December 22, 2024: Sunday School

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson — Matthew 1:1-17
• Prayer

---

Sermon Title: More Than a List of Names — The Genealogy of Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 1:1-17

I. How the Two Genealogies Compare

A. Matthew begins with Abraham and moves forward to Jesus; Luke begins with Jesus and works backward to Adam and God (Luke 3) B. Differences in breadth: Luke records 76 generations; Matthew records 42 C. Differences in line followed: after David, Matthew traces through Solomon (the royal line); Luke traces through Nathan D. Matthew uniquely names five women — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (wife of Uriah), and Mary; Luke names none E. Both are curated, inspired lists, not exhaustive records of every generation F. Intended audiences differ: Matthew writes primarily to a Jewish audience; Luke writes primarily to a Gentile audience, explaining why Matthew begins with Abraham while Luke reaches back to Adam

II. The Faithfulness of God to His Promises

A. The genealogies show God keeping his word across generations of human history B. Promise to Adam and Eve — a seed of the woman who would crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15) is fulfilled in Jesus, son of Adam C. Promise to Abraham — blessing to the nations through his line (Genesis 12) is fulfilled in Jesus, son of Abraham D. Promise to Judah — the scepter will not depart from his line (Genesis 49) is fulfilled as the kingly line runs through Judah to David and ultimately to Jesus E. Promise to David — an everlasting house and throne (2 Samuel 7) is fulfilled in Jesus, the eternal King

III. God's Providence in Using Sinners

A. The genealogy is not curated to remove unflattering figures; it includes adulterers, murderers, prostitutes, and unfaithful kings

1. David committed adultery and arranged murder; yet he is in the line
2. Judah fathered children by his daughter-in-law Tamar
3. Rahab was a prostitute; Solomon multiplied wives; many kings were wicked B. God providentially works through and redeems great sinners for his purposes C. Many of these same figures appear in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11, demonstrating that God's grace covers real failure D. Matthew's inclusion of five women — each with some scandal attached — underscores that God uses broken men and broken women alike for his redemptive purposes

IV. The Human and Theological Significance of Jesus's Lineage

A. Jesus as the Second Adam

1. He is born in the line of Adam, which qualifies him to act as a representative for humanity
2. Where the first Adam failed his commission, Jesus succeeds (Romans 5)
3. Luke places the genealogy between the baptism (where the Father declares Jesus his beloved Son) and the Temptation, showing Jesus succeeding where Adam and Israel failed B. Jesus as the new Son of Promise
4. Isaac was the first son of promise; Jesus is the new and greater Son of Promise
5. Jesus is also the new Israel — faithful where Israel was not C. Jesus as the Son of David and true King
6. God providentially ordained that Jesus be born in David's line so he could reign as King
7. David and Solomon brought partial peace; Jesus brings true Shalom — an eternal home and security for his people