Even Jesus Had Problem People in His Family

When reading Matthew 1:1-17, it's easy to gloss over the long list of names in Jesus' genealogy. But behind each name is a story–and often, a scandal. Abraham lied. Jacob deceived. Judah fathered children by his daughter-in-law. David committed adultery and murder. Solomon began well but ended in idolatry. Manasseh practiced child sacrifice before repenting. And yet, all of these were ancestors of Jesus Christ.

This isn't just biblical trivia–it's theology in action.

God didn't sanitize Jesus' family tree. He didn't skip over the liars, the adulterers, the idol worshipers, or the foreigners. Instead, He included them. Not to endorse their sins, but to show that God works through real people with real problems to accomplish His divine purpose.

For many of us, family isn't easy. We carry the weight of broken relationships, past regrets, and the scars of those who came before us. We may feel disqualified or discouraged by the dysfunction we come from. But Matthew 1 reminds us: God is not limited by our lineage. He redeems it.

Jesus came from sinners in order to save sinners. His bloodline tells the story of redemption, grace, and divine mercy. It shows us that no background is too broken, no history too shameful, for God to use.

If God could bring the Savior of the world through such a lineage, He can certainly bring hope, healing, and purpose through yours.

So the next time you feel embarrassed by your family's faults–or your own–remember: even Jesus had "problem people" in His family. And He came to redeem people just like them.