Matthew 1:1-17

Jesus’ Geneaology

Matthew 1:1–17 (CSB)

An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Abraham fathered Isaac,

Isaac fathered Jacob,

Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,

Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,

Perez fathered Hezron,

Hezron fathered Aram,

Aram fathered Amminadab,

Amminadab fathered Nahshon,

Nahshon fathered Salmon,

Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,

Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,

Obed fathered Jesse,

and Jesse fathered King David.

David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Solomon fathered Rehoboam,

Rehoboam fathered Abijah,

Abijah fathered Asa,

Asa fathered Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,

Joram fathered Uzziah,

Uzziah fathered Jotham,

Jotham fathered Ahaz,

Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,

Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,

Manasseh fathered Amon,

Amon fathered Josiah,

and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers

at the time of the exile to Babylon.

After the exile to Babylon

Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel,

Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,

Abiud fathered Eliakim,

Eliakim fathered Azor,

Azor fathered Zadok,

Zadok fathered Achim,

Achim fathered Eliud,

Eliud fathered Eleazar,

Eleazar fathered Matthan,

Matthan fathered Jacob,

and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,

who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Matthew writes a detailed account of Jesus’ geneaology while Luke provides more details about the birth narrative.

Matthew 1:1 CSB

An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

Three themes highlight why Matthew chose to include the details of the birth narrative.

fulfillment of scripture

Who Jesus is and what key locations were involved in his birth

Matthew develops a contrast between the illegitimate King Herod and the legitimate King Jesus.

Matthew begins his gospel similarly to the Torah. (beginning of kingdom, reshith)

The first phrase “biblos geneseos” literally translates a book of the genesis (origin) of Jesus.

However there is a big difference. OT genealogies give a person’s descendants. This gives Jesus’ ancestors. Matthew’s meaning here is that Jesus is the focal point of history and the one that gives his, and Israel’s, ancestors meaning. God has directed Israel and preserved the line of David because of His plan to send Jesus.

Matthew begins this section in 1:1 with the same title he ends in 1:16.

The first title of Jesus is given as “Christ,” which is a greek translation of the Hebrew “Meshiach” or messiah, which means annointed one.

“Son of David” emphasizes his royal lineage and being a righteous warrior king. He is the heir of David.

“Son of Abraham” emphasizes Jesus’ lineage back to the founding father of Israel. He is the heir of Abraham. Abraham, being the first convert to Judaism, could be presented as the first follower of Jesus.

This is also a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3

Genesis 12:1–3 (CSB)

The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

Matthew 1:2-17.

The first portion (1-6) of the genealogy proves the claim of “Son of Abraham.”

The second portion is proving “Son of David”

The emphasis of the number 14 ties the genealogy of Jesus to David, whose consonants value 14 and is the 14th entry. (gematria)

This gives credibility to the idea that Matthew originally wrote this gospel in Hebrew.

there is a difference between Luke and Matthew with lists of ancestors. One answer is...

1) Matthew is using Mary’s genealogy to David rather than Joseph’s.

2) due to levirate marriage, some children have different biological parents than legal parents.

Matthew was very interested in Jesus’ direct connection to David.

Names like Judah, Ruth, David, Uzziah, Hezekiah, and Josiah, evoke images of spiritual heroes of Judaism.

Verses 13-15 are names that don’t have a parallel in scripture or antiquity.

Genealogies are typically all male. The inclusion of 5 women is significant.

five women are mentioned in the genealogy and four of them are gentiles. Through these interracial marriages we see some of Jesus’ mission.

Tamar, canaanite

Rahab, Jericho

Ruth, Moabitess

Bathsheba, probably Hittite

Other women could have been emphasized if matriarchy was the point. (Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel) Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel all had extra ordinary birth stories.

Why these 4 women? They have two common characteristics. One is that they are all gentile.

Second reason is that all 4 have suspicions of illegitimacy surrounding sexual activity and childbearing. This fits with the circumstances surrounding Mary that Matthew refutes vs 18-25.

questions about Jesus’ birth legitimacy, See John 8:48

John 8:48 (CSB)

The Jews responded to him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you’re a Samaritan and have a demon?”

While suspicions of illegitimacy haunted members of Jesus’ messianic genealogy, it did not impugn the spiritual character of the individuals involved. Jesus came to save them as well as all people.

Jesus will ignore the shame titles and offer a gospel of salvation to all.

While several kings are listed, only David is given the title “King.”

Vs. 16 emphasized Mary giving birth to Jesus over Joseph’s fatherhood. Instead it emphasizes Joseph’s husbandry to Mary which emphasizes the virgin birth.