THE FIVE BLOSSOMS ON THE LORD’S FAMILY TREE

SERIES: CHRISTMAS

TEXT: MATTHEW 1:1-17

What we have here is genealogy of our Lord Jesus beginning with Abraham and ending with Mary and Joseph. The purpose of this genealogy is to show that Jesus Christ was Jewish in His ancestry. Matthew was basically writing to Jews. He wanted to show them that Jesus Christ is the king of the Jews. What is unusual is that there are five women in this genealogy. These five women deserve our attention today. These five women illustrate the marvelous saving grace of God. Let us consider:

THE FIVE BLOSSOMS.

Vs. 3. Thamar-Gen. 38:1-30. She was the incestuous daughter-in-law of Judah.

• She was a Canaanite, a Gentile, a sinner.
• Notice the amazing grace of our God.

Vs. 5. Rahab-Joshua 2:1-24. Rahab was a Gentile a prostitute, a member of a doomed race.

• Take note of the grace of God that saves those who are far from God.

Vs. 5. Ruth-The book that bears her name.

• Ruth was a Moabitess, a Gentile.
• Ruth was a poor widow of an Israelite.
• She was moral and upright.
• Ruth was of a faithful character and a kind spirit.
• Ruth was also a believer in the God of Israel.

Vs. 6 Bathsheba-2 Sam. 11.

• Bathsheba was the adulterous wife of a Gentile man called Uriah-2 Sam. 11:3.
• She committed adultery on her husband while he was away at war.
• She became pregnant as a result of the affair and did not tell him what had happened.
• She was probably aware of her lover’s plan to murder her husband to cover up the love affair-She did not caution her husband.
• She actually did nothing to stop her husband’s death.
• But the grace of God extended to a sinner like Bathsheba.

Mary. Luke 1:26-38.

• Mary was a young, pure Israelite girl. She was evidently very religious and was willing to yield her life and her reputation to the hand of God.

In this list of women, five are mentioned, four were gentiles and one was a Jew.

• Three of these women were openly sinful, the other two were religious.
• All five of them were all sinners and in need of a Savior-Romans 3:23; 5:12.

THE BLESSINGS.

There is a tremendous blessing for every child of God and for every sinner.

The secret of their blessing is hidden in their names.

1. Tamar-palm tree-This refers to stability and life giving power.

• Jesus Christ stabilizes all of life.
• Jesus Christ gives life the stability to life, He gives purpose to the wayward soul.
• Jesus is the fountain of life-We are dead without Him-Eph. 2:1-3.
• When we believe in Jesus Christ, He gives us stability-Acts 16:31; 1st John 5:12.

2. Rahab-wide, broad.

• The grace of God is wide, broad high and deep.
• The grace of God extends to all people- Jer.31:3; John 3:16. His grace is available to all people- Rom.10:13.

3. Ruth- A friend. If there is ever a friend to the sinner- Jesus Christ is a friend of sinners- Matt.11:19.

• His love for His friends was so deep that He was willing to demonstrate it by dying on a cross- John 15:13.

4. Bathsheba- daughter of complete satisfaction.

• The soul’s satisfaction is found in none other than Jesus Christ Himself- Psalm 107:9.
• Jesus Christ is rest and contentment for the sin weary soul- Matt.11:28.

5. Mary- their rebellion.

• It is our rebellion that is taking men and women to hell. Sin is rebellious.
• In Jesus Christ there is total reconciliation.
• Jesus Christ turns our rebellion into love, devotion to the will and the way of God- 1^st John 4:19.

THE BEAUTY

1. Regardless of anything in your life that you perceive as a hindrance, Jesus can and will save you today.

• Jesus Christ does not look at:-

1. Your origin.
2. Your ancestry.
3. Your station in life.
4. Your past sins.
5. Your future plans.
6. Your present state.

• He will turn no one away- John 6:37.
• Do you want to be saved? Come to Him today- Eph.2:8-9.

CONCLUSION

• Will you come to Jesus? He has come for you today.
• Just come to Him now. If you are already saved, love Him all the more.