Messianic Credentials, Pt. 2 | Matthew 1:1-17

Scripture

• Matthew 1:1–17

About this sermon

This morning we began thinking about what Matthew is doing with this genealogy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is not just making a historical statement; he is making a theological statement. And it is THAT theological statement that we do not want to miss. I want to begin tonight by underscoring something I said this morning — I am not attempting to say everything that could be said about this genealogy. No one will exhaust it. I am simply attempting, with God’s help, to give us a good starting place of understanding for the account that will follow, and to recognize why Matthew begins where he does. We continue to attempt to eat the elephant (as Köstenberger said), one bite at a time. So, we are organizing our two studies around five messages that we see in the genealogy. We dealt with two of them this morning. Review: IT SPEAKS OF THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PROMISES This is why verse 1 begins as it does. This is why the genealogy traces Christ’s human heritage to Abraham and to David. Christ’s birth fulfills promises made to Abraham and to David. Christ’s birth represents the fulfillment of all the hopes of God’s people, and indeed, all the salvation hopes of the world. THOSE HOPES ARE FOUNDED ON SCRIPTURE. GOD MADE PROMISES CHRIST’S BIRTH FULFILLS THOSE PROMISES IT SPEAKS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING GOD’S TRUTHFULNESS AND FAITHFULNESS The genealogy is organized into sets of 14, and the reason for this (we believe) is that it would be easier to remember. This would be important and needful for Jewish evangelism. But it is also an encouragement for us to REMEMBER the faithfulness of Scripture. We said that this is not only important for gospel faith, but also for gospel living. YOU CAN MEASURE HOW SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY YOU ARE BY HOW YOU ARE RESPONDING TO THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE.