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Read: Matthew 1:1-6
Listen: Matthew 1

Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram. Matthew 1:3

Matthew’s gospel begins with a surprise. Rather than starting with an epic story or a cliffhanger introduction, Matthew begins with a list of names. These names (or genealogy) serve a specific role—they point to Jesus as the long-awaited Savior or Messiah. During the past two weeks, we’ve considered the beginning of this genealogy, specifically Jesus’s relationship to Abraham and David. This week, Matthew’s genealogy takes an unexpected turn and features an unlikely cast of characters. Matthew includes multiple women in his genealogy—such as Tamar, Rahab and Ruth—which was uncustomary for the day. As we will explore, Matthew’s inclusion of these women reveals something about the heart of God and the type of Savior Jesus is. Jesus is the Savior for all people, including women, the vulnerable and all those looking for redemption.

We tend to have preconceptions about how God works. But he often works in unexpected ways and through unexpected people. Matthew’s genealogy reveals God’s heart for the outsider, the oppressed and the forgotten and his heart to redeem. This week, we will consider how these truths about his character should transform how we understand him and how we treat and respond to others.

TODAY: Spend time praising God for who he is. Join Ada Bible Worship as they sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” As you do, think about the character of God and ask him for the grace to think rightly about him and his greatness.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Micah 6. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Reflect on Jesus’s teaching about true worship (John 4:23-24).