This is the first sermon of a new series on the book of Matthew. I was told as a child that preachers should never preach genealogies. They're dry, unapplicable, and impossible to pronounce. I have since then been so fascinated by the lessons that can be gleaned from genealogies that I don't see how one could pass them up!

Here's what strikes me in 1:1-17: Matthew does exactly what a Jew would expect should be done: proves that Jesus comes through the line of Abraham and David.

On the other hand, he does something that would shock them: records all the people in this family tree whom the Israelites were embarrassed by.

Jacob the heel-grabbing manipulator.

Perez, the product of Judah sleeping with his daughter-in-law whom he thought was a prostitute Ruth, the foreigner from a nation who worshiped a god whom they'd sacrifice babies to Solomon, the son of Bathsheba, a name that no one can hear without thinking "adultery"

Uzziah, the humble king who turned proud and ended up living in a quarantined shack the rest of his life because of his leprosy Mary, the girl who claimed she got pregnant by the Holy Ghost, a claim in her day that would have left her branded as a blasphemer and a whore, deserving to be stoned.

The point? No sin is so great, no mistake so stupid, no act so devious that it can mess up the awesome plan God has for all who turn to Him. God is not the author of sin, but by this family tree we see that God can use sin to fulfill his all-wise and merciful purpose. This means we can run to Him for forgiveness and trust Him even in the darkest hour.

One point I didn't make in this message is important which I'll share here: the fact that Matthew was not afraid to include the names of people who were far from perfect, people who's lives read like ancient day soap operas, indicates that Matthew was not flowering up his account to get people to believe. He was being dead honest.