Matthew 1: The “Boring” Genealogy That Isn’t Boring at All

Below is an AI-generated summary of the introduction to Matthew I preached at the Union Gospel Mission on January 27, starting off our study in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1: The “Boring” Genealogy That Isn’t Boring at All

We began our time together by reading Matthew 1 out loud, starting with the genealogy of Jesus and moving into the account of Jesus’ birth. At first, the long list of names felt like the kind of passage many of us are tempted to skim. It can seem repetitive and hard to follow. But as we talked through it, the room started to see why Matthew opens his Gospel this way, and why God wanted this record preserved.

What stood out: God’s sovereign plan

One of the first themes that surfaced was how intentional and detailed this family line is. The genealogy isn’t random, and it isn’t filler. It connects Jesus to Abraham and David, anchoring the story of Christ in the promises God made long before Jesus was born. We discussed how God’s covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 (that through Abraham all nations would be blessed) finds its fulfillment as Matthew introduces the Messiah.

That led to a big takeaway: God will do what He says He will do. He isn’t frantic, surprised, or thrown off course. He is fully in charge, moving history toward His purposes, even across generations, exile, and hardship.

God is good: He sent a Savior, and He’s still saving

From the genealogy we moved into the nativity account: Mary’s pregnancy by the Holy Spirit, Joseph’s righteousness and mercy, and the angel’s message that the child’s name would be Jesus “because he will save his people from their sins.” We reflected on God’s goodness in sending a Savior, not only as an event from 2,000 years ago, but as a present reality. God is still saving, still working, still drawing people to Himself.

God is humble: the Messiah came low

Another theme was the humility of God. Jesus didn’t arrive with earthly power and comfort. He came as a baby, to an ordinary family, in poverty and simplicity. We even discussed the idea of the manger as a feeding trough that may have been made of stone or clay, not the polished wooden image many of us imagine. The point stood either way: God chose the low place. The King came humbly to rescue sinners.

A conversation, not a performance

The tone of the night mattered too. This wasn’t a polished “church service” moment. It was discussion-based, honest, and welcoming. People shared observations freely, asked questions, and wrestled with details. The goal was to stay focused on Matthew 1 and see what it reveals about God, rather than turning it into something abstract or disconnected.

Extra reflections: the nations and the worship of Jesus

Later in the conversation, we talked more broadly about how the story of Jesus reaches beyond Israel to the nations. One person shared insights about the Magi in Matthew 2: Gentiles who came to worship Jesus and brought gifts that point to Jesus’ identity (a king, a priestly reality tied to worship, and even a suffering Savior). This connected back to the earlier point: God’s promise to bless all peoples wasn’t symbolic. From the beginning, the Messiah’s arrival was good news for every nation.

The closing encouragement

We ended with a simple call: don’t leave thinking mainly about yourself. Leave thinking about God, who is sovereign, good, and humble. And as we begin walking through Matthew together, the invitation was clear: keep reading, keep showing up, and keep looking at Jesus, because He is enough.