Covenant-keeping God (The amazing fact behind Matthew 1:1)

 

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of DAVID, the son of ABRAHAM.” 

One of the exciting mysteries of the Bible is how the New Testament opens up with God saying “I kept my promise.”

Yes, that is the message behind Matthew 1:1.

Many miss it because the first chapter of Matthew (the first book in the New Testament) looks like yet another genealogy reading, but Matthew 1:1 contains an amazing revelation.

...Jesus Christ...

...the SON of David...

...the SON of Abraham...

(Is it coming together for you yet?😀)

God made two separate promises (covenants) with two men from ancient times: David and Abraham. These covenants - the DAVIDIC (2 Samuel 7:11-16) and ABRAHAMIC (Genesis 12:1-3) - had multiple parts, some of which were fulfilled in those men's lifetimes. 

Jesus being the son of DAVID was a fulfillment of the covenant God had made to David to establish his throne forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Through Jesus, David had become the ancestor to the Everlasting King, whose reigns forever. 

Jesus being the son of ABRAHAM was a fulfillment of the covenant God had made to Abraham to make him a source of blessing to all the families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). Through Jesus, Abraham had become the ancestor of the One ordained to reconcile humanity with God. 

In Jesus was the fulfillment of the DAVIDIC and ABRAHAMIC covenant.