Why is the Genealogy of Jesus Important? – Matthew 1:1

Why is the genealogy of Jesus important? 

As a child I wasn’t interested in family photo albums. When I would visit my grandparents I would notice the stacks of photo albums but I rarely opened them up. This past Christmas season my family traveled back to East Tennessee to spend time with my side of the family. One afternoon we went to my grandmother’s house to visit with her. In her small living room sits dozens of photo albums from Christmases past. I walked over to the bookshelf and started looking through pictures of our family. It was great to see how some things have changed and how other things haven’t changed all that much. As an adult, I realize how important it is to know your family,  remember the past, and celebrate how God has moved throughout the years.

As a teenager I was tempted to skip over the genealogies located in the Bible. The long list of names were confusing and seemed unimportant when I could flip a few pages and read about Jesus healing the blind or King David slaying Goliath. I didn’t realize the importance these passages play in reminding us about our spiritual family and causing us to celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout the generations.

Before Jesus is born we are presented with Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1. Luke lists a similar genealogy in Luke 3 after he records Jesus’ birth.

The names listed in these genealogies accomplish two purposes. First, the genealogies trace God’s faithfulness to fulfill the Abrahamic covenant. In Genesis 12:1-3 God calls Abram out of Ur and promises to make him into a great nation. Abraham’s people would be more numerous than the stars (Genesis 15:4-5) and promises that they will live in the promised land (Genesis 15:7). God establishes this covenant in Genesis 15. When God speaks to Abram for the first time he says that all people on earth will be blessed by Abram (Genesis 12:3).

 How will all people be blessed by Abram?

That brings us to the second purpose of the genealogies. Jesus blesses humanity by his life, death, and resurrection which brings hope and salvation to all people – not just the Jewish people. Luke’s genealogy traces Jesus all the way to Adam. This is significant because God told the serpent “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). Jesus is the one who defeats sin and brings humanity back to the perfection found in the Garden of Eden. The genealogies show us that God has been faithful throughout the generations to restore humanity by sending the King of Kings to earth on a search mission. Jesus is the King who will reign forever.

Each genealogy is rich with history and hope for a savior who would undo the curse of sin.

As followers of Jesus, we have been adopted into the Family of God and share in the glory of Jesus. It is important for us to look back and to be reminded of our family roots.

Live It:

• Are you tempted to skip through genealogies in the Bible?
• Which names in Matthew 1 or Luke 3 stick out? Are there names that you are surprised to see listed?

Christ Chronological: Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-38

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