MATTHEW 1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6and Jesse begot David the king.
David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah.11Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon.
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob.16And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
We have just read Jesus’ family tree from the Bible. Our family tree tells us something about us; it tells us where we came from and who our people are. In the same way, Jesus’ family tree tells us something about where Jesus came from and who His people are. It shows God’s love for His people throughout the centuries. It shows that God is continually at work in our world. And, it shows that His faithfulness continues to reach to all generations as His covenant love goes from parents to children. The genealogy of Jesus teaches us that the only way we can get from Abraham to David to Jesus is because of God’s providence. Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, is evidence of God’s planning. That the promises made centuries earlier to Abraham and David are fulfilled in Jesus is proof that it is God who is at work here. The genealogy of Jesus reflects the working out of God’s plan of salvation in history.
—Pastor Randy Booth, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Nacogdoches, Texas
PRAYER
Our gracious heavenly Father, Your kind providence has directed all the details of history, including the birth of Christ, our Savior, as well as our own birth and life. We are thankful that You use even sinful men to accomplish all Your holy purposes. Teach us to remember Your faithfulness in the past so that we might rest in You for our future. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
ADVENT APPLICATION
Discuss with your family how God has used your family tree (the good and the bad) to providentially bring the gospel to your household. Discuss how our adoption by God, through Christ, makes all the genealogy of Jesus our own.
