Day 1: Sunday, April 5

Matthew 1:1-8

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, 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 (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.

David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah), Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah, Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

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COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

Why does Matthew trace the ancestry of Christ only to Abraham? What is significant about this figure? (Read Genesis 12:1-3)

Abraham was chosen by God to be the Father of a great nation. Through this nation (Israel), all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Paul says that this promise to Abraham has been realised now in Christ (Galatians 3:8-9). The genealogy begins at Abraham because Jesus is the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham.

During the genealogy, Matthew mentions 3 women who were not Israelites (Ruth, Bathsheba and Rahab). Why is this important for the mission of Jesus? (Cf. Matt 28:18-20)

Jesus would send His disciples to preach to all nations by the end of the Gospel. This was a hard message for some Jews to hear. They didn't see that God would make a new covenant with those outside of the pure Israelite heritage. But Matthew subtly points out through this genealogy that God has been interested in Gentiles all along.

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Prayers

Thanks for this account of Jesus’ life.

Thanks that we can learn about His life and teachings Pray for others who are studying. That we may all grow together