The Line by Which Messiah Came
Jesus Christ is the representative and helper of all people, and He understands our struggles and weaknesses because He belongs to our race.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the significance of the genealogy of Jesus as presented in Matthew 1:1-17, illustrating how it connects Jesus to Abraham and David, thereby fulfilling the Hebrew tradition and prophecy. He highlights the diverse backgrounds of Jesus' ancestors, including patriarchs, Gentiles, and individuals of questionable character, to show that Christ represents all humanity. This genealogy serves as a reminder that Jesus understands our human experience through His kinship with us, uniting all people regardless of their backgrounds. Meyer encourages us to see ourselves in this lineage, affirming that Jesus is a helper for everyone.
Text
Matthew 1:1-17
The enumeration of our Lord’s ancestors, with its threefold division into fourteen generations and evident gaps, was probably so arranged to aid the memory. Notice that, in unison with the general purpose of the writer, the line is traced to Abraham through David the king. Of course we know that Joseph was only the reputed father of Jesus, Matthew 1:18; but in any case this genealogy conformed to Hebrew usage and explained how the birth took place in David’s city.
In this list of names the patriarchs, Gentiles, women of doubtful character, good men and bad men, the wise, the illustrious, the unknown-all supply important links.
It is as though to teach us that in the Son of man there is a blending of all classes, that He might be the representative and helper of all. Each of us may find some point of contact in this genealogy. Jesus Christ belongs to our race. He knew what was in man by that subtle and intimate knowledge which comes of kinship. In Him, therefore, is neither Jew nor Greek exclusively, but all are one in Him.
Sermon Outline
- The Significance of the Genealogy
- The Diversity of the Ancestors
- The Implication of the Genealogy
- Jesus Christ belongs to our race
- He knew what was in man by that subtle and intimate knowledge which comes of kinship
- The blending of all classes in Jesus Christ
Key Quotes
“He knew what was in man by that subtle and intimate knowledge which comes of kinship.” — F.B. Meyer
“In Him, therefore, is neither Jew nor Greek exclusively, but all are one in Him.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- We can find a point of contact with Jesus Christ in His genealogy, which shows that He is one of us.
- Jesus has a subtle and intimate knowledge of humanity, which comes from His connection to our race.
- We are all one in Jesus Christ, regardless of our background or character.