Matthew 1

Key verse: Matthew 1:21

Big Idea: The coming of Jesus is both something old and something new: he is the climax of what God has been doing from the beginning of time, and a new, one-of-a-kind gift from Heaven.

Your eyes may start to glaze over when you see Matthew beginning with a bunch of “begats.” Isn’t the New Testament supposed to be more interesting than this? But there is a good reason that the Holy Spirit chose to begin this way. Jesus is not plan B – He is the culmination of all the Old Testament events.

Jesus is fully man and fully God. As a full man, He was born into a family with a history (good and bad). He did not spring onto the stage of history at random, but onto a chessboard carefully prepared by God from the beginning of history.

Point out to older kids: The names in this genealogy are far from spotless. Among others, Judah’s sin in Genesis 38 is referenced, Rahab had been a prostitute in Jericho (Joshua 2), and David murdered Uriah to cover up his affair with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). 

As full God, Jesus was more than just the next step in what God was doing. God Himself was coming down, born as Mary’s child, to do what no human being could ever do: save us from our sins.

Jesus, because He is human, was able to die instead of His people. Jesus, because He is God, was able to rise again victorious, to save everyone who calls on His name.

Discussion idea: Do you recognize any of the names on this list? What can you remember about them?      

Prayer focus: Let each family member talk about how God has used their family to prepare them to be the person He wants them to be and pray to thank God for both the good things and the challenges that have made this possible.