THE UNSPEAKABLE FAMILY TREE OF JESUS (Matthew 1:1-17)

1. THE UNSPEAKABLE FAMILY TREE OF JESUS (Matthew 1:1-17) Christmas Sermon 2010

2. INTRODUCTION • Alex Haley became a household word and an instant millionaire when he wrote a book tracing his ancestry back to his "Roots". • Most of us have some interest in our family tree because somehow it connects us to our ancestors. • Most of us also find some ancestors we would rather not be identified with. • Jesus had just such ancestors, but he chose to identify himself with them. • I would like for us to look at several of them today.

3. 1. TAMAR THE SCHEMER (Genesis 38) • A. Married to the family of Abraham (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Er). • B. Three brothers; Er, Onan, Shelah. • C. Tamar married to Er, but he was killed. • D. Law required Onan to take her to wife. • E. He refused to give her a child & died. • F. Only Shelah remained and he was too young.

4. TAMAR THE SCHEMER (Continued…) • G. Judah sent her home to her parents and conveniently forgot about her. • H. Angered, she posed as a prostitute and seduced Judah, requiring guarantee of payment which she hid and kept. • I. Not knowing that the child was his, Judah hypocritically demanded her death. • J. She produced the proof of his sin. • K. Twins were born to her, one of whom was Perez, an ancestor of Jesus.

5. 2. RAHAB THE LYING PROSTITUTE (Joshua 2;6:22-25) • A. Gentile woman who lived in Canaan when Israel first marched into the Promised Land. • B. Joshua sent two spies into Jericho, and they visited the house of a prostitute. • C. Somehow, she discovered that they were spies and arranged to hide them in exchange for the safety of her family. • D. When the king came looking for them, she lied about their whereabouts, and they were able to escape. • E. When Jericho fell, Joshua spared her and her family. • F. She gave birth to Boaz, great grandfather of King David.

6. 3. DAVID THE LUSTFUL MURDERER, (2 Sam 11,12) • A. David was king by God's choice. • B. He had become a great king and his heart was filled with pride and presumption. • C. He saw Bathsheba bathing and wanted her for himself. • D. She became pregnant and David plotted the murder of her husband, Uriah, in order to cover his tracks. • E. He then took her as his wife. • F. Though that child died, Bathsheba later gave birth to Solomon, ancestor of Jesus. • G. David and Bathsheba were equally guilty.

7. 4. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS? • Tamar: • A. Life had been cruel, 2 husbands dead, no source of support. • B. She was hurt and vengeful. • C. How many of us here have been the victims of unfairness in life? • D. Jesus was not ashamed of Tamar.

8. THE IMPLICATIONS (Continued…) • II. Rahab: • A. Rahab had lost her self-respect. • B. She sold her body and soul to the highest bidder. • C. She lied in order to protect herself. • D. Jesus was not ashamed of Rahab and included her in Faith's Hall of fame (Hebrews 11:31).

9. THE IMPLICATIONS (Continued…) • III. David: • A. No-one mourned more for his sin than David himself did. • B. No-one ever paid more for his sin; • a. The baby died. • b. His son raped his own sister. • c. Absalom led a rebellion. • d. He never achieved the greatness he could have. • e. How many times must he have wished he could undo what he had done. • C. Jesus was not ashamed of David.

10. THE IMPLICATIONS (Continued…) • D. You and me! • a. Like Tamar, you have deceived. • b. Like Rahab, you have compromised your moral integrity. • c. Like David, you have sinned.

11. INVITATION: God forgives, let Him!

12. Sermon taken from the personal sermon notes collection of Dr. Arnold Lastinger Slides designed by The Virtual Preacher Visit our pastors’ resource blog: www.virtualpreacher.org