OLD TESTAMENT TIMELINE

Rare is the person who had not set out to read the Bible thru only to come to the genealogies at which point he went cross eyed and quit.  And yet the Bible tells us in II Timothy 3: 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

What is the purpose of the genealogies?  Please follow.

The Old Testament after Abraham, is roughly divided into 400 year segments from Abraham and forward..

400 years is quite a long time.  This summer we will celebrate the 400^th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.  If you think of all the things that have happened in this country since then, you can begin to get an idea of the time periods of the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament there were 3 covenants that we need to observe.

Adamic – Genesis 3: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Abrahamic – Genesis 12: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Davidic – II Samuel 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

In the three covenants, God promised the Messiah who would some day come.  Each of the covenants emphasized a different aspect the Messiah.

Adamic -  He would be the seed of the woman, (The Virgin Birth)

Abrahamic -  The seed of Abraham would be a blessing to the whole world.

Davidic – The King would sit on the throne of David.

The purpose of the genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3 are to establish that Jesus was the descendant of Adam, Abraham, and David.  He did indeed also fulfill all of the qualifications established in the covenants.

He was Virgin Born,

The Salvation provided has been a blessing to all the families of the earth.

In the Kingdom, his throne is the throne of David, an eternal throne.

Also, in Matthew's genealogy there are 4 women mentioned, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.  All but Ruth had grievous moral sins and Ruth not of the family of the Children of Israel.  And yet all 4 received special mention, clearly establishing the matter of the Grace of God.

When we understand these things, genealogies become wonderful truths even if we can't pronounce the names.