THE GENEALOGY AND BIRTH OF THE KING (Matthew 1)

THE GENEALOGY AND BIRTH OF THE KING (Matthew 1)

H. A. IRONSIDE

MATTHEW 1:1-12 - “THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” Matthew begins with the genealogy of our Lord from Abraham to Joseph. But this was not the blood-line. It was the royal line, however, and carried with it the throne rights. As Son of Abraham, our Lord is the promised Seed in whom all nations of the world shall be blessed (Genesis 22:18). As Son of David, He is the King who is to reign in righteousness upon David’s throne (Isaiah 9:6, 7). His actual descent from David was through His mother, Mary, who was the daughter of Heli, but was married to Joseph before her holy Child was born, thus giving Him legal, full title to the throne, though the curse upon Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:30) would have precluded His occupancy of it had He actually been the Son of Joseph. 

  The names of unchaste Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba tell us of mercy that goes out to the most sinful and depraved. The name of Ruth, loyal and devoted, yet a stranger, speaks of grace acting in spite of the ban upon the Moabites (Deuteronomy 23:3–6). When we think of Mary the Virgin Mother we adore the God who gave us His holy and blessed Son through her as the human instrument. 

  The name “Jesus,” as intimated above, is simply the Anglicized form of the Greek Iesous which is the equivalent of the Hebrew Joshua—“the salvation of Jehovah.” 

   To Christians it is the name above every name at which every knee shall bow. Having taken it here on earth He will keep this name “Jesus” for all the ages to come. The two shining ones who announced His future coming (Acts 1:10, 11) spoke of Him as “This same Jesus.” In Revelation 22:16 He says, “I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” In response to His last message from heaven, “Surely I come quickly,” the seer replied, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). By this name we shall know Him throughout a blissful eternity, provided we know Him now on earth as our very own Saviour, Jesus, who has redeemed us to God by His blood.