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Matthew 1:1-17
by Samuel E. Ward
December 8, 2013
To view PowerPoint Slide presentation of this sermon go to http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/he-is-the-king-of-kings.
Other sermon Powerpoints by Sam Ward may be viewed at
Introduction:
Matthew's gospel was written to establish the fact that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah of the Jews and that He fulfilled several requirements related to His right to the throne of David. 1. Jesus is the fulfillment of particular Old Testament prophecies made concerning the Messiah. a. The Messianic fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 is recorded in Matthew 1:20b-23.
Matthew 1:20b-23 (NIV2011) 20b . . . an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
b. The Messianic fulfillment of Micah 5:2, 4 is in Matthew 2:4-6.
Matthew 2:4-6 (NIV2011) 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land [1]of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"
c. The Messianic fulfillment of Hosea 11:1 is in Matthew 2:13-15.
Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV2011) 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."
d. The Messianic fulfillment of several Old Testament prophecies that the Messiah would be despised among His own people, which was characteristic of anyone who came from Nazareth. There is no Old Testament passage that specifically mentions the Messiah being called a Nazarene. The New Testament, however, uses the fact that Jesus came from Nazareth to indicate lack of regard. See Psalms 22:6-8, 13; 69:8, 20-21; 49:7; 53:2-3, 8. The fulfillment is recorded in Matthew 2:19-23.
Matthew 2:19-23 (NIV2011) 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." 21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
2. Jesus is the fulfillment of two important requirements related to His right to sit on the throne of David: to be a descendant of both Abraham and David.
a. The Messiah must be a direct descendant of Abraham to become the one through whom all the nations would be blessed, Gen 22:15-18.
b. The Messiah must be a direct descendant of David to qualify as the one who would come as ruler of Israel and to whom all nations will come, Isa 11:1-10.
Matthew 1:1 (NIV2011) This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Mark Copeland rightfully notes that . . . Whatever else Jesus may have done, if He was not a descendant of Abraham and David, He could not be the Messiah. So a gospel directed especially to the Jews would naturally settle this issue before proceeding.[2] I. King Jesus Will Sit on David's Throne in the Coming Kingdom, Mat 1:1-2.
A. Because Jesus Is the Eternal Successor to David.
Having risen from dead, never more to die, Jesus fulfills God's promise of an eternal kingdom which proceeds from David's royal line.
2 Samuel 7:11-16 (NIV2011) 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' "
Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NIV2011) 14 " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD , 'when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. 15 " 'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.'
B. Because He Is the Descendant of Abraham's Grandson, Judah, Jesus Will Be the Eternal King to Bless the Nations.
1. This insures the completion of God's promise to bless the nations of the world through a descendant of Abraham, Gen 22:18 with Gal 3:16.
Genesis 22:18 (NIV2011) and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Galatians 3:16 (NIV2011) The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
2. This insures the completion of God's promise that from one of Abraham's descendants (his great grandson, Judah) would come an eternal King whom all the nations will obey, Gen 49:10.
Genesis 49:10 (NIV2011) The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
II. King Jesus Welcomes the Worst of Sinners into His Kingdom, Mat 1:3-6.
Matthew 1:1-6 (NIV2011) 1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
Note some of the names listed in this genealogy.
A. Jesus Was a Descendant of "Tamar." The story of Tamar is to be found in Genesis 38.
Tamar was the Canaanite daughter-in-law of Judah. Because of their wickedness, God had judged Tamar's first two husbands with death . As a result, Judah promised her his younger son when he was old enough to marry. In doing so, the son could take the place of kinsman redeemer in the stead of his brothers and would raise up children in his brothers' names.
Judah did not keep his promise. In an effort to obtain recompense, Tamar posed as a prostitute and deceived Judah into fathering two children, twins named "Perez and Zerah." Despite their involvement in adultery and deception, God's graciously included both Judah and Tamar in the line of the King.
