Matthew 1:1-6 (NLT)
1 This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon.5 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. 6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

The book of Matthew starts out describing the parentage of Christ. This is important information in as it confirms prophecies made throughout the Old Testament. The words are given to prove a claim in history. It details a genealogy from Abraham through David and then onto Christ. For the promises of the future inheritance were given to Abraham and David.

God had a plan for the salvation of man. Both Abraham and David understood God would send a savior to deliver people from the sins of the world. And in these verses we see some of the people God used along the way. Judah had not been faithful in keeping his promise to give his widowed daughter-in-law a son who through his youngest son. So Tamara posed as a prostitute in order to sleep with Judah to become pregnant. Rahab was a prostitute who by faith helped the spies of Israel in Jericho. And David had Bathsheba’s husband Uriah killed so David could cover Bathsheba’s pregnancy resulting from his adultery with her. These were not perfect people, but they were used by God to bring about a perfect Savior, Christ Jesus. God is looking for us to submit out lives to Him no matter what we have done or where we currently are. God wants to use us just like those He has used in the past. Are you ready to let go of your life and turn it over to God? Pray God would use you in whatever means He desires. Pray that you can be a future blessing. Thank God that He can take a sinner and turn them into a useful purpose.