Jesus' Family Tree

INTRO

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ

The first book of the NT reminds us of the first OT book--Genesis, the book of generations

The OT begins and ends with genealogies (Genesis and Chronicles

3 Functions of Genealogies (CLC)

Show the character of a particular line (Gen 4:25)

Demonstrate God’s working in history with a particular people

Prove biological succession

Knowing one’s lineage was important for...

Property distribution

the priesthood (Neh 7:61-64)

Ensuring the blood lines were pure from foreign blood, especially during the days of Hellenization (Dt 7:1-4; Dt 23:1-8)

Jewish military arranged by tribes (Num 1:2-4; 2:2)

Taxes and offerings in the temple (Num 7:11-89)

Messianic fulfillment depended on the line of David (Is 11:1-5)

DISCUSSION

The Son of David

The Importance of Matthew’s Genealogy (France, TNTC)

Places Jesus fully in line with the OT history

3 groups of 14 indicates “the time of preparation is now complete” and Jesus was the fulfillment of Jewish expectations

Stakes Jesus’ claim to the title “King of the Jews”

Establishes his status as the “Son of David” with David mentioned twice and the number 14

The scandalous nature of the line of David fits with the manner of Christ’s birth

Observations on Matthew’s Genealogy

It is all about showing Jesus’ connection to David, “son of David” listed prior to son of Abraham vs 1

3 sets of 14 generations

Abraham to David

David to the exile

The exile to Joseph

David is counted twice according to Mt 1:17

Numeric value of David = 14

Hebrews counted using their alphabet (aleph = 1, beth = 2, etc)

Daleth (4) + vav (6) + Daleth = 14

The Son of Man

Differences in Matthew and Luke

Matthew begins with Abraham and goes forward, but Luke starts with Jesus and works backward to Adam

From Abraham to David is nearly identical in both lists, but from David to Joseph, Luke is very different. They are two different lists. Only similarities are Shealtiel and Zerubbabel (Mt 1:12; Lk 3:27)

In Luke 42 generations from David to Joseph; Matthew 27

How do we explain the differences in the two?

Matthew gives the legal descent while Luke gives the physical descent of Christ

Matthew asks, “Who is the heir of David?” Luke: “Who is Joseph’s father?”

doubtful that Luke gives the line of Mary; he doesn’t even mention Mary

The Savior

4 women mentioned

Uncommon to mention women in a genealogy

These are women of scandal and foreign

Tamar--guilty of prostitution and incest (Gen 38:6-30); probably a Canaanite (Gen 38:11, 13-14)

Rahab--harlot (Josh 2:1, 3; 6:17, 23, 25); Canaanite

Ruth the Moabitess

Bathsheba---an adulteress (2 Sam 12:24); wife of Uriah the Hittite

Mary’s description different than the other women

first four “...begat...of” (Mt 1:4-6)

Mary “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ” (Mt 1:16)

Matthew is showing that Joseph was not the natural father of Jesus. “Of whom” is feminine, a subtle claim to Jesus being born of a virgin

Exhortation

God is interested in people--all of these listed are made in the image of God, people who He loves

God can use unknown, sinful people to accomplish His will

God is sovereign; He controls history through humans. His will will be accomplished

We see the humanity of God’s Son

Jesus is King; He’s both God and Man; and He’s the Savior. Is he yours?