Many of us thoroughly enjoy researching our family history. Numerous websites exist to help in this endeavor. People from all over the world can collaborate and compile their information, getting them further and further back in time to more distant relatives
The Bible uses genealogies for several important circumstances and situations. Often a genealogy is used to foreshadow events—providing valuable information in order to prepare the reader for the narrative that follows.
Consider the beginning of the Gospel of Matthew. To paraphrase, Matthew says, “I want to tell you all about our Savior, Jesus Christ. However, you won’t understand what I’m about to tell you unless you see it in the light of a much longer story—one that goes back many centuries and leads up to Jesus.”
Matthew’s genealogy teaches us:
Jesus was a real man– not a myth – a real historical character. It was necessary for Him to take on flesh & blood so that you and I could be saved (so that He could destroy the power of death – Heb. 2:14-18).
Jesus was a Jew (“son of Abraham”) – this means that He was the prophesied Messiah and the promise of Abraham (Gen. 12:2; 22:8).
Jesus is the King (“son of David”) – we know Him as “King of kings & Lord of lords” (Rev. 17:14). Therefore, in the genealogy of Jesus, we see the fulfillment of one story and the beginning of another story…
Jesus came to usher in a new Kingdom – to establish His Church – whereby all may be saved.
Jesus came so that we could ALL be included in His family tree! (Heb. 2:11)
John 1:12-13 “To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
