Matthew 1: The King’s Lineage

MATTHEW 1 STRUCTURE
    │
    ├─ vv. 1-17   GENEALOGY → God's Sovereignty
    │   ├─► Title: "Son of David, son of Abraham"
    │   ├─► 3 sets of 14 generations
    │   ├─► 5 women included (scandal + grace)
    │   └─► Climax: "Jesus who is called the Messiah"
    │
    └─ vv. 18-25  BIRTH NARRATIVE → God's Intervention
        ├─► Mary found pregnant before marriage
        ├─► Joseph plans quiet divorce
        ├─► Angel reveals: Holy Spirit conception
        ├─► Two names given:
        │   ├─ Jesus ("YHWH saves")
        │   └─ Immanuel ("God with us")
        └─► Joseph obeys, takes Mary as wife

WHO CONTROLS HISTORY?
    │
    ├─ HUMAN EXPECTATION:
    │   └─► Kings, power, military might
    │       Unbroken royal lines
    │       Pure bloodlines
    │       Human achievement
    │
    └─ MATTHEW'S ANSWER:
        └─► God orchestrates through:
            │
            ├─ Obscure names (who remembers Perez?)
            ├─ Scandal (4 women with questionable stories)
            ├─ Exile (lowest point becomes hinge)
            └─ Virgin birth (bypassing human means)
                │
                └─► PATTERN: God's sovereignty
                    operates THROUGH human chaos
                    not around it

THE TITLE (v. 1)
    │
    └─► "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah"
        │
        ├─ "Son of David"
        │   └─► Royal claim
        │       Messiah promised to David's line (2 Sam 7)
        │
        └─ "Son of Abraham"
            └─► Covenant claim
                Blessing to all nations (Gen 12:3)
                │
                └─► TWO IDENTITIES, ONE PERSON:
                    Jewish King + Global Savior

THE ARCHITECTURE
    │
    ├─ SECTION 1: Abraham → David (14 generations)
    │   └─► From PROMISE to KINGDOM
    │       │
    │       ├─ Abraham: covenant initiated
    │       ├─ Through: patriarchs, Egypt, wilderness, judges
    │       └─ David: throne established
    │
    ├─ SECTION 2: David → Exile (14 generations)
    │   └─► From KINGDOM to CATASTROPHE
    │       │
    │       ├─ Solomon: glory peak
    │       ├─ Through: divided kingdom, declining obedience
    │       └─ Exile: throne lost, temple destroyed
    │
    └─ SECTION 3: Exile → Jesus (14 generations)
        └─► From CATASTROPHE to RESTORATION
            │
            ├─ Post-exile: remnant returns, no king
            ├─ Through: silence, occupation, waiting
            └─ Jesus: true King arrives

דוד (DAVID in Hebrew, read right to left: D-V-D)
    │
    ├─ ד (Dalet) = 4
    ├─ ו (Vav)   = 6
    └─ ד (Dalet) = 4
        │
        └─► Total = 14
            │
            └─► Matthew structures in 14s to declare:
                "DAVID! DAVID! DAVID!"
                This is the promised King!

WOMEN IN THE GENEALOGY (UNEXPECTED)
    │
    ├─ vv. 3: TAMAR
    │   ├─ Background: Canaanite, widow
    │   ├─ Story: Seduced father-in-law Judah (Gen 38)
    │   └─► Scandal: incest, prostitution, deception
    │       BUT: Judah declares "she is more righteous than I"
    │
    ├─ vv. 5a: RAHAB
    │   ├─ Background: Canaanite prostitute in Jericho
    │   ├─ Story: Hid Israelite spies (Josh 2)
    │   └─► Scandal: profession, ethnicity
    │       BUT: Praised for faith (Heb 11:31)
    │
    ├─ vv. 5b: RUTH
    │   ├─ Background: Moabite (enemy nation)
    │   ├─ Story: Loyalty to Naomi, married Boaz (Ruth)
    │   └─► Scandal: foreigner from cursed lineage
    │       BUT: Great-grandmother of David
    │
    ├─ vv. 6: BATHSHEBA ("Uriah's wife")
    │   ├─ Background: Taken by David while married
    │   ├─ Story: Adultery, David murdered her husband (2 Sam 11)
    │   └─► Scandal: Matthew doesn't even name her
    │       Identifies her by David's sin
    │       BUT: Mother of Solomon, Jesus' line
    │
    └─ vv. 16: MARY
        ├─ Background: Virgin, betrothed to Joseph
        ├─ Story: Conceived by Holy Spirit (vv. 18-25)
        └─► Scandal: Pregnant before marriage
            BUT: "Mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah"

WHAT THE WOMEN PROVE
    │
    ├─ Grace was ALWAYS the plan
    │   └─► Not just in New Testament
    │       Built into the bloodline itself
    │
    ├─ Outsiders INCLUDED
    │   └─► Canaanites, Moabites, Gentiles
    │       Kingdom isn't ethnic purity
    │
    └─ Scandal REDEEMED
        └─► God doesn't need clean résumés
            He transforms broken stories
            │
            └─► If these women are in Jesus' line,
                who is excluded from His reach?

