A New Kin (Matthew 1:1-17)

What is it to be a community? What binds people together? Over the ages, we humans have tried many answers to these questions—shared enemies, religious belief and ritual, political allegiance, common heritage, charismatic leaders and more. In times of instability, change and division, like our own, the questions take on a new life, as we wonder how we can imagine a common life together in a time of such division. In this series on the book of Matthew, we’ll explore how this Gospel intends to shape a new community of shared life in those called to into the way of Jesus. Setting aside both empire and religious tradition, Jesus subverts king and kingdom with the open invitation to the kindom of God.