Christ the King

The birth of Christ, as recorded in Matthew, begins with a genealogy. Often genealogies in the Bible get overlooked because the list of names is (by and large) unfamiliar and seemingly insignificant. However, Bible genealogies are part of Scripture, which means that are given by inspiration of God. As a result, they are true, accurate, and purposeful.

The purpose of a given genealogy can be deduced from its context and often shows qualification. In Matthew’s case, the genealogy is of Christ, and it shows that the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be King. As King, He is the rightful ruler of His Kingdom and over His people, forever! First and foremost, He is the rightful ruler of our lives and in our hearts. We welcome Him as King of our lives at salvation.

These realities of Christ’s Kingship are fulfilled in the three major covenants in the OT: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Davidic Covenant, and the New Covenant. The Abrahamic Covenant promises a land and a seed. The Davidic Covenant promises a King to rule eternally over His people. The New Covenant ushers in the promise of forgiveness of sins, the indwelling Spirit, and a new heart.

Each of these covenants is implied in Matthew 1:1: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” The Lord will fulfill His promises, and He does so through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the King.