The Promise Fulfilled
A Sermon on Matthew 1:1
Originally preached Dec. 24, 1961
Scripture
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Sermon Description
Lists of names or genealogies can seem quite obscure, boring, and irrelevant. In his message on Matthew 1:1 titled “The Promise Fulfilled,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the essence of the Christmas message is found in Matthew’s genealogy. If Christianity was just a teaching or philosophy then historical events in the Bible would not matter. If Christianity was merely a new outlook on life, then dates would be no concern. Since Christianity is based upon and concerned with the person of Christ, one can recall that there was a given day when Christ was born. Because Christians are concerned with a person and not just a teaching, they remember that this event really did happen. Take away the event and Christ is taken away. Take away Christ and there is no Christianity. Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights the names of David and Abraham in the genealogy in order to connect the coming of the Messiah with the Old Testament promises. The essence of the Christmas message can be summarized in the fulfillment of these two promises, says Dr. Lloyd-Jones. In God’s covenant with David, He establishes that it is through His posterity that His universal kingdom will be fulfilled. Through Abraham, God commits Himself to the salvation of the nations. Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls listeners to reflect upon the Christmas season and find comfort in the fulfillment of the promises of God. Listen as Dr. Lloyd-Jones bring the message of comfort and joy in the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.
Sermon Breakdown
- Matthew wrote his gospel primarily for the Jews to convince them Jesus is the Messiah.
- Matthew starts by showing Jesus is the son of David and Abraham, fulfilling God's promises.
- Jesus as the son of David fulfills the promise of an eternal king and kingdom.
- Jesus as the son of Abraham fulfills the promise of blessing all nations.
- God's promises are always faithful and sure. He fulfilled promises to David and Abraham.
- God will fulfill future promises of Jesus' second coming and final victory.
- God works on his own timeline to fulfill promises, even overruling sin, so we must be patient and trust.
- The gospel message is about the person and work of Jesus, not just moral teachings.
- We must look to Jesus, the son of David and Abraham, for salvation and an eternal kingdom.
- This Christmas season, we rejoice that God has visited us, kept his promises, and provided salvation.
Sermon Q&A
What Did Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Genealogy of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 1?
What is the significance of the opening verse of Matthew's Gospel?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the opening verse of Matthew's Gospel, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham," has special significance. It introduces the entire New Testament and presents the fundamental principles of the Christian message. This genealogy isn't merely a historical record but conveys the essence of the Christian Gospel—that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan promised throughout the Old Testament.
Why does Matthew begin his Gospel with a genealogy?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Matthew wrote primarily for Jewish readers, which is why he frequently references Old Testament scriptures being fulfilled. The genealogy serves two main purposes: first, to commend the gospel to unbelieving Jews by demonstrating that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies; and second, to help Jewish believers understand how Jesus' life, death, and resurrection aligned with their scriptures and expectations of the Messiah.
What is the significance of Jesus being called "son of David"?
When Matthew identifies Jesus as "son of David," he's highlighting the fulfillment of God's covenant with David. As Lloyd-Jones explains, God promised David in 2 Samuel 7:16 that "thine house and thy kingdom shall be established forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever." Jesus is the king from David's lineage who establishes an eternal kingdom. This, according to Lloyd-Jones, is particularly comforting in troubled times—Jesus is "the king of kings and the Lord of lords" whose kingdom will never end.
What does it mean that Jesus is the "son of Abraham"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that Jesus being called "son of Abraham" refers to the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." As Paul explains in Galatians 3:16, this seed is singular—Christ himself. Through Jesus, salvation comes not just to the Jews but to all nations. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that this demonstrates how the gospel message extends beyond the Jewish people to everyone in the world.
What does the genealogy teach us about God's promises?
The genealogy, according to Lloyd-Jones, teaches us that "God's promises are always sure, always." The birth of Jesus fulfilled promises made to David and Abraham centuries earlier. This should give believers confidence that God will fulfill all His promises, both personal promises to individual believers and His larger promises regarding Christ's second coming and final kingdom. Though God may take what seems to humans like a long time (42 generations from Abraham to Christ), He always fulfills His word.
What unusual aspect of Jesus' genealogy does Lloyd-Jones highlight?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out the inclusion of morally questionable episodes in Jesus' genealogy, such as Judah fathering children with Tamar (who wasn't his wife) and David fathering Solomon through Bathsheba (after committing adultery and murder). Lloyd-Jones finds it remarkable that "God to bring his great purposes to pass, even overrules sin." This demonstrates God's sovereignty—that He can work even through human failures and sins to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
Other Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.