Matthew begins his gospel with these words: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
He is the only gospel writer to begin in this way. In fact, of the others, only Luke (chapter three) has a genealogy of Christ but NO women are mentioned. Mark starts in Isaiah. Luke begins in the days of Herod. John begins “in the beginning” referring to what we call eternity past.
And in this genealogy that Matthew gives us, this God-inspired account of the family tree of Jesus Christ, only five women are mentioned. Four of these women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba—are enveloped in stories of sex, power, position and intrigue.
No “good girls” mentioned except Mary, the young virgin who was the mother of Jesus. No Sarah, no Rebecca, no Rachel. Why?
Why would God put his list together in this way? And it was intentional. God doesn’t waste words. He has a purpose. So this morning we ask, Why?
Message Title: Grace & the Grandmothers of Jesus Christ!
Message Text: Matthew 1