Jesus’ Genealogy

God’s plan for the birth of the Savior unfolds through the people he chooses to be in Jesus’ ancestral line.

For example, Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, hid two Israelite spies and believed in Yahweh. Because of this, she and her entire family were spared when Jericho was captured. Rahab has a place in Jesus’ lineage.

Jesus’ genealogy also mentions Tamar by name, a widow who posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law in order to become pregnant and produce an heir. Despite this controversy, God allowed her and her sons to be a part of Jesus’ ancestry.

David was the youngest, weakest, and least important of his brothers. Yet, contrary to the expectations of the culture, God selected David to become king of Israel and to be part of Jesus’ genealogy (1 Sam. 16:1-13; Matt. 1:1, 6).

King David lusted after Bathsheba, committed adultery with her (resulting in pregnancy), and then had her husband killed in battle. He married her, but their child died because of David’s sin. Bathsheba then conceived again and gave birth to Solomon, who is in Jesus’ lineage as well (2 Samuel 11:1-5, 14-17, 26-27, 12:13-25).

Jesus’ ancestral line was comprised of people who, in spite of controversy and sinfulness, had committed their lives to him. And his genealogy reminds Christians that God can use even the weakest of people to bring about his salvation plan.