馬太福音以耶穌基督的家譜為開始，但這樣的開始並不只是一連串的名字而已。因為「家譜」一詞也包含了「創造」的意思。舊約創世記中，追溯宇宙與人類的被造；現在馬太以耶穌的降臨開創了一個新紀元。上帝呼召亞伯拉罕之後，就不斷的朝著完成祂偉大的救贖計畫邁進。而耶穌，這位預言中的彌賽亞則以祂生命的每一個層面，實現了舊約的預言，包括：報喜、誕生、童年、受洗和成長。

        你對上帝命令的順服程度如何？若以一到十的順服刻度表為準(一代表絕對不順服，十代表絕對順服)，你會給自己幾分？
        說明順服極其重要的典範在今天的經文裡處處可見。第一章家譜中就有許多名字，在靈性墮落的時代中閃爍著順服上帝的光輝，諸如：亞伯拉罕、路得、大衛、希西家、約西亞、約瑟。第三章敘述施洗約翰的事奉，他傳講悔改和結果子的信息──這是一篇要求絕對順服的信息。第四章則講到耶穌順服上帝的旨意及話語，而不對撒但詭詐的試探稍作妥協。
        在你生命中的那一部份正是上帝要求你順服的？知道上帝要你做什麼是一回事，在日常生活中，真正做到順服又是另一回事了！在本頁空白處，從耶穌的家譜中列舉出三個不同人物的順服之舉(比方說，亞伯拉罕因順服上帝而離開吾珥)，然後把你的名字添在名單上，就在今天憑著信心展開一個順服的行動吧！

彌賽亞降臨對普世的影響？
        基督來臨不只是對猶太人意義重大，就是對外邦人也一樣。請注意：馬太福音一章裡有四個外國女子，另有來自東方的博士，及四章二十五節提到跟隨基督的外邦人。

信心乃順服之始。

English

        Matthew begins his gospel with a record of genealogy of Jesus Christ. But this beginning is more than merely a tabulation of names, for the word genealogy can also mean "genesis." The Old Testament book of Genesis traces the creation of the universe and man; now Matthew shows that the advent of Jesus inaugurates a "new creation." From the call of Abraham, God has been moving to accomplish His great redemptive plan. Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, fulfills the Old Testament promises in every facet of His life: annunciation, birth, boyhood, baptism, and upbringing.

        How well do you obey divine directives? On an obedience scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 being ''consistently disobedient." 10 being "consistently obedient"), how would you rate yourself?
        Today's reading abounds with examples of the importance of obedience. The genealogy of chapter 1 sparkles with the names of those who obeyed God in times of spiritual decadence: Abraham, Ruth, David, Hezekiah, Josiah, Joseph. Chapter 3 describes the ministry of John the Baptist as he preached a message of repentance and fruit-bearing—a message demanding uncompromising obedience. In chapter 4, Jesus was obedient to God's will and Word, rather than agree to Satan's subtle temptations.
        In what area of your life is God speaking to you about obedience? It is one thing to know what God wants you to do; it is something else to make obedience a commitment in your daily schedule. In the margin or on a piece of paper, write the acts of obedience performed by three different people in the genealogy (for example, Abraham obeyed God by leaving Ur). Now add your name to the list, together with an act of obedience you will undertake by faith today.

The Worldwide Impact of Messiah's Appearing —
        Christ's coming held significance not merely for the Jews, but for Gentiles as well. Note the four alien women listed in the genealogy of chapter 1, the Magi from the East, and Christ's Gentile following in 4:25.

Faith is the starting point of obedience.