Chuck Foreman – Teaching Pastor

Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus broke every social taboo of his day.  He purposely intended it to give clues to the Good News his Messiah had brought to earth. The pedigree of Jesus was not as pure as you would think. It was a scandalous family tree, but it brought Good News! Our faith is not gender, race, or performance based. From the very beginning it has been for men and women, Jews and Gentiles, saints and sinners.  Aren’t you glad?! 

And Matthew, who was Levi, the despised tax collector, but included by Jesus himself into his inner circle of disciples, knew that we have a Savior who came specifically for those previously excluded—women, gentiles, sinners, and the poor. His love demands that grace be courageously extended to the rejected, the outcast, and the condemned, against the tide of all social expectations.

By accepting not rejecting, by loving not judging, by rescuing not condemning those who were already broken and damaged, Jesus carried out a higher justice and fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah…

“A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.”

(Isaiah 42:3-4)