NATIVITY By Mike Herron

Chapter 4: THE GENEALOGY OF CHRIST – Mt 1:1-17 (December 17th)

enealogies were very important to the Jews. Jesus the Messiah had to be the descendant of both Abraham and David in order to fulfill the predictions of the Law and Prophets. The word genealogy is the Greek (Biblos geneseos), literally ‘the Book of Genesis,’ and its use here ‘deliberately echoes the opening chapters of Genesis.’ 1 Matthew was telling us that a whole new creation was coming into being through the birth of Jesus. The three great divisions of Israel’s history are addressed: The Age of the Fathers, from Abraham to David; the Rule of the Kings of Judah, from David to Jeconiah; and the Exile and return from Babylon, from Jeconiah to Jesus. 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, The promise made to Abraham ‘to bless the nations…’ begins its journey to fulfillment through his son Judah. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah and gave birth to his grandson Perez as a result of their incestuous relationship. She had been unlawfully denied her place in the family genealogy by Judah, and obtained it by a deceptive act of prostitution with him. 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab… Rahab the Harlot exhibited more faith than the Israelite nation when she confessed to the Hebrew spies; ‘I know God has given you this land.’ (Josh 1:9) God had Joshua conquer the city of Jericho so he could include this mighty woman’s name and character in the fabric of his royal Son’s genealogy.

5 Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed