Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: December 17, 2025

Date: Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Advent

Scripture Text:  Matthew 1:1-17

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham became the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah,

whose mother was Tamar.

Perez became the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram the father of Amminadab.

Amminadab became the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon the father of Boaz,

whose mother was Rahab.

Boaz became the father of Obed,

whose mother was Ruth.

Obed became the father of Jesse,

Jesse the father of David the king.

David became the father of Solomon,

whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.

Solomon became the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asaph.

Asaph became the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

Joram the father of Uzziah.

Uzziah became the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amos,

Amos the father of Josiah.

Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers

at the time of the Babylonian exile.

After the Babylonian exile,

Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel the father of Abiud.

Abiud became the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

Azor the father of Zadok.

Zadok became the father of Achim,

Achim the father of Eliud,

Eliud the father of Eleazar.

Eleazar became the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.

Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.

Thus the total number of generations

from Abraham to David is fourteen generations;

from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations;

rom the Babylonian exile to the Christ,

fourteen generations.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today presents the genealogy of Jesus. It reminds us that Jesus’ human family tree included virtuous as well as dishonorable individuals. Jesus’ human family tree included Jews and Gentiles. In the Hebrew Language, each letter has a numerical value. The name David has a numerical value of 14 (Dalet = 4, vav = 6, Dalet = 4; vowels do not have a value). Jesus’ genealogy is 14 generations (David value) X 3 (perfect/divine number). Jesus is heir to Abraham’s covenant and the throne of David. These genealogies are symbolic in that they show the LORD’s faithfulness throughout history.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I realize in Jesus’ genealogy how the LORD is able to work through flawed humans to achieve His perfect plan for us?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, we are your children, your daughters and sons, and we lift our voices in praise and our hearts with love as we consider the lengths and breadths You went to for our life, a life in abundance with You, possible only through the redemption won by your beloved and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Send your Spirit to fortify our spirits, to stir your love within our hearts, and to compel us to live as You created us to live – in You, with You and through You. Grant that as we approach Christmas and the celebration of the gift of your Son to humanity that our love will increase, our hope will grow into joy, and our faith will deepen. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.