The Genealogy of Christ

Background on Matthew

Matthew was almost always found first in the NT canon in the early church.

It’s a bridge between the OT and NT.

“It links the NT with the OT and at the same time insists that God’s central act in Jesus Christ brings the new age.”

Matthew was the most frequently quoted gospel of the church fathers and the most widely read gospel in the early church.

The Gospel of Matthew as a whole serves as a fitting bridge between the Old Testament and the New. No other gospel connects the events of Jesus’s life so thoroughly with the OT as does Matthew.

“Matthew goes out of his way to provide an OT setting for significant events in Jesus’ life, especially in its early stages: his birth, his birthplace, the return from the Egyptian sojourn, the killin of the babes of Bethlehem, residence in Nazareth, the work of the forerunner, the location of his principal labors, his healing ministry, his demeanor as God’s servant, the parabolic cast of his teaching, the offer of himself to Israel, and his arrest. With the exception of the reference to [his birthplace], which is attributed to the scribes, each one of these is prefaced with a formula indicating the fulfillment of Scripture.”

Matthew was written primarily for a Jewish audience and, without question, emphasizes the kingship of Christ. Edmond Hiebert summarizes the book: “Jesus is the anticipated Messiah, and in Him the Old Testament promises have their fulfillment.”

The word “kingdom” occurs approximately 56 times. (more than any other gospel)

“Kingdom of heaven” 32 times

Jesus is called the “Son of David” 9 times

Hiebert makes this observation: “Only this gospel quotes Jesus’ reference to “the throne of his glory.” Only in Matthew is Jerusalem called “the holy city” and “the city of the great King.”

Purpose of Matthew’s Gospel

Hiebert: “Matthew intended it to confirm and encourage persecuted Jewish believers in their faith. They needed to be grounded in their views concerning the nature and mission of Christ…This gospel also provided its Jewish readers with a valuable evangelistic tool. Having been grounded in their own faith through it, they would naturally use it to win others to the same faith. They would be challenged by its references to the Old Testament, which they accepted as authoritative, to show that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the promised Messiah.”

“The very contents of this gospel assured that its value would not be limited to Jewish Christians. It proved to be highly popular among Gentile beleivers. This is confirmed by the widespread use of it by Christian writers in the second century. The universalism of the gospel message proclaimed in Matthew appeals to all believing hearts. [one writer] thus summarizes its functional value for the church:”

“It provided the Church with an indispensable tool in its threefold task of defending its beliefs against attacks from Jewish opponents, of instructing converts from paganism in the ethical implications of their newly-accepted religion, and of helping its own members to live a disciplined life of fellowship based on the records of the deeds and words of their Lord and Master, which they heard read week by week in the orderly and systematic form provided by this evangelist.”

Importance of Genealogies

After conquest of Canaan, it was important for determining a person’s place of residence

Occupation of land was based on tribes

If a person settled a place not his own, he might be called a deserter

Sometimes, transfer of property required accurate knowledge of your family lineage

Royal succession required Davidic lineage

Priestly service required a demonstration that you were from the tribe of Levi

By the time of the first century, we see that knowledge of your lineage was essential to fulfilling the requirements of registration with the government—”enrollment” as we see in Luke 2:1-4

12 OT books contain genealogies in 46 chapters if I counted correctly

More importantly, “Interest in genealogy was fortified especially by Messianic prophecy, according to which the coming Deliverer would be the seed of the woman (Gen 3:15), of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), of Judah (Gen. 49:10), and of David (II Sam.7:12, 13).

Ezra 2:59–62 ESV

59 The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their fathers’ houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: 60 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, and the sons of Nekoda, 652. 61 Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name). 62 These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.

Davidic Covenant

12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sa 7:12–13.

Psalm 132:11 (ESV)

The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.

Isaiah 9:6–7 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Characters from the Past