B. Jesus was a descendant of "Rahab". The story is to be found in Joshua 2 and 6.
Another Canaanite prostitute is to found in the Messianic line: Rahab. She lived in Jericho at the time when Israel was conquering the land God had promised them. Her fear of God and respect for His people motivated her to protect the Israelite spies sent by Joshua to determine Jericho's ability to resist his army's advances.
This act of faith obtained the sparing of her life when the city was destroyed but she also brought into the Messianic royal life of descent. Rahab became mother of Boaz, the great-grandfather of King David.
C. Jesus was a descendant of David and Bathsheba. The story is to be found in 2 Samuel 11.
Without question David is the greatest king of Israel's long history. Though great, he had his weaknesses. One of them was Bathsheba. His lust led him to have an adulterous affair with her and eventually to conspire to have him killed in battle so that he could have Bathsheba as one of his wives.
God's judgment for that sin was the loss of their first child. God did allow them a second son who became Solomon who is included in the royal Messianic line.
As with all of us, our family lines not only include the noble but some notorious characters, as well. If we are human, whether we are considered noble or notorious, we are all sinners. Some of these sinners found themselves in Jesus' family tree. There is hope to be used of God for all of us regardless of our station if we submit to Him.
III. King Jesus Welcomes Gentiles into His Kingdom. The Story of Ruth is in the book which bears her name.
Rahab has already been mentioned under the category of those whose sin did not keep them out of the royal line of the Messiah. She belongs in another, as well, with Ruth, but with a different distinction. Both were also Gentiles and from nations that were bitter enemies with Israel.
Ruth was a Moabite who married an Israelite in her country to escape a famine in his homeland. When he died, Ruth went to Israel with her mother-in-law,Naomi, where she eventually married Boaz. Boaz became David's great-grandmother. Jesus does not belong to the Jews only, but to Gentiles also. He is King of Kings among the nations.
IV. King Jesus Welcomes Common People of Humble Status into His Kingdom.
We would expect to see a list of the kings who proceeded from David the first king in the Messianic line, through the time when the royal line of David was suspended from ruling in Israel, until the Messiah would come to set up His kingdom. The record of the line in Matthew 1:6-17 passes through the Exile period and after the return to the land, only without a king to sit on David's throne. This throne is still vacant today. The last biblical entry in the line of the coming King is Mary, the mother of Jesus.
One of the most striking inclusions in the genealogy of Jesus is that of Mary, the mother of Jesus. In terms of status, she would not have had notice. She was the wife of a tradesman, a blue-collar worker we would say. Her family was of humble means. The only thing, the most important thing in God's eyes, was that she "had found favor with God." Before we construe this statement to mean that this "favor" or "grace" is due to sinlessness on her part, understand that the same was said of Noah in Genesis 6:8. Noah was considered a man who was "righteous, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." His story, is recorded in Genesis 6-9.
Mary's claim to greatness was that she, like Noah, lived a righteous life and walked faithfully with God. This is evident by her ready submission to be the mother of Jesus apart from Joseph during their time of engagement.
Luke 1:38 (NIV2011) "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her.
Those who are considered of little consequence in the world of sinful men have great regard with God if they live righteously and walk with Him.
V. King Jesus Is Setting the Stage for His Return.
Today, God is preparing the world for the Second Coming of the King. That is why we celebrate the advent – the coming of the King of kings. However, the next time He comes, He will not come as a peasant, born in a stable, but as a conquering King!
A. What It Will Look Like?
Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV2011) Rev 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
B. What Will Be the Outcomes?
Revelation 22:12-17 (NIV2011) Rev 12 "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Conclusion:
As important as confirming Jesus' right to the eternal throne of David is His right to rule in your life. To Jesus it is more than a right, it is His privilege to offer you a kingdom where righteousness rules and love reigns. Enough with the false hopes of men and what they offer in their temporal realms, give me Jesus, His forgiveness, and eternal life.
The Bible says that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is King. Why not do so today if you haven't entered His kingdom by faith already.
