What Do We Learn from Reading Jesus’ Genealogy?
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“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham…” (Matthew 1:1).
Genealogies are not the easiest passages of Scripture to read. It can be tempting to see them as simply lists of names, some unfamiliar and difficult to pronounce. But if we just skip over them, we’ll be missing some meaningful verses.
Honestly, I used to be confused and put off by these “family trees” myself. But as I started to read more of the Bible, they started to come alive. Each member is part of a beautiful tapestry woven by God to tell us His story. And no genealogy is more important than the one that leads to our Lord Jesus.
Where Do We Find Jesus' Genealogy in Scripture?
In Hebrew, “genealogy” means “the book of the generations.” And the lineage of Jesus in particular is listed in two different Gospels of the New Testament books - Matthew (1:2-16) and Luke (3:24-32).
Matthew’s account is teleological, which means it begins with declaring Jesus the Messiah, the Promised One, and then goes on to name the descendants from Abraham on down to Him.
“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah (Matthew 1:17).
Luke’s version also acknowledges Jesus first, but then works backward to Adam.
“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph…” (Luke 3:23).
Other books give us glimpses into the line as well. Genesis, for instance, offers the beginning of it, from Adam to Noah. And Ruth contains a section going from Perez to David.
In Romans, the Apostle Paul mentions Jesus’ heritage to remind us that He was both Messiah and a man.
“...regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:3-4).
Some Notable People in Jesus' Genealogy
One of the striking things about the family line of Jesus is that it includes both royalty and common people. Some faithfully followed God all their lives, while others came to Him later. Certain ones were born into comfortable circumstances, and a few faced personal hardship and danger.
They all experienced the goodness of the Lord in their own situations, though, and responded by submitting their hearts to Him. Several of the names should be familiar to those of us who study Scripture. Here are just a few:
Adam - The first man that God created
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
Noah - The head of the only family God saved when He destroyed the Earth with a flood
“‘I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you’” (Genesis 6:17-18).
Abraham - The man chosen by God to become “the father of many nations”
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:1-4).
David - The king of Israel who wrote songs of worship to God
“But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people...” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Ruth - The Moabite woman who gave up her former life to follow God
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son…The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (Ruth 4:13, 17).
Rahab - The woman of Jericho who recognized God’s sovereignty and protected some of His people while they were in that city
“So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.’ But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them” (Joshua 2:3-4).
And, amazingly, we’re given the chance to become part of Jesus’ family as well. When we accept Him as our Savior, we are added to His family tree. As the Apostle John wrote:
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).
4 Things We Learn from Reading Jesus' Genealogy
Taking the time to study the lineage of Jesus will give us a bigger picture of God’s character. And through each person’s life, we can see God’s promises in action.
1. God’s Purposes Are Always Accomplished
He has moved through the ages to bring about sending His Son into the world.
“But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations” (Psalm 33:11).
2. God Uses All Sorts of People
He has been willing to accept and save all people who love Him.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18).
3. God Redeems Those Who Turn to Him
He has longed to show goodness to anyone who seeks and obeys Him.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
4. God Sees the End from the Beginning
He has revealed His plan to us in both the Old and the New Testaments.
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (Isaiah 46:10).
Why Is Jesus’ Genealogy (and even Other Genealogies) Included in Scripture?
God has provided many genealogies for us in His Word, in books such as Kings, Chronicles, Numbers and Ezra. And every one of these passages is there for our benefit.
- They teach us to appreciate the rich history of the past
- They encourage us to thank God for always being present and active
- They inspire us to reach for righteousness in our own lives
- They convict us to step up and play the part God has for us
If we can look at genealogies, the “books of generations” in a new way, we’ll not only unlock treasures from the past, but discover a desire within us to help build the future of God’s family.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Chinnapong
