiah
the anointed
one arrives
he's the
promised king
over all
the nations
the one
that was
promised
way before
through Abraham
through David
who was going
to bring
blessing
the one
who was
going to
bring a
new
beginning
and a
fresh
start
he has
now
come
he's
here
he's
arrived
you see
the genealogy
of Jesus
shows us
that the
coming of
Jesus
into the
world
was planned
purposed
and all
promised
by God
he didn't
just show
up out of
nowhere
this is
no mistake
it wasn't
that Jesus
arrived and
they're thinking
I wonder
what job
will give
him to
do
what
could he
possibly
do
no
Jesus
is not
an
afterthought
he is
not some
desperate
attempt
by God
to try
and fix
everything
he is
the
promised
king
who has
now
come
for you
and for
me
the king
promised
from before
time
and who
now enters
into
time
that day
has arrived
he's here
he's the
king
who brings
about a
new creation
of individual
lives
the fresh
start
that we
all long
for
but how
will this
happen
how do we
get to
experience
this
promised
king
bringing
about a
new creation
in our
life
how am I
going to
experience it
how are you
going to
you
well that
brings us
to number
three
a great
savior
you see
genealogies
are very
helpful
in tracing
your family
line
you probably
have
a genealogy
at home
tracing your
family line
back to a
certain date
well in
those times
a genealogy
not only helps
you trace
back your
family line
it also
acted like
your CV
your curriculum
vitae
it was a
way of
showing
this is
who I
am
these are
your
credentials
so in
Ezra
chapter 2
verse 6
you can look
it up
later
we read
of an
account
of a
priest
who wants
to go
working
in the
temple
because
that's
where
priests
work
they work
in the
temple
and he
shows up
for work
and guess
what
he's not
allowed to
serve in
the temple
why
because he
can't find
his
genealogy
he's got
no record
to say
it's me
I'm a
priest
check me
out
it's
really
true
we have
something
similar
today
don't we
if you
go for
a job
it helps
if somebody
knows your
family
it's important
that isn't
it
they go
oh
Alex
you're
Robin's
dad
oh we
know the
Unums
oh we'll
give you
a job
or
Graham
you know
you're
a
daunt
oh
perfect
no problem
get him
in there
quick
it's
helpful
isn't it
that you've
got a
pedigree
of your
your
family
and they
go yeah
that's
great
but when
we read
Jesus's
genealogy
when we
look at
his
credentials
it's
really
not so
great
it reads
more like
a rogues
gallery
there's
skeletons
falling
all over
the place
open every
door
and another
skeleton
pops out
it's
shameful
and
embarrassing
you don't
want to
read this
in public
but you
know what
rather than
disqualify
Jesus
this only
helps us
to see
what a
great
and amazing
saviour
he is
three
things
it tells
us
first
that
Jesus
comes
for
outsiders
and
failures
surprisingly
Matthew
includes
the names
of four
women
it's not
normal
to do
so
but he
does
five
including
Mary
but we're
going to
come back
to her
and what
all these
women
have in
common
is
they don't
really
fit in
to put
it politely
they've
all led
a very
colourful
life
so look
at verse
three
Judah
was the
father of
Perez and
Zerah
they were
twins
whose
mother
was
Tamar
well we
can read
about all
these names
in the
Old Testament
Tamar
tricked
Judah
who was
her father
in law
to sleep
with him
it was
an incestuous
relationship
look at
verse five
Salmon
the father
of Boaz
whose
mother
was
Rahab
who was
she
well she
was a
pagan
prostitute
operating
in a
dangerous
business
reserved
for the
lowest
of the
low
continue
on in
verse five
Boaz
the father
of Obed
whose
mother
was Ruth
well Ruth
was a
Moabite
she came
from those
people
over there
people who
were known
for their
sexual
immorality
and wild
living
look down
at verse
six
Jesse
the father
