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The Nativity Account of the Lord Jesus Christ (The Significance of Genealogies)

Text: Matthew 1, Luke 1
20 January 2013

THE NATIVITY ACCOUNT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. Matthew’s Approach

2. Luke’s Approach

3. Different Approaches taken

a) Individual reasons
b) Individual purposes
c) Both approaches valid
d) Different approaches complement each other

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GENEALOGIES

1. Genealogies mentioned in the Scriptures

a) Genealogy of the sons of Noah          Genesis 10
b) Genealogy of Shem          Genesis 11:10-26
c) Genealogy of Terah          Genesis 11:27-32

2. Genealogy of Post-Babylonian Captivity Israel

a) Registration by Genealogy          Nehemiah 7
b) By families
c) Priests
d) Levites
e) The priests who could not trace their genealogy were excluded          Nehemiah 7:64-65

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS I          Matthew 1:1-17

1. Jesus as “The Son of David”          Matthew 1:1

2. Jesus as “The Son of Abraham”          Matthew 1:1

3. A Royal genealogy

a) The line of kings
b) To present Jesus as the rightful heir of the throne of David

4.Matthew’s major focus in his Gospel

a) To portray Jesus as the Son of David
b) To prove that He was indeed the King of Israe

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS II          Luke 3:23-38

1. Jesus as the son of Joseph          Luke 3:23

2. The Son of Adam          Luke 3:38

3. The Son of God          Luke 3:38

4. The focus was quite different:-

a) Son of Adam
i) His humanity
ii) His incarnation          (Cf. John 1:14)
iii) An appreciation of His taking on flesh          (Cf. Philippians 2:5-11)
iv)Another appreciation of Jesus coming to earth          (Hebrews 1-2)
b) Son of God
i) His deity
ii) His Eternal Being          (Cf. John 1:1-14)

5. Commendation from God the Father

a) At His baptism
b) God’s beloved Son          Luke 3:22 (Cf. Isaiah 42:1-4)

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LESSON

Doctrine: Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Son of David          Matthew 1:1

2. Son of Abraham          Matthew 1:1

3 .Son of Adam          Luke 3:38

4. Son of God          Luke 3:38

5. Son of Man          John 3:12-21

a) He came from heaven          John 3:1
b) He came to give eternal life          John 3:15-17
c) He offers sonship to all who would receive Him and believe in Him          John 1:12