Today, many people live in fear because of their family history and heritage. Some feel that their current lives or behaviors have been shaped by their family background, their lineage, or their ancestors\u2014and they don\u2019t know what to do about it.<\/p>\n
But the truth is, none of us has a family line untouched by problems. Starting with our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Bible was written and given to us to show us the way\u2014to stand firm and bravely overcome the powers of evil without fear.<\/p>\n
The book of Matthew begins by outlining Jesus\u2019 genealogy. There was a reason why His family history was introduced first\u2014God wanted to teach us something important. Many people, looking at the list, might think God was showing us that Jesus came from a respected, honorable lineage. But that\u2019s not the case. The truth is, many of those listed had no great reputation at all.<\/p>\n
I want us to see how troubled and messy that family line was\u2014so much so that if God were to judge based on purity, Jesus wouldn\u2019t have even qualified to come as the Savior of the world. His family tree wasn\u2019t full of only good people; there were \u201cprostitutes,\u201d \u201cadulterers,\u201d and even \u201cpagans.\u201d<\/p>\n
For example, Rahab was a prostitute\u2014a real one. Then there was Ruth, a foreigner, who under the Law, the Jews were strictly forbidden to marry (Ezra 9:2) because it was considered unclean. Yet here she is, included in the lineage. If that wasn\u2019t enough, there was Tamar, who committed adultery by deceiving her father-in-law to bear Perez. Then there was Bathsheba, the wife of a thief and adulterer\u2014King David\u2014who wasn\u2019t even one of his lawful wives, yet she was chosen to continue the line that would lead to Christ. The so-called \u201cpure\u201d ones were passed over.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s read:<\/p>\n
\nMatthew 1:1-17 (ESV)<\/strong>
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,
7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa,
8 and Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud,
15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nSo, the family of our Lord Jesus Christ was full of imperfections. You could say it wasn\u2019t \u201cpure\u201d compared to other Jewish lineages. But He is the One who pleased God most of all, even though He came from a corrupted background. He is the Savior who came to set people free, to break every curse, and to bring blessings to the world.<\/p>\n
What is this teaching us?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be afraid. It may be true that your family background is full of sin, prostitutes, drunkards, inherited diseases, poverty, and weakness. Maybe you don\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on, and your family line seems cursed. But let me tell you, stop worrying about your genealogy because no one ever came into this world with a \u201cpure\u201d heritage. Just look at Christ\u2014He finished everything on the cross for you. Believe in the work He completed.<\/p>\n
When you are saved, there is no curse in you, no matter how corrupt your family was, no matter what spirits or curses they passed down. That is over<\/strong>! It has no power inside you, so don\u2019t give it permission\u2014believe in Jesus who has redeemed you.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be someone who goes around trying to break family curses. How many curses will you break? How many ancestors have passed before you? You\u2019d have to go all the way back to Adam to break all the curses. Instead, break them once and for all spiritually<\/strong> by believing in Jesus who freed you.<\/p>\n
Family problems exist for everyone\u2014even among some servants of God\u2014just in different ways. But those who have trusted Christ are free from all curses. Ask them what life is like, and they will tell you.<\/p>\n
Dear brother or sister, once you are saved, the old things are gone. They have become new. What you need to do now is keep knowing Christ more and more so you can have peace. Don\u2019t keep digging up the old stuff. Learn from the family of Jesus.<\/p>\n
God bless you.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Share this good news with others by sharing this message.<\/p>\n
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