Day 20 – Matthew 1:1-6
Tamar in the King’s Line
Scripture Reading – Matthew 1:1-6
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Matthew 1:1 KJV
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 1:2 KJV
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
Matthew 1:3 KJV
And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
Matthew 1:4 KJV
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Matthew 1:5 KJV
And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
Matthew 1:6 KJV
Scripture Review
Matthew begins the earthly genealogy of Jesus Christ with Abraham and follows the promised line through Judah. Tamar is named, and so are Pharez and Zara. The New Testament does not hide Genesis 38. It places that wounded family history in the record leading to David and ultimately to Christ. The Lord Jesus did not descend from a line of people who saved themselves by good behavior. He came into a world of sinners to save sinners.
This genealogy magnifies grace without staining Christ. Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God. The failures in His human ancestry do not explain His character; they display why fallen humanity needed the Saviour. Judah’s sin is not redeemed by pretending it was good. God’s promise is honored because He faithfully brought the Messiah through generations of people who depended entirely upon mercy.
Human families carried pride, deception, failure, and shame from one generation to another, often threatening to bury the promise under sin.
God meant to keep His covenant and bring Jesus Christ, the promised King and sinless Saviour, through the line of Judah according to His Word.
What this asks of me
I cannot clean my record by editing the family tree or comparing myself with someone worse. I need the righteousness and saving grace of Jesus Christ. Once saved, I should tell the truth about sin and the greater truth about the Saviour who forgives, changes, and keeps His promises.
Consider
- Am I trusting my record, my family name, or Jesus Christ alone for salvation?
- Does God’s faithfulness to a broken family make me more grateful and more serious about holiness?