The True Story Of Christmas Part 5: Matthew's Remarkable Genealogy Of Jesus Christ

 

Why did Jesus have 2 genealogies?

The genealogies found in the gospel of Matthew and of Luke have specific purposes to accomplish and they reveal some startling details about the birth of the Son of God. 

We will begin with Matthew's list since it comes first and he is presenting Jesus Christ as the rightful heir to the throne of King David.

I do not expect you to be able to pronounce all the names in this list but I do want to place the text in front of us. 

Matthew 1:1-17 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Jesus Christ is connected to the two great covenants

First, Matthew's genealogy connects Jesus Christ to the 2 great covenants God made with His people. The Davidic covenant found in 2 Samuel 7 and the Abrahamic covenant found in Genesis 12. 

Matthew's list of names traces Jesus family tree from His father Joseph back to the throne of King David because Christ must be a proven descendant of King Solomon, David's son.

Five Unusual women are included in line of Christ

Matthew's list includes 4 Old Testament women & one from the New Testament. Their names are included as part of the inspired record because the Spirit of God wants to teach us something. 

Tamar and Rahab were prostitutes. 

Tamar was a distant grandmother of King David. 

Rahab became King David's great great grandmother. 

Ruth was a Moabite and former pagan woman descended from a people who opposed the people of God. She became King David's great grandmother. 

Bathsheba was a woman who committed adultery with King David and the mother of King Solomon. She became King David's wife. 

Why are these 4 women in the family tree of Christ? 

It shows the grace of God in working in the lives of of people who were societal outcasts and looked down upon. 

It shows that God can save the worst of sinners and change their lives so that they honor Him and can serve Him in some way. 

It also displays the sovereign hand of Jehovah in extended mercy upon whomever He chooses to give mercy. 

It shows that Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus Christ

Mary the mother of Jesus is also included in this list and an important distinction is made about her. 

Every male listed was the father (begat) of someone in the line of Christ except Mary. 

Instead of Joseph being the man who "begat" Jesus the text carefully says "Joseph the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus." 

Why? Because Jesus Christ is the long promised seed of the woman and although Joseph was His earthly father in terms of his immediate family, God was the Father of Jesus Christ.  

The "seed" that was planted in the womb of Mary the virgin was put there by God, as we shall see. 

The simple words "of whom" are feminine pronouns in the Greek that indicate Mary was the physical mother of Jesus but also indicate that Joseph was NOT the physical father of Christ.

The very next text in Matthew's gospel goes on to explain just how the birth of Christ happened since Joseph was not His biological father. 

Points to Ponder....

Matthew's list connects Christ to the covenant God made with Abraham

Matthew's list connects Christ to the royal line of King David.

Matthew's list includes 4 women of poor reputation who received mercy from God and had their lives changed

Matthew's list includes specific Greek words showing that while Mary was the physical mother of Christ, Joseph was not His biological father. 

The covenant God made with Abraham in Genesis 12, 15 & 17 is one of grace. God initiated it and took care of all its obligations. 

Part of the covenant states that all peoples of the earth will be blessed through Abraham. Part of that blessing is the savior Jesus Christ born as the seed of the woman.

The Davidic covenant is God's promise to King David that the Messiah would come through his family and that Christ would establish an everlasting kingdom. 

The universal rule of Jesus Christ over all the world will also benefit all nations because God's perfect righteousness will become the rule of law and all offenders will be swiftly dealt with. 

Matthew's genealogy shows us that all those who are born again are made part of the two great covenants through knowing Christ. 

It also reminds us that God is willing to save sinners and and reorient their lives onto the God pleasing path. 

No one can fix people broken by sin except our gracious God and this is why Christ was born. To save sinners like you and me. Glorious news of Christmas. 

Bob