Scripture: Ruth 4:13-17; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38

Aim: To help the student understand that Jesus Christ was born of the lineage of David.

Golden Text: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32).

The angel Gabriel come to visit Mary, who was of the lineage of David the beloved king of Israel. The words of the Golden Text above are some of his words to Mary, who was espoused to Joseph of Nazareth. They are words relating to Jesus of Nazareth, Who was to be born to Mary.

The king of Israel has to be in the line of King David, who ruled Israel from B.C. 1010 to B.C. 1070. Jehovah God promised that David’s family would maintain the throne and that the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, would rule over Israel and the world.

I. Boaz, the husband of Ruth, was the great-grandfather of David (Ruth 4:13-22). Ruth gave birth to a son of Boaz, Obed. Obed’s wife gave birth to Jesse, the father of David (vs. 17-22). The lineage of David is traced from Pharez to David in this passage.

The first promise of a coming Messiah was given to Adam in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). The same promise was given and expanded to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). The lineage was to be through Isaac and Jacob. The lineage from Jacob was to pass through Judah, thus giving the tribe from which Messiah would come. Compare this passage Ruth 4:18-22 with I Chronicles 2:3-15.

II. The promise of Messiah was given through the lineage of David by Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6-7). This prophecy is clear. God would give a Son (divine). A child (human) would be born. The government would be upon his shoulder. He would be the “Wonderful-Counsellor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace,” and would rule on the throne of David “forever.”

III. The line of David is given in the New Testament by Matthew and Luke. The lineage given in Matthew give the line of Joseph from David. The line of Mary is given in Luke to show the lineage of David. Since Jesus is virgin born, not the son of Joseph, his lineage is traced through his mother. Thus Jesus is a “son of David,” who is to be King on the throne of David (over Israel and the whole world). His throne shall be forever because He is the “King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16).

The truth has been revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Men ought to read and believe the truths that are recorded there. Jehovah God, the only true God, Creator of all things, has spoken to men through prophets and lastly through His divine Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).

Many question and many deny the truth that Jesus Christ is the Divine Son of God come into the world to pay for man’s sins. These persons will some day be brought face to face with Jesus Christ, the King, the Judge, the Savior. They will give an accounting to Him.

In the light of these facts, man should humble himself, repent of his sins against God (for all sin is against God first, then others), and accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior.

The celebration of Christmas (not Xmas, not holidays) is a celebration to the coming of this Son of God into the world to die for sinners (Matthew 1:20-23). He is Emmanuel, God with us. The promise of His coming has been fulfilled. The promise that He shall rule over the world on the Throne of David, is yet to come. We celebrate his birth. Will we be among those who worship and adore Him this Christmas? This writer prays that we all will “put Christ back into our Christmas.”