THE TURNING POINT (v. 11-12)
    │
    └─► "After the exile to Babylon:
         Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel..."
        │
        ├─ BEFORE EXILE: Kings on thrones
        │   Davidic line = political power
        │   Temple standing
        │   National identity intact
        │
        └─ AFTER EXILE: No throne, no temple
            │
            ├─ Line continues BUT:
            │   └─► Through obscurity
            │       No political power
            │       Waiting, not ruling
            │
            └─► GOD'S METHOD:
                │
                └─► Preserves the line through weakness
                    Not through strength
                    │
                    └─► When they had nothing,
                        God had everything in place

THE CRISIS (vv. 18-19)
    │
    ├─ SITUATION:
    │   ├─ Mary and Joseph betrothed
    │   ├─ Before coming together: Mary pregnant
    │   └─► Scandal: Apparent adultery
    │       │
    │       └─► Jewish betrothal = legally binding
    │           Breaking it = divorce
    │           Adultery = potential death penalty
    │
    └─ JOSEPH'S RESPONSE:
        │
        ├─ "Faithful to the law" (δίκαιος, dikaios = righteous)
        │   └─► He believes the law
        │       Knows the pregnancy seems like adultery
        │
        └─ "Did not want to expose her to public disgrace"
            │
            ├─ Public divorce = shame, possible stoning
            └─► Plans QUIET divorce
                │
                └─► TENSION: Righteous + Merciful
                    Law demands justice
                    Love seeks mercy
                    │
                    └─► Joseph chooses protective route

JOSEPH'S DILEMMA
    │
    ├─ WHAT HE KNOWS:
    │   ├─ Mary is pregnant
    │   ├─ It's not his child
    │   └─► Conclusion: She must have been unfaithful
    │
    ├─ WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW:
    │   └─► Holy Spirit conception
    │       Miraculous intervention
    │       This is the Messiah
    │
    └─► THE COST OF OBEYING:
        │
        └─► Taking Mary means:
            ├─ People assume HE got her pregnant before marriage
            ├─ OR they assume she cheated
            └─► Either way: His reputation destroyed
                │
                └─► Joseph chooses obedience over image

THE ANGEL'S MESSAGE
    │
    ├─ v. 20: "Joseph son of David"
    │   └─► Reminder: You're in the royal line
    │       This matters for what's coming
    │
    ├─ "Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife"
    │   └─► Address the fear:
    │       Fear of scandal, shame, being wrong
    │       │
    │       └─► Angel gives REASON not to fear:
    │
    ├─ "What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit"
    │   └─► ORIGIN: Not human, divine
    │       │
    │       └─► This reframes EVERYTHING
    │           Not adultery → miracle
    │           Not scandal → prophecy fulfillment
    │
    └─ v. 21: Two commands about the child
        │
        ├─ "You are to give him the NAME"
        │   └─► Joseph's role: Legal father
        │       Naming = claiming as son
        │       │
        │       └─► Adoption gives Jesus legal right
        │           to David's throne
        │
        └─► THE NAME: "Jesus"
            │
            └─► Greek: Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
                Hebrew: יֵשׁוּעַ (Yeshua)
                Meaning: "YHWH saves"
                │
                └─► REASON GIVEN:
                    "He will save his people from their sins"
                    │
                    └─► Not from Rome
                        Not from poverty
                        FROM SINS

v. 21: JESUS (Ἰησοῦς)
    │
    ├─ Meaning: "YHWH saves"
    ├─ Focus: FUNCTION—what He does
    └─► "He will save his people from their sins"
        │
        └─► Active mission
            Savior identity

v. 23: IMMANUEL (Ἐμμανουήλ)
    │
    ├─ Meaning: "God with us"
    ├─ Focus: NATURE—who He is
    └─► Fulfills Isaiah 7:14
        │
        └─► Incarnation reality
            Divinity present
            │
            └─► BOTH NAMES REQUIRED:
                │
                ├─ Jesus = He saves (work)
                └─ Immanuel = He is God (identity)
                    │
                    └─► Only God can save from sins
                        The name reveals the necessity

THE NECESSITY OF VIRGIN BIRTH
    │
    ├─ BIOLOGICAL:
    │   └─► No human father
    │       No inherited sin nature (Rom 5:12)
    │       │
    │       └─► He's fully human (through Mary)
    │           Yet without sin (through Spirit)
    │
    ├─ PROPHETIC:
    │   └─► Isaiah 7:14 fulfilled
    │       "The virgin will conceive"
    │       │
    │       └─► Specific sign given
    │           Not just "young woman"
    │           Miraculous conception
    │
    ├─ THEOLOGICAL:
    │   └─► Divine + Human natures
    │       │
    │       ├─ Fully God (Holy Spirit conception)
    │       └─ Fully Man (born of woman)
    │           │
    │           └─► Only way to be:
    │               Sinless substitute (human)
    │               Infinite worth (divine)
    │
    └─ SOTERIOLOGICAL (salvation):
        └─► To save humans, He must BE human
            To save from infinite offense, He must BE God
            │
            └─► Virgin birth makes salvation POSSIBLE

