This post is “Christmas – Day 6”, if you haven’t already read Day 1, please click here.
Please comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, please do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Christmas – Day 6

Matthew 1:17

So there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations from the exile until the Messiah.

The Thought

Matthew 1:17 So there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations from the exile until the Messiah. As one who likes numbers I find this fascinating. Why fourteen generations?

As one who likes numbers I find this fascinating. Why fourteen generations? I don’t know, except that fourteen is twice seven and, mentioned here, there are three sets of fourteen generations.

Both seven and three have considerable Biblical significance for those who like to look into these things.

But whether numbers interest you or not, there is something strangely important about the fourteen generations. With the two anchors being the most famous Biblical King and the Babylonian exile, probably the two most significant events in Jewish history.

In this genealogy we find many names that are unknown to us, but God knew and chose each one to be a part of Jesus’ heritage. Isn’t that amazing? They are not all superheroes of the past. On the contrary several were of unexpected backgrounds, Rahab was a prostitute, Ruth was a Moabite. The Moabite clan began when Lot (Abraham’s nephew) slept with his daughter! King David had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed after he (David) got her pregnant!

Is it encouraging to you that God doesn’t judge people in the same way that society today does?

The 3rd chapter of Luke’s gospel gives us a genealogy in the other direction going all the way back to Adam but doesn’t mention any women. Interesting! Matthew’s book was directed towards Jewish people, Luke’s is for a more general audience.

Action

Thank God today that He chose your family line for you. You were not an accident, and He has a purpose for your life. Praise Him because He knew everyone of your ancestors, their good and bad characteristics. Praise Him too that He sent Jesus so that we can all become adopted members of His family and cut off from the bad effects of any inherited sins in our natural family line (Ephesians 1:5 & Romans 8).