Issue 1254 – The Begatitudes – September 21, 2023

In our North American culture, which emphasizes independence,  we seldom consider our genealogy. That is changing, and people are increasingly interested in their origins. Still, it is far from a prominent part of our self-identity.

If I said:

Russell was the father of (or begat, if you prefer the older word) Floyd

Floyd was the father of (begat) Kevin

Kevin was the father of (begat) Kristopher and Kyle

Kristopher was the father of (begat) Isaiah, Arabella, Noah and Ezra

Kyle was the father of (begat) Skye and Macy

It wouldn’t mean much of anything to you. Of course, it has meaning to me since it names my father, grandfather, sons and grandchildren.

In much of the world today, and in ancient Israel, your genealogy was important. It set out not only your ancestry but your station of life. The Bible lays out numerous family trees that were important information to the original readers. Typically, we skip over or speed-read those long lists of names to get to the “important” stuff. Yet, if something is in the Bible, it is there for a reason, and we should pay attention.

The tracing of families isn’t just an Old Testament thing that we can ignore. Matthew and Luke both include a genealogy of Jesus, but they differ. Why the differences?

Matthew writes to a Jewish audience at the very beginning of his gospel. He traces the lineage of Jesus back to Abraham. The Jews knew that the Messiah would come from the line of David, so that was most important to them.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers Matthew 1:1-2

Luke writes to Gentiles in his gospel and traces the line back to Adam. The line of Adam includes all people, not just the Jews. He emphasized that Jesus sacrificed for all people, not just those of Jewish ancestry. 

Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, Luke 3:23

The genealogies, or what R.C. Sproule calls the “begatitudes,” play a huge part in authenticating Jesus as the Messiah. The gospels are not simply fables about some mythical hero who comes to save the world. He was fully human (as well as fully God) and came in a finite time, place and to real people. 

The more time you spend in Scripture, the more you understand the importance of these “boring” lists of names in both the Old and New Testaments. You will begin to understand who the players are and their respective roles.

You will notice that both men and women, Jew and Gentile, are included. There are people with nearly spotless lives and those who are flawed. There are prostitutes and kings and everyone in between. You will be amazed and encouraged.

Don’t give up on those long lists of names. Take the time to know them and be edified.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV). 

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