Matt 1:16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (17) Thus all the generations from Abraham until David are fourteen generations, and from David until the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon until the Christ, fourteen generations.
The generation of Christ is composed of [first] the Fathers. These are the forefathers, the great persons. All together they make up fourteen generations. [Next are] the Kings. These are the kings, the royalty, who also make up fourteen generations. [Last, come] the Civilians (the captured ones and the recovered ones). The generation of Christ not only includes the high-ranking people, but also the civilians, the insignificant ones, like Mary and Joseph. The poor people, the little people, are also included in the generation of Christ. From this picture of the generation of Christ, we can see that it includes all kinds of people. This generation includes both the called ones, like Abraham, and the ones carried away to captivity. Abraham was called out of Babel, the origin of Babylon. The generation of Christ includes not only the called ones, but also the backsliders. Perhaps five years ago you were a called one, but today you are a backslider. Do not be disappointed. The generation of Christ includes you. This generation includes Jeconiah, a king who was dethroned and carried away to Babylon as a captive. In your Christian life you sometimes have been dethroned. Once you were a king, but you lost your kingship and became a backslider. After captivity there was the recovery. Hence, we have another name, Zerubbabel, the name of recovery. Many captives returned with Zerubbabel. The generation of Christ includes all kinds of people: good ones, bad ones, called ones, fallen ones, and recovered ones. If I were to ask you which kind you are, you may say that firstly you were a called one, then a fallen one, and finally a recovered one.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee, Life-study of Matthew, 1986, pp. 6-7. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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