The Promise of Hope
Matthew 1:1-17
December 1, 2024
Jay Haugh

Jesus the Messiah.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. —Matthew 1:1 ESV

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. —Matthew 1:1 ESV

David’s ambition was the elevation and exaltation of God.

You cannot outgive God.

“He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” —2 Samuel 7:13 ESV

2 Samuel 7 is a promise of a forever king through David’s genealogy.

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” —Luke 1:32-33 ESV

You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” —Psalm 89:3-4 ESV

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, “And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” —Acts 3:25 ESV

Every believer in this room has been blessed because of the promise of hope in Jesus Christ.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. —Matthew 1:2 ESV

and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. —Matthew 1:3 ESV

and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab. —Matthew 1:4-5 ESV

and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. —Matthew 1:5 ESV

and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah. —Matthew 1:6 ESV

and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah. —Matthew 1:7-10 ESV

The blessings of God and the elevation of God is always an act of God’s grace.

and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. —Matthew 1:11 ESV

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. —Matthew 1:12-14 ESV

God kept a little ember alive because He keeps His promises.

and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. —Matthew 1:15-16 ESV

Jesus is of Mary only! Jesus is not conceived of Joseph.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring [seed] and her offspring [seed]; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” —Genesis 3:15 ESV

Evil will be removed by one singular male!

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. —Matthew 1:17 ESV

Big Idea:

God is faithful to keep His promises by providing Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Memory Verse: Matthew 1:21 NIV
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word to lead to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.

Read Matthew 1:1-17
Advent is a season of anticipation. What is your heart like as you enter this season? What might you need to surrender to fully embrace the hope of Christ?

Matthew emphasizes that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham and David. What promises of God do you hold onto, especially during seasons of waiting or uncertainty? How does Advent—a season of waiting for Jesus—connect with the waiting or anticipation you’re experiencing in your own life? How can you be a source of hope to others who are also in a season of waiting?

Jesus is called the “Son of David.” How does knowing that Jesus is the promised King shape your understanding of His authority and your role as His follower? How can you live in a way that reflects Jesus’ reign as King in your life, especially in how you make decisions or interact with others?

The genealogy emphasizes the importance of God’s plan being fulfilled across time. How does this perspective on time help you when you’re waiting for God to act in your life? Where in your life do you need to trust that God is working, even when you can’t see the full picture yet?

The genealogy shows God’s faithfulness over generations. What specific moments come to mind when you consider God’s long-term faithfulness in your life? How could you pass down the story of God’s faithfulness to the next generation or to those around you? Are you trusting God to fulfill any of His promises in future generations of your family?

Many individuals in Jesus’ genealogy had messy or broken stories. Reflect on your own life. How has God redeemed areas of brokenness or imperfection to display His grace? How can you share these stories to encourage someone struggling in the same ways you did?

The inclusion of unlikely individuals in Jesus’ lineage shows that God’s grace is available to all. Who in your life needs to hear this truth, and how can you share it with them? How can your own story of brokenness and restoration through Jesus be a testimony to someone who doesn’t yet know Him?

Abraham, Rahab, and Ruth were Gentiles included in Jesus’ genealogy. What does this reveal about God’s heart for people beyond Israel, and how does it challenge us to think about the inclusivity of the gospel? Who in your life or community might feel excluded from God’s love or the church? What practical steps can you take to embody God’s inclusive love to them?