What’s the point of genealogies?

Far from being a dry list of ancient names, Jesus’ family tree in Matthew 1 is full of outsiders, scandals and broken lives. Elaine Storkey takes a closer look at this surprising genealogy and uncovers timeless truths about the extraordinary reach of God’s grace

I have to admit that the opening of Matthew’s Gospel was a mystery to me for years. I couldn’t understand why someone inspired by the Holy Spirit to convey the amazing story of Jesus, God’s Son, should start with a dry, dusty list of people who “begat” other people centuries earlier. I wondered why I needed to know who Amminadab’s father was, or how many generations separated Jehoshaphat and Zerubbabel. It seemed an unlikely route to deep spiritual encounter. Verse 18, and the story of Jesus’ nativity, came as a relief.