Characters
(Jesus was the adopted son of Joseph. This made him legally Joseph’s heir.)
- What is the purpose of the book of Matthew? [ Matthew 1:1 ]
- How is Jesus related to David?
- How is Jesus related to Abraham?
- What is special about the line of Jesus? [ Matthew 1:2-16 ]
- Why is David significant?
- What were Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asaph, Jehosphaphat, Joram, Uzziah, Jothan, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amos, Josiah and Jechoniah?
- There are many mothers in this line, but Matthew inspired by the Holy Spirit only selects a few: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah and Mary.
- What does Tamar’s inclusion suggest about God’s plan? [ Genesis 38 ]
- What was common about Rahab [ Joshua 2 ] and Ruth [ Ruth 1:16 ]?
- What does the inclusion of Uriah’s wife suggest about God’s plan [ 2 Samuel 11-12:25 ]?
- What did God do to his people and the line of kings? [ Matthew 1:12 ]
- They deserved to be sent into exile. Did this stop God’s plan and the unbroken line of kings? What does this tell us about the Lord?
- How was Abraham chosen? [ Genesis 12:1 ]
- Did he do anything to deserve this?
- What did God promise to do through Abraham? [ Genesis 17:5-6 ]
- How was this achieved through Jesus? [ Romans 9:6-8 ]
Application
- God chose and sustained the line of Christ, despite man’s sin and failing. What does this suggest about the Lord and his plan?
- What is common about the people in the line of Christ and ourselves? (Think about Abraham, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, David and Bathsheba and Manasseh.)
- Why is the coming of the king Jesus good news?