Jesus Christ's genealogy in Matthew's gospel leaves out three kings. But which ones are excluded, and what does their absence teach us?

Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah are kept out of Christ's genealogy. Although they started out well, their hearts were turned away by the end of their lives.

Hezekiah did a great deal of good and had a repentant attitude, but he was also proud and self-centered due to the wealth and success God had given to him.

Joash, Amaziah, and Uzziah, all kings of Judah, shared a common, spiritually deadly characteristic that kept them from being listed in Christ's genealogy.

Deuteronomy is so important that God commands it to be read every seven years. Internalizing it ensures the humility required to become a servant leader.

God points out four kings of Judah who did not remove the high places. Many kings neither built nor destroyed high places, yet God points out four who failed.

King Jehoash (or Joash) of Judah, though he overcame much and did many good things, did not quite have the fortitude to rid the kingdom of its high places.

The history of Israel shows that successful spiritual revivals typically begin with tearing down the idols, which allows the people to turn back to God.

Amaziah was not only lax in destroying idolatry within his realm, but he put his trust in neutered gods and turned away from the God who defeated them.

After several catastrophes, Jehoshaphat finally became convinced that any decision without God in the picture is patently stupid.

Josiah may have been the most righteous of Judah's kings, having fewer foibles than David, but having equivalent leadership skills and a love of God's law.

Abijah had three good years but was suddenly cut off because he didn't remove the idols. One act of faith is only something to build on, not a cause to rest.

Asa left a few things undone, losing steam in his later years and playing it safe. Idolatry was so ingrained in the land that Asa grew weary in well-doing.

The contains a detailed record of both good and bad leaders, and it provides a repetitive principle that 'as go the leadership, so goes the nation.'