Today's Passage:  Matthew 1

As a kid, how many times were you asked or told to "Prove it!" after making a declaration of fact or belief?  The pressure was then on you to demonstrate or convince your audience you were right.

Matthew sets out to prove to the Jews that Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the Law and therefore the Messiah they had been waiting for.  He begins with the genealogy of Christ to show the continuity between the Israel of the Old Testament and Jesus.  He also shows the royal lineage of Jesus with king David and his link to the father of the Jewish race, Abraham.

While you probably don't need to quote the lineage from memory to testify of Christ, it is important to understand this fulfillment as part of what Peter states as being ready to give the reason you believe (1Peter 3:15).  Even if your reasons for coming to faith in Christ are not fulfillment of the Law, mentally collect this as evidence for those you meet who will need it.