THE EARTHLY GENEALOGY OF CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“… David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon.  These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.”  1 Chronicles 3:4-5 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

The earthly genealogy of Jesus, The Christ, is best outlined in the gospel according to Matthew. (Matthew 1:1-17)  The first nine chapters of First Chronicles presents the genealogies of the men among God’s chosen people as mentioned in the early Books of The Bible.  The first chapter of Chronicles records the names of the men in the first eight chapters of the Book of Genesis.  It begins with Adam and ends with the sons of Esau, the son of Isaac, son of Abraham.   The second chapter begins with the genealogy of Jacob (Israel) and ends with David.  The third chapter records the family of David including his sons which were not mentioned in the Books of Samuel or Kings.  King David had six sons born to him in Hebron, (1 Chronicles 3:1-4) plus four sons by Bathsheba, (1 Chronicles 3:5) and nine more sons not counting the sons by his concubines. (1 Chronicles 3:6-9)  Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, The Christ, traced her ancestry through Nathan.  This is why He is referred to as “The Son of David”. (Matthew 1:1 and 21:9, and Romans 1:3)  The fourth chapter presents the posterity of Judah through Caleb and Shelah and the tribe of Simeon.  The fifth chapter presents the men of the tribe of Reuben, and the sixth chapter presented the tribe of Levi.  The seventh chapter presents the genealogies of the tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher during the period of Assyrian captivity.  The eighth chapter records the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin with an emphasis on the heads of families including the lineages of Saul and Jonathan.   The ninth chapter has an emphasis on the tribe of Levi and their roles in the church.

APPLICATION

The genealogy of mankind today goes back to Noah and the great flood.  Most of us cannot trace our ancestry back past our great grandparents, much less back to Noah.  However, we are all linked to the first Adam and are sinners as he was. (Romans 3:23)  Those of us who believe have been saved by the grace of God through Christ Jesus. (John 3:16 and Romans 3:24-25)  As believers, our past may be unclear and sinful, but our future is clearly linked to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. (Matthew 25:46, John 10:28, Roman 6:23, Titus 3:7, and 1 John 5:13)