Spiritual Genealogy


I'm beginning a study of the book of Matthew on Wednesday mornings at our church.


The first verses of Matthew are not the most exciting verses of the whole Bible. . . Matthew begins with the genealogy of Jesus:

Matthew 1:1 The book (biblos) of the genealogy (genesis) of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:


The first two words in Greek are: biblos genesis. . . The book of beginnings. . . Mirroring the first book of the Pentateuch. The book of beginnings. The Jews of the day would immediately recognize the parallel significance. . . The beginning of the world created by God in Genesis 1. . . The beginning of the world saved by God in Genesis 2.

Matthew's genealogy begins with Abraham who lived about 2000 years before Jesus. . .

It has always seemed dry and boring. There are a few people of interest, but most are faceless names lost in trackless time. Until it came to me. . .

I too have a genealogy. . . a nameless, faceless unbroken line of believers beginning from the household of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 down to Butch Longenecker and his mom Helen Warren some 2000 years later, who asked Jackie and I to church that first Sunday of June 2000.

An unbroken line of believers, passing their faith, spawning not physical generations, but generations of the spiritually reborn. My physical DNA gave my body life, my spiritual DNA has given me the chance of life eternal with God. I owe a huge debt to each individual through the past 2000 years who have passed their message of hope and faith down to me.

I now read Matthew's genealogy with tears of gratitude and an overflowing heart, imagining. . . visualizing in each of Matthew's name, my spiritual heritage in the names recorded for us from Jesus' line.

Matthew 1:1-17 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

I am overcome. . . 2000 years of believers gave birth to me, and now passing this great heritage on to my family and others. . .

I love You my God. . .
I thank You for those who passed down their faith to me. . .


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