Christmas at Matthew's House

Scripture: Genesis 49:1-2, 8-10

C.I.: “Every Saint has a Past, Every Sinner has a Future

In the Bible, the Lord's birth was never celebrated as a “holiday” (i.e., holy day ). – That was a later invention of man.
So what did the early Christians think of the birth of our Lord? – During December we are going to eavesdrop on the apostle Matthew as he tells us the story of the coming of the Christ into the world! – Today's lesson = “The Black Sheep” in the Family of Our Lord.”

•  The “Black Sheep” in the Family of Our Lord, (Matthew 1:1-17)

A. Introduction to “black sheep”
1. My father was the “black sheep” in his family (3 older sisters all “married well” while he had to work!).
a. “Black sheep” come in all descriptions (who they marry, what they do/have done, etc.).
c. Jesus knows what it's like to come from a family with its own “black sheep.”
1) But what others consider to be the “black sheep” – God sees differently.
2) Now as Matthew speaks of Jesus - we just may come to see Christmas in a whole new light!!!

B. Jesus came from “A family of great promise and possibilities!”
1. ( v. 1 ), “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
a. David was the “great king.”
1) God had made to David a promise (Messianic) the people longed to see fulfilled.
2) ( II Sam. 7:12-13 ), “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up
your descendant after you, who will come forth from you , and I will establish his kingdom. – He shall
build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
3) The people were waiting for God to fulfill His promise of this “Greatest King”!
b. Abraham was the founder of God's people, Israel.
1) God had made a promise to him – that the people of God had been waiting for for a long time!
2) ( Gen. 12:3 ), “In your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

2. When Matthew tells the story – he does something very unique – he includes women in his genealogy.
a. These five women in his genealogy were believed to be the black sheep of the family – but as we will
see they are sometimes the best of the bunch!

C. “I came from a very dysfunctional family…!”
1. ( v. 3 ), “…and to Judah were born Perez and Zerah by Tamar….”
a. In Genesis 38, Tamar was the daughter-in-law of the leader of the tribe of Judah.
1) Her husband, Er, died w/o leaving an heir, ( v. 7 ), “Er, Judah's first-born, was evil in the sight of
the Lord, So the Lord took his life.”
2) Levirate law of marriage (man left childless conceives from the widow a child for his brother).
3) Knowing the child wouldn't be his – Onan refused his responsibility. – God took his life, ( v. 10 )
4) Tamar must wait until son Shelah is older, but “I am afraid he too will die like his brothers,” v. 11 .
b. When Tamar realizes Judah's duplicity – she plans on having a child of his family one way or another!
1) She dressed as a prostitute. – Judah purchased her services using his staff & cord as collateral,
( v. 18 ), “Judah said, ‘What pledge shall I give you?' – She said, ‘Your seal, your cord, and the staff in
your hand.'”
2) When later she is found pregnant – the people attempt to stone her (widow with child???!!!).
3) She produces the staff & cord, at which point Judah says, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch
as I did not give her my son Shelah,” ( v. 26 ).
4) Tamar was considered a “black sheep” – but it turned out that in her family – she was the most righteous!
5) Is anyone here today who came from a highly dysfunctional family – who wonders if God can use you?

2. ( v. 5a ), “…and to Salmon was born Boaz by Rahab….”
a. While Tamar only pretended to be a prostitute to conceive a child, Rahab actually was one!
1) Rahab lived in the Canaanite city of Jericho (yep, that Jericho of “walls” fame).
2) Though not a Jew, she had faith in the God of the Jews. – As she told the 2 spies, ( Josh. 2:11 ),
“…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
3) The lives of the 2 spies she cared for were saved – and so was she and all her household.
b. Later, when God wants to impress upon His people the true nature of righteousness, He uses Rahab.
1) ( Jms. 2:24-25 ), “You see, a man is justified [made righteous] by works, and not by faith alone. – And in the
same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works – when she receive the messengers and sent them…?”
2) Though a woman, a harlot, and a Gentile – God uses her as an example & also part of Jesus lineage!
3) Are there those who are here today who believe – because of a tainted past – that God cannot use you?


3. ( v. 5b ), “…and to Boaz was born Obed by Ruth….”
a. Ruth came from “the wrong people.” – She was from the nation of the Moabites (explain their origin).
1) Elimelech, his wife Naomi and his two sons went to live in Moab due to a famine in Israel.
2) While there his sons married women of Moab. – Later the sons along with their father died.
3) Naomi told the girls to return to their families – and she was going to return a widow to Israel.
4) One of her daughters-in-law complied. – But Ruth had a different character. – She said, ( Ruth 1:16 ),
“Where you go I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge. – Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.”
b. Because of her character and her willingness to take care of Naomi, - she came to the attention of Boaz.
1) He was a rich & godly man – who chose to obey God even if it meant he might lose Ruth to another.
2) But God blessed him and he and Ruth were married.
3) Are there any here today – who others may have condemn because you have come from “the wrong
people,” or perhaps, “the wrong side of the tracks,” etc.?!! – Do you still wonder if God can use you?!


4. ( v. 6 ), “…and to David was born Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah….”
a. We are all familiar of the story of David & Bathsheba (army at war, woman bathing, adultery, pregnancy, death).
1) The Law of God demanded death – ( Lev. 20:10 ), “If there is a man who commits adultery w/another man's
wife, one who commits adultery with his friend's wife, the adulterer & the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
2) Thus, adultery was a capital offense in the eyes of God!
3) Yet in the case of Bathsheba (notice she also is unnamed) and David – we see the grace of God!
4) ( II Sam. 12:13 ), “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.' – And Nathan said to David,
‘The Lord has taken away your sin; you shall not die.'”
5) Bathsheba is also forgiven – and later becomes the queen mother over the nation of Israel.
b. For some people, the things they have done in their past – are things they are never allowed to get past (forget!).
1) Sadly, even amongst God's people – there are those who will not forgive/forget things they have done!
2) But where would all of us be without God's grace? ( Quote Eph. 2:8 )!
3) Having received His grace for ourselves – mustn't we also extend it to others?!!
4) We fail to do so at our own eternal peril, ( Matt. 6:15 ), “If you do not forgive men, then your Father….”
5) Is there anyone here – who with a criminal past believes that God cannot use you?!


5. ( v. 16 ), “…and to Jacob was born Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”
a. Who hasn't heard of this one; a young, unwed, teenage girl who has become pregnant?!
1) Yet we know the truth of the matter. – Joseph is not the father (nor does the genealogy claim he is!).
2) All the other people were born through the father, (e.g., “To Judah were born…, to Salmon was born” ).
3) But v. 16, and the circumstances of His birth - prove Jesus true lineage, ( Lk. 1:35 ), “The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; - and for this reason the holy offspring shall
be called the Son of God.”
4) So, no matter your past, your lifestyle, your actions – Jesus understands & wants to be your Savior too!

Matthew 28:19-20