An Amazing Ancestral Line

Matthew 1.1-17

We have been studying David's life this fall. We had come to that place a few weeks ago where David wanted to build a temple for the LORD. The LORD gave David this promise:
2 Samuel 7:4-13, 16-17 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.“‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’” Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

These opening verses of the New Testament, these words of Matthew (whose name means gift of God) are the foundation of the fulfillment of God's Promise to David.

They are also the record of the fulfillment of God's Promise to Abraham, not of a kingdom like David but of descendants as numerous as the grains of sands on the seashore.

God keeps His promises. He weaves into the personal promises His plan of salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The New Testament opens revealing the LORD, Who is faithful to all His Promises.

We have records here of the ancestry line of Abraham to David and of David to Jesus Christ our LORD. Abraham and David were men who loved God deeply. Abraham was a friend of God. David was a man after God's own heart.

But David and Abraham had their faults and sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was a perfect man. He had no sin. He is the Lamb of God.

In His Ancestors there was a common thread- sin! As well as His descendants.

This is Jesus' legal line... through Joseph his "adopted" father on earth. Yes, that is correct Jesus knows what it means to have a mother who bore Him and have a man as His father who He is not related to biologically. All step dads can learn from Joseph, Mary's husband.

This brings up a second point. Jesus knows what it is like to be born and raised in a family where legitimate parentage is questioned. This was a deep dig when the Jews said to Him:
John 8:41”We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Let's look at the dark side of this family line:
Look at a few:

Jacob and His struggle with Esau

Judah and his brothers
Genesis 37:26-27 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Rahab and her life of sin

Solomon from David and Bathsheba's union

Isaiah 53:10-11 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul,He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.

But beyond Abraham's mess up with Hagar and David's sin with Bathsheba, there are a number of characters in this ancestry line which tells us Jesus was numbered with the transgressors not only in His death but in His ancestral line!

The perfection of God comes through in the human race because of His grace: 14 is the numerical value for David DVD

God ruled and overruled in this ancestry line. His grace are greater than our sins! His purposes will be fulfilled. We should not go on sinning so that grace may abound. God forbid! But our sin doesn't destroy God's purposes. He Keeps On Working!


1. We have all sinned. Romans 3.23
The facets of sin are many. A person may be positive and seemingly patient but not a believer.

Sin separates us from God, puts us at enmity with Him. Have you heard a person protest when you try and witness? They tell you that they have been
a good citizen, that you don't need to go to church to be a Christian, that they never killed anyone...


2. We all need a Savior.
1 Timothy 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

We were helpless.
Our goodness was not enough.

Jesus took upon Himself flesh.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

He was the sacrifice for our sins.
Hebrews 9:26b now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.



3. Jesus takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!



4. Christmas is about the Savior, the Son of God, the Suffering Servant coming to earth to save men from their sins.

We need Him more than ever! Justin at Target telling me about Thursday night.

This is receptive season, a time where people's hearts are opened. Jackson, little boy in our nursery school at the Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, brought his whole family.

This descendant of Abraham, descendant of David, God's only Son, died on a cross to bring salvation to the world.