What's in an introduction? Some people need no introduction. "Oh, that's Dr. and Mrs. Hasenfeffer. He's the famous heart surgeon who did Big Named Celebrity's surgery." "See over there, that's Tim Travesty, greatest running back of all time until his knee gave out in the big game." Others of us require an introduction and how we are introduced depends on the event. "Please no, call me Bill, not Dr. Johnson," changes to, "While teaching this class, you will call me Dr. Johnson." In writing, it varies depending on purpose and audience. In short, it is all very confusing.
Matthew, on the other hand, introduces his gospel this way, "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (1:1) Just the introduction strongly infers two notions, the audience knows the lineage fairly well or they would otherwise hear that Christ came directly from David who came directly from Abraham. However, that Matthew took the time to state it directly and then follow (v 2 - 17) with the lineage spelled out tells us it is important to link Christ as a descendent to both David and Abraham.
Why such an introduction to the readers of the gospel then and to us? Lineage is important in this case because it spells out the promise to Abraham (father of Israel - Genesis 12) and David, the line of the coming messiah (2 Samuel 7). So, it teaches the hearers and readers of this gospel that Christ is the "anointed one," the promise fulfilled.
We learn that even a short line is vastly important in scripture. We pray that God give us the time to look at his Word and to hear, listen, and learn from it. We praise God for sending us his Son, the Christ.
Hope Men's Ministry
No comments:
Post a Comment