"The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham" (Matthew 1:1).

How many of you know much about your own genealogy? There's a lot of interest in this subject and the internet has been a valuable source for those trying to find their roots.  There are those who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years and know who their ancestors are. Hope, a dear friend from our congregation in Massachusetts, can trace her genealogy all the way back to the Mayflower and in fact all the way back to Norman in 1,000 AD! But sadly in our broken world with so much immorality and fragmented families there are many who do not even know their own birth father, let alone their grandparents and previous generations.

As we focus on the first advent I would like to consider the genealogy of Jesus Christ, which both Matthew and Luke record. The genealogies of Scripture are not something most of us would name among our favorite portions. The longest is found in 1 Chronicles 1-9! I suspect many of us tend to scan through these genealogies to get past them and get on to the "real" message. Although we might be hesitant to say it to others, we may reckon these genealogies as boring. But all Scripture is profitable and even these genealogies are inspired truth and have lessons for us. They also foundationally place the truth presented in Scripture in the context of real history.

Matthew was one of the original disciples and his gospel was primarily intended for those with a Jewish background.  Thus Matthew's genealogy begins with Abraham. In contrast Luke's record (3:23-38) traces the lineage of Christ all the way back to Adam.

Matthew's genealogy, although generally comprised of straightforward phrases such as "Abraham was the father of Isaac", also has several interesting details which call the reader's attention to specific Old Testament events. However in the next several days I merely want to focus on the very first verse of Matthew and the New Testament.  As we study in detail this text may we realize the firm foundation on which our faith stands!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You teach us that we are to worship You in spirit and in truth.  This is possible only as we have a deep-founded faith in the inspired Scriptures and as we witness Your redemptive work in our lives.   Jesus, though You've always existed thank You for taking on flesh and coming into our world to live among Your people.   You are the bright Morning Star who brought radiant light to a dark and needy world.  You are our eternal Guiding Light in this maze of earthly existence.