CRBC Sermon -'The Genealogies of our Lord' by Rev Malcolm Green based on New Testament readings: Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23-37

CRBC Sermon Message No.55

"The Genealogies of our Lord"
by Guest Speaker
Rev Malcolm Green
Sermon Date: 2/1/05

Evening Service

2 Readings:
Matthew Chapter
1: 1-17
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Luke Chapter
3: 23-37

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"The Genealogies of our Lord"

Matthew 1 verses 1-17

This is a male line from Abraham to Joseph the husband of Mary. This is also a line of kings where possible.

However, there are four women mentioned and they are very unexpected choices.

A. TAMAR, reminding us of a very unsavoury story in Genesis chapter 38.

B. RAHAB, a prostitute in Jericho, as explained in Joshua 2 & James 2.

C. RUTH, a Moabite girl who was brought to Israel. See the book of Ruth.

D. URIAH�S wife (Bathsheba). The full story is in 2 Samuel chapters 11 & 12.

These seem strange choices to be added to the genealogies of our Lord. But, they show us that God's grace reaches to all types of sinners and all types of races. Note the wording of verses 16 & 17. Note also Jeremiah 22 verses 24-30. This shows that the coming Messiah would not be a biological descendant of the royal line from David, Solomon etc.
Luke 3 verses 23-37

Nevertheless we have the truth of the virgin birth. Note that in Matthew 1 verse 16, Joseph is the son of a man called Jacob. But in Luke 3 verse 24, Joseph is the son of Heli. But there is no contradiction. The word son can also mean son-in-law. We do this today. I called my wife�s mother Mum. Hence Luke's genealogy is Mary's line through David's son Nathan, so that our Lord was biologically descended from David. It was necessary for Mary to marry Joseph so that our Lord would be in the royal line of kings.
However, not everyone in Israel realised this and our Lord received criticism during His public ministry.

Revd Malcolm Green

Rev. Malcolm L Green B.A. served in South East Asia in World War II. Later he became a schoolteacher specialising in Religious Education.

His first appointment was in Hackney and many years later he became Head of R.E. in a Comprehensive school near Woolwich. Having been a local preacher and lay pastor for many years serving churches in Kent, he took early retirement from teaching and became the pastor at Peckham Rye Tabernacle for 5 years and later at Mildenhall Baptist Church for almost 8 years. He and Mrs Green retired to Westcliff. They have five adult children.

Malcolm is a long time friend of Clarence Road and has preached many sermons at our church. Other Sermons by Malcolm can be viewed in the 2004/2005 Sermon Indexes