I will not try to dig out a lot of deep thought from this passage but I do want to point out a few significant thoughts about this genealogy.
Some scholars believe that Matthew was writing specifically to a Jewish crowd when he penned this letter to believers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I believe this is significant because for a Jew genealogy is everything. It proves your heritage, and it opens the door to access to certain areas in the Temple. Jesus spent a lot of time speaking in synagogues and at times the Temple. His established lineage proved validity to his teachings among the Jewish people.
Additionally, this genealogy walks the reader from Abraham to Jesus. This is a procession of faith to the establishment of fulfillment. Abraham is listed by the writer of Hebrews as having great faith in an unseen promise. This promise grew a nation and was now fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Establishing who Jesus was as a Jew and how He came to such prominence (an heir of David’s royalty) was important to establish a testimony about who Jesus claimed to be and how he fulfilled these prophecies that Matthew would highlight one after the other throughout the letter. This is also a lineage of Joseph who is the main emphasis in the last section in this opening chapter.
Though this is not a complete genealogy, it was not uncommon. The genealogy given is one of great implication and marked key events in Jewish history all culminating in the birth of Jesus: Abraham to David; David to the exile, and the exile to Christ!
- Reread the genealogy. Do any names stick out? Why?
- How much do you know of your own history? What importance has this played in your current lifestyle?
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