I am a child of the suburbs. My first call was to a rural farming community in central Oklahoma. During my time in Oklahoma I was exposed to wheat farming, cows and calves, feeders, stockers, hunting deer, coyotes, and upland birds. 

Early in my ministry, I was given a big square headed Brittany Spaniel puppy. That puppy taught me to hunt game birds. I say the dog taught me how to hunt because he was bred to hunt. The dog was high bred. He had champions in his pedigree. When looking for a bird dog it is important to look at its pedigree. The pedigree can give you an indication if the dog will hunt. Breeders immerse themselves in pedigrees and lineage. A high-born dog is born to hunt.

Mathew gives us Jesus' pedigree. He was a Son of Abraham. God made a promise to Abraham. He told Abraham that he would be a father of many nations. God promised that he would bless Abraham and make his name great. The nations will be blessed through Abraham. Mathew traces Jesus' pedigree back to Abraham. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. Abraham died with one son born by his wife Sarah. Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons. God called Jacob, Israel. The twelve sons of Jacob became the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is a son of Abraham.

Mathew goes through the pedigree of Jesus to Jesse who is the father of David. David found favor with the Lord. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Son of David and David's Lord. (Luke 21:41-46) David was the one chosen by God to be the King of Israel. He was a great King who unified the nation around the worship of God. David established Jerusalem as the worship center of Israel. Isaiah promised that out of the root and stump of Jesse would come a shoot and it will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1) Matthew calls Jesus the Son of David. This is the way he begins the genealogy of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. Jesus has an impressive pedigree. He was born to be King.

Matthew lists in the genealogy of Jesus the kings of Israel. Some wonder why Matthew lists women in his genealogy. Specifically, they wonder why Matthew lists women of scandal in his genealogy. Tamar and Rahab are women whose character was questionable. Their stories are recorded in scripture. Tamar was a woman who demanded that her father-in-law fulfill his obligation to provide her with a son. Rahab was an innkeeper who protected Joshua and Caleb. Ruth a woman from Moab is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. The royal line of David was passed down through the wife of Uriah. David married her after he had her husband murdered to cover up his infidelity. Jesus is a Son of scandal. Jesus was high born to be the savior of the nations. He was born a servant/king, taking the sins of the world to the cross. Jesus was the Son of scandal. He endured the scandal of the cross for our salvation.

Jesus was born the King of Kings and Lord of Lord's. He was the suffering servant and savior of the world. God fulfills His plan for saving all nations in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

Come to the Advent worship services on 

Wednesday nights at seven. We will have three Advent services on 12/02, 12/09, and 12/6. Come and learn about the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, and the Son of Scandal. Matthew gives us the pedigree of the Savior of the world. The earthly lineage of the heavenly king. Jesus was born to save us from our sins.