of King
David
whose
David
well he
was the
father of
Solomon
whose
mother
had been
Uriah's
wife
we're not
told who
Uriah's
wife was
we're not
given a
name but
again we
can read
about it
in Kings
her name
was Bathsheba
and David
ended up
having an
affair with
her and
she with
him
all these
women
they're not
the kind
of people
you would
want to
associate
with
they're all
outsiders
ostracised
excluded
rejected
they're all
damaged
goods
they're the
talk of
the town
the whisper
in the
street
but it's
not just
the women
who have
this
reputation
look at
the men
they all
may be
kings with
great
power and
political
persuasion
but it
doesn't hide
who they
really are
again let's
look at
verse 6
David
the greatest
of them
all
the father
of Solomon
whose mother
had been
Uriah's
wife
well you
know what
David enjoyed
his affair
so much
that he
arranged for
Uriah
to be
murdered off
so that he
could take
Uriah's
wife for
himself
what a
scandal
a political
scandal
front pages
of the
Jerusalem
times
king
murders
except for
nobody really
found out
did they
or verse
7
Solomon
well Solomon
was a
disaster
mistreating
his people
and accumulating
women and
wealth all
for his own
pleasure
or verse
7
Rehoboam
he single
handedly
turned the
people from
God and
appointed his
own priests
and places
of worship
he ruined
the nation
or jump
down to
the end
of verse
9
Ahaz
in desperation
sacrificed
his own
son in a
fire in a
pagan act
of worship
could you
imagine the
thought of
picking up
your own
son and
placing him
in the
fire that
was his
desperation
oh they
may have
great titles
they may be
recorded in
history of
positions of
great power
but they're
all failures
morally
spiritually
socially
they're not
the kind of
man that you
would turn
around and
go that's
my dad
all these
people
every name
in this
list
they're all
outsiders
and failures
but yet
they're all
here
it's like
Jesus is
saying to
us
look at
my family
this is
who we
are
in all
its mess
and all
its
brokenness
and I
have come
for people
just like
this
and we
may be
here this
morning and
we can look
back into
our own
families
and we
can think
of things
that are
embarrassing
and shameful
and we
don't want
anybody to
know
but not
just our
families
we look
into our
own life
and we
remember
things we
have done
and things
we have
said
and actions
that have
taken place
and Jesus
is saying
I've come
for you
for moral
outsiders
for spiritual
failures
I have
come
for broken
and messy
people such
as us
Jesus
comes
not just
for outsiders
and failures
Jesus
has come
to save
by repentance
and faith
he comes
to rescue
moral outsiders
and spiritual
failures
jump ahead
to verse
21
Mary had
been told
by the angel
that she was
going to
have a son
and she's
told
verse 21
she will
give birth
to a son
and you
are to
give him
the name
Jesus
because he
will save
his people
from their
sins
that's what
this king
has come
for
this is the
primary purpose
of Jesus'
arrival
this is what
he has come
to do
when Jesus
died on the
cross
he became
sin
for us
just as we
read or
Ralph reminded
us that
Jesus came
into the
world to
save
sinners
people like
you and
I
Jesus as
he died
on the
cross
was treated
as a
moral
outsider
he was
rejected
as a
spiritual
failure
he was
punished
for my
sin
and your
sin
so that
we could
be
forgiven
he's
saying
come to
me
and I
will deal
with your
past
once and
for all
all those
secret
things that
you hang
on to
that trip
you up
and come
back to
your memory
time and
time again
and don't
allow you
to move
on
I will
deal
with it
all
and I
will give
you a
new
beginning
and I'll
give you
a new
future
for now
and
forever
how
he says
come to
me
look at
chapter 4
verse 17
as Jesus
began to
preach
as he
began to
