What Jesus Did! 'To All Nations' — Matthew 1:1-6

Thursday, January 2, 2025

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.
Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.
Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of King David.

— Matthew 1:1-6 NLT

Key Thought

Matthew's gospel, while in many ways the most Jewish of the gospels, emphasizes God's love and grace for all people. At the beginning of Jesus' life on earth, he is welcomed by foreigners, Magi, who come from many miles away to worship him. At the end of Jesus' life on earth, he challenges his disciples to go tell every nation about him and his Good News, baptizing them and welcoming them into God's family. Even in the genealogy of Jesus, Matthew prepares us for the fact that, by God's grace, all people can be included in God's family. In the lineage of great King David, and of the Messiah Jesus, is a Gentile woman. Her name is Ruth, and her story is a marvelous story of God's grace and the faithful heart that finds its home in the God of Israel.

Today's Prayer

Father God, Lord of all peoples, please use my study of the Gospel of Matthew this year to awaken my heart to the needs of everyone to know about Jesus. Please give me more understanding and make me less judgmental of other cultures and races. Help me see your image in each person I encounter and see each one's need to know you as Abba Father. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

12 Related Resources by Heartlight

All in the Family
Article by Phil Ware
When God chose to come into our world through a child, he chose a family line that was every bit as messed up as our world. Phil Ware is using December to remind us how to welcome Jesus during this special time and what Jesus' coming means for each of us.
An Early Christmas Would Be Nice
Article by Max Lucado
Despite all the mess and the complications, God came to live among us being born in a place where animals fed. Max Lucado reminds that Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ and Messiah, came to us in a manger in Bethlehem.
God's Promise Fulfilled
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:"
This Is Our Story, Too! (SOR 4.0)
Article by James Nored & Phil Ware
The more most of us examine our past, the more we realize that our family tree is full of interesting stories that have shaped our identity. James Nored shares about God's story through Abraham and David to Jesus and Phil Ware helps us understand the meaning of the story through the genealogy of Jesus.
See All 12 Related Resources about Matthew 1:1-6

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 1:1-6 NLT — Jesse was the father of King David.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'My Need' (Ro. 5:6-11)
"Dear Father, gracious God, Thank you, dear Father, that while we were helpless, Christ our Savior died for the ungodly. You showed your love for us....."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'He Loves with Unfailing Love' (Ps. 117:1-2)
"Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For he loves us with unfailing love; the Lord's faithfulness endures..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Morning Thought: Romans 11:26
"Then Moses sang at the Red Sea, it was his joy to know that all Israel were safe. Not a drop of spray fell from that solid wall until the last of..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'The Holy Spirit Gave the Ability!' (Acts 2:3-6)
"Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of [the believers]. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit..."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!