The book of Matthew and Luke both contain the genealogy of Jesus, but most skim through portion of the scripture. While the lineage of Jesus does not seem relevant to the rest of the gospel, it is what ties the Old Testament prophecies to the New Testament fulfillment of those prophecies.
There were over hundred prophesies about the Messiah in the Old Testament, and then there was 400 years of silence. God did not communicate with His priests nor His prophets during that time. After centuries of silence, the Lord chose a humble and simple virgin to give birth to His son; He did not pick the wife of a priest or a prophet to bring His child to this world. The genealogy of Jesus proved that He fulfilled the prophecies spoken about His lineage. Below are just a few of those prophecies:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 [Speaking of Abraham]
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. Genesis 49:10
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” Micah 5:2
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:7
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
God spoke about the birth of His son from the beginning. He foretold that the Messiah was going to be born of a woman. The Christ was going to come from the line of Abraham, from the tribe of Judah, and He was going to sit on the throne of David. A virgin was going to have a child. Jesus fulfilled all these prophesies along with many others. The fulfillment of these requirements was so important that the Jews kept a record of the genealogies of people in order to ensure that if anyone claimed to be the Messiah, that they would have the records to prove his lineage pointing to all of the above requirements.
Interestingly, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 following the birth of Jesus and the fulfillment of the genealogy by the Messiah. Now that Jesus was born and fulfilled those promises there was no need to keep the records any longer. From that point in history, no one would be able to prove that they are the true Messiah. The Jewish people are still waiting for the Messiah to come, but they need to look to the one who came 2000 years ago! His name is Jesus, and He fulfilled the prophecies spoken about His genealogy, His birth, and His life!
Praise God for He is a promise-keeper!