explain who
he was
and what
he did
this is
his message
chapter 4
verse 17
from that
time on
Jesus
began to
preach
repent
for the
kingdom
of heaven
has come
near
the new
creation
that you
are all
longing
for
has now
come
and you
find it
in me
you find
it as
you repent
repentance
is always
a double
response
it's turning
from one
way of
living
and turning
to trusting
in
someone else
something else
trying
turning from
trying to
save yourself
to trusting
in Jesus
the saviour
or we put
it another
way it's
no longer
putting faith
in self
but putting
faith in
Jesus
it's owning
our past
it's owning
our sin
it's taking
responsibility
for how we've
responded and
what we've
done
and coming
to Jesus
and saying
you need to
deal with it
you need to
take it all
because I
can't do it
that's
repentance
that's faith
it's how we
begin our
journey with
Jesus
and it's how
we continue
with him
and if you're
here today
and you've
never done
it
listen to
his words
repent
come to
me
if you
have
and you're
struggling
come back
to the
words again
and see
the new
creation
that he
gives
we don't
have to
live
shaped
by our
past
we are
now
living
a new
way
for a
better
future
so
Jesus
comes
for
outsiders
and
failures
and he
saves
by repentance
and faith
and then
third
he works
through
weakness
humility
go back
to chapter
one
verse
sixteen
chapter
one
verse
sixteen
Jacob
was the
father
of
Joseph
the
husband
of
Mary
and
Mary
was the
mother
of
Jesus
who
is
called
the
Messiah
you know
God
could have
chosen
any
number
of
ways
for
Jesus
to
come
into
this
world
he
could
have
come
through
a
family
of
influence
and
power
he
could
have
come
through
the
socially
wealthy
and
successful
he
could
have
come
through
a
system
of
religious
rulers
or
the
political
elite
but
no
God
the
creator
of
the
world
chose
to
come
and
work
through
Mary
a
young
unknown
frightened
teenage
girl
a
nobody
in the
eyes
of the
world
no
power
no
influence
not
wealthy
or
successful
no
great
background
no
great
heritage
just
a
weak
and
humble
girl
yet
Mary
is the
person
God
chose
to be
the
mother
of the
saviour
of the
world
be
amazed
this
is how
Jesus
works
he
takes
the
ordinary
he
uses
those
who
know
they
have
nothing
and
who
are
utterly
dependent
who
admit
their
weakness
and
humbly
follow
God
in all
his
ways
and
it
hasn't
changed
it's
the
same
for
you
and
for
I
he
takes
ordinary
nobodies
and
he
works
in
us
and
through
us
in
all
our
fears
and
in
all
our
worries
he
uses
people
like
us
to
bring
the
gospel
to
bring
the
good
news
of
this
new
creation
that
anyone
can
find
in
Christ
if
they
turn
to
him
this
is
the
kind
of
great
saviour
we
have
in
Jesus
he
comes
for
outsiders
and
failures
he
saves
as we
turn
in
repentance
and
faith
and
he
works
through
us
through
the
weak
and
the
humble
do
you
hear
what
Jesus
is
saying
to
you
today
I
am
the
saving
king
who
has
come
to
bring
about
a
new
creation
in
your
life
walk
with
me
follow
me
and
you
will
experience
this
life
as
you
trust
in
me
let's
pray
together
our
father
god
we
are
amazed
that
the
plan
you
had
from
the
creation
of
the
world
to
bring
your
son
the
Lord
Jesus
to
be
the
one
who
would
make
a
new
creation
out
of the
mess
and
brokenness
of our
life
to
come
to
us
and
save
us
to
forgive
us
of all
our
sin
so
that
each
and
every
new
day
as
we
waken
up
to
the
start
of
a
new
day
we
can
begin
afresh
because
of
Jesus
father
help
us
to
trust
you
to
trust
your
son
to
walk
with
him
and
may
we
all
know
and
experience
more
the
new
creation
the
new
life
that
you
have
for
us
help
us
as
we
embark
together
into
2022
whatever
we
face
whatever
tears
whatever
joys
we
will
follow
Jesus
the
promised
king
the
savior
of
our
lives
amen
we're
going to
sing
together
¿
damn
you