Scripture Text: Matthew 1:1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1 (ESV)
This book of Matthew was written by Matthew, who is a disciple and apostle of Jesus. When reading and studying the Bible, an important factor is understanding the author, the intended audience, and the historical background to accurately grasp the book's intention and context.
In the book of Matthew, his primary audience is his fellow Jews, and his writing style carries distinct Jewish characteristics. He employs genealogy, a common practice among authors in the Old Testament.
In addition, Apostle Matthew wrote this book for his fellow believers who were enduring tests and persecution during that time while proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. His purpose was to strengthen their faith in Jesus.
Now that we know the writer's intention and the book's background, let's take a look into why Apostle Matthew started with Jesus' genealogy. While many Christians might find genealogy as boring and irrelevant, it holds significant importance from a Hebrew perspective. For Jews, maintaining ancestral records is vital to safeguard the lineage of their tribe.
Furthermore, Apostle Matthew began his letter by presenting Jesus' genealogy to emphasize to his fellow Jews that Jesus is the Christ—the long-awaited Savior, the Messiah, the Son of Abraham, and the Son of David. He aimed to address the Jewish perspective, that when they read this, they would easily recognize Jesus as the Christ, bringing in the new genesis of all creation. Jesus is the fulfillment of all the prophecy and He redeemed us from God's wrath through His death and resurrection. This redemption is solely through faith in Jesus.
My fellow believer, hold steadfast to your faith. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, our promised Savior. None other but Him.
Reflect
1. Do you wholeheartedly believe that Jesus is the Christ?
2. Are you prepared to share this good news about Christ with others?
Remember
My fellow believer, there is no Messiah other than our Lord Jesus Christ. Place your unwavering faith in Him and be devoted to Him.
Read
Genesis 12:3, 2 Samuel 7:12-16
Pray
Father in Heaven, thank You for Your grace and mercy by giving Your only Son, our Savior and Redeemer, Lord Jesus Christ. In Him alone all of us will be saved. Amen.
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