I am finishing preaching through the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew 1:1-17 this week. I had previously focused on the promises made to Abraham and David and their prominence in the genealogy. This week I will go through the rest of the list and hopefully we will marvel at the ability of God to use and complete His plans through such a bunch of sinners.
Some of their sins do seem unimaginable:
Joseph's treatment by his brothers is taking jealousy to an extreme level.
David's affair is one thing, but killing Bathsheba's husband Uriah is shocking.
Ahaz made his children pass through the fire and then liquidated the articles of worship in the temple to buy protection from pagan nations.
I could list many other heinous acts among those listed in the genealogy, but should we see the list as people to look down on or people to identify with!
If there is anything I have learned in my time in ministry it is that everyone has sin and it is often far worse than we would like to admit to God or share with others! Our situations may not always be as extreme as these listed, but we do plenty that is quite shocking and we may only have the lack of opportunity and cultural changes to thank for not doing exactly what these OT folks did.
The list given in Matt. 1 should have caused Israel then and us now to realize we are a mess and we needed the Messiah Jesus to save and change messes like us!
I think one of the most profound statements of scripture on Israel's history and the need to admit we are sinners is found here:
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (NKJV)
The genealogy in Matt. points out that Israel had always been in slavery to sin and was often in slavery to other people, but a refusal to admit our slavery means we can never receive Jesus as our deliverer and be truly free.
May God grant us the eyes to see our own history and current lives clearly, such that we might abide in Jesus and His word, and be free indeed!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
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