JOSEPH'S RESPONSE
    │
    ├─ v. 24: "When Joseph woke up"
    │   └─► No hesitation recorded
    │       No debate, no delay
    │       │
    │       └─► "He did what the angel commanded"
    │           │
    │           └─► IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE
    │               Despite social cost
    │               Despite confusion
    │
    ├─ "Took Mary home as his wife"
    │   └─► Public commitment
    │       Legal marriage
    │       │
    │       └─► Protection provided
    │           Reputation sacrificed
    │
    └─ v. 25: "But he did not consummate their marriage"
        │
        ├─ UNTIL: "She gave birth to a son"
        │   └─► Self-control, honoring God's plan
        │       This child is from Holy Spirit
        │       Joseph respects the sacred
        │
        └─ "And he gave him the name Jesus"
            └─► Joseph names = Joseph claims
                │
                └─► Legal adoption complete
                    Jesus is "son of David"
                    Through Joseph's obedience

JOSEPH'S ROLE
    │
    ├─ Not biological father
    │   └─► Jesus' divine origin clear
    │
    └─► BUT: Legal father
        │
        ├─ Naming = claiming
        ├─ Marriage to Mary = legitimacy
        └─► Jesus inherits:
            │
            ├─ Davidic line (through Joseph)
            ├─ Protection (Joseph's role)
            └─ Family (Joseph's obedience)
                │
                └─► PATTERN: Adoption counts
                    │
                    └─► We're adopted sons too (Rom 8:15)
                        Inheritance by grace
                        Not by blood

MATTHEW 1: GOD'S PLAN ACROSS TIME
    │
    ├─ GENEALOGY (vv. 1-17):
    │   ├─► God orchestrates 2,000 years
    │   ├─► Through kings, exiles, nobodies
    │   ├─► Includes scandal, grace, foreigners
    │   └─► 14-14-14 = DAVID-DAVID-DAVID
    │       │
    │       └─► THESIS: History has purpose
    │           God is sovereign
    │           Jesus is the goal
    │
    └─ BIRTH (vv. 18-25):
        ├─► God intervenes in history
        ├─► Virgin conception: divine + human
        ├─► Joseph obeys despite cost
        └─► Two names: Jesus (saves) + Immanuel (God with us)
            │
            └─► THESIS: Incarnation happened
                Prophecy fulfilled
                Salvation possible

IF God can orchestrate 2,000 years (genealogy)
THEN God can orchestrate a virgin birth (narrative)
    │
    └─► Sovereignty over MACRO history
        proves sovereignty over MICRO miracle
        │
        └─► Same God who planned 42 generations
            can handle Holy Spirit conception

WHAT I SEE NOW
    │
    └─► Every name = proof of sovereign orchestration
        │
        ├─ Obscure names (who is Azor?) = God tracks everyone
        ├─ Scandalous women = grace isn't new
        └─ Exile included = brokenness isn't the end
            │
            └─► The genealogy says:
                "God has been working toward THIS MOMENT
                 for 2,000 years"

THE PATTERN
    │
    └─► If THESE women are in Jesus' line,
        then NO ONE is disqualified by their past
        │
        └─► Grace isn't damage control
            It's the blueprint

JOSEPH'S DILEMMA
    │
    ├─ OPTION A: Divorce Mary publicly
    │   └─► Obeys law, preserves reputation
    │       Mary shamed, possibly killed
    │
    ├─ OPTION B: Divorce Mary quietly (his plan)
    │   └─► Obeys law, protects Mary
    │       Reputation intact
    │
    └─ OPTION C: Marry Mary (angel's command)
        └─► Obeys God, protects Mary
            Reputation DESTROYED
            │
            └─► Everyone assumes:
                Either he got her pregnant early,
                Or she cheated and he's weak
                │
                └─► No option preserves both
                    obedience AND image

JESUS (v. 21)
    │
    └─► YHWH saves
        FUNCTION: What He came to do
        "He will save his people from their sins"
        │
        └─► Not political salvation
            Not temporary relief
            FROM SINS

IMMANUEL (v. 23)
    │
    └─► God with us
        IDENTITY: Who He is
        Prophecy from Isaiah 7:14
        │
        └─► Not just God sending help
            God HIMSELF arriving
            │
            └─► Only God can save from sins
                So Jesus must BE God

WHY VIRGIN BIRTH MATTERS
    │
    ├─ Sin passes through father (Rom 5:12)
    │   └─► No human father = no inherited sin
    │
    ├─ Isaiah 7:14 predicts it
    │   └─► Specific miraculous sign
    │
    └─ Salvation requires:
        │
        ├─ Sinless substitute (must be human)
        └─ Infinite worth (must be God)
            │
            └─► Virgin birth achieves BOTH

PERSONAL TAKEAWAY
    │
    └─► I am not too far gone.
        │
        ├─ If Rahab the prostitute is in,
        ├─ If Tamar the deceiver is in,
        ├─ If David the adulterer is in,
        │
        └─► Then I qualify by grace, not résumé.
            │
            └─► Jesus came through messy lineage
                to save messy people
                │
                └─► That's me.