Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:1-17.

  Matthew is the Gospel of the King and His Kingdom. The anticipation of the people of God was the soon coming of the Messiah. He would be a King-Deliverer, a Savior to free Israel from Roman tyranny, and then froming His Kingdom community. The Gospel of Matthew was written to bring new understanding of the Kingdom of God breaking into time and the forming of a believing community of Jesus followers.
  At the time of the writing of Matthew, there were thousands of Hebrew believers in Jesus as well as hundreds of non-Jews who had pulled along side to worship Jesus as their new found King. This new community was just beginning to understand it's mission as the first fruits of the Kingdom of God.
  Matthew uses language that applies the majesty of Jesus to peoples' lives. This means that our life as a believer, is to acknowledge Jesus as Master, and ourselves as His servants. Our role is to confess Him as King of  Kings, and to commit to Him, as an expression of our highest loyalty.
  It is no accident that the concept of the Kingdom appears fifty-five times in Matthew. There are thirty-three references to "the Kingdom of Heaven". This idiom is found only in Matthew among the New Testament writers. The Hebrew community understood this as meaning, the majesty of God breaking into time, now! It wasn't far off, but happening right here on earth. Matthew begins his Gospel by introducing the King to us, Jesus the Messiah.

Discussion:

1. After reading Matthew 1:1-17 discuss the contrast between an earthly King and the King of Kings, Jesus. What does it mean to be a servant of the King?

2. Jesus' lineage is the telling of salvation history. According to biblical history one's life story began with their lineage. Have you researched your roots? Where do they go back to?

3. In Matthew's lineage there are three sections of fourteen generations each. This was a typical Hebraic style of writing during Matthew's time period. The first section is from Abraham to David. What was the nature of God's activity during this period?

4. The second section is the history of Israel to the Babylonian exile. What was the nature of God's activity during this period?

5. The third section is from the Babylonian captivity to the birth of Jesus. What is the heart of this historical section?

6. Four women are given distinction in the Matthew lineage. Name them and give reasons why they would be named. It was not common to list women. Why these particular women?

7. If you have time contrast the lineage in the Gospel of Luke. How are they different? Give some reasons for the differences.

Discovery Section
  What have we discovered about the King? Is our relationship so personal with King Jesus that we consider our lives a life of service? Some days might be better than others, but if we view our days as being a part of salvation history, does that make a difference? We have deep roots that go back to our Father Abraham. You know that Abraham longed for the days we are in. You are part of a great family.
  Matthew's lineage is unique for a number of reasons. Our own salvation history is unique. It is unique because; 1) it is rooted in biblical history, 2) lived by God's grace, 3) divinely inspired. It is up to us to live out this history discovering the King.