Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Key Verses: 3, 5, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23,
Matthew grounds Jesus in the heritage of the Jewish patriarchs, a necessary trait for the Messiah, and a necessary connection for the Jewish readers of this Gospel. He lays out the genealogy in three groups of fourteen relatives to help them remember it. As was common in that day, not every generation is listed. This is the line traced through Joseph, Mary’s wife, back to Abraham, the father of the Jews.
Take note of the three women mentioned in this list: Tamar, Rahab and Ruth. Tamar pretended to be a prostitute and tricked her father-in-law into having relations with her by which she became pregnant. Rahab was a prostitute, and Ruth was a foreigner and a widow. All three of these women were blots on the family tree, and yet God chose to use them and showcase them in this genealogy. God can use anyone who is willing, regardless of any past transgressions. Forgiveness is available, and restoration as well. Jesus came to save people just like these.
Notice that Matthew is very careful to not say that Joseph was Jesus’ father, which is a confession of scandal. Who is the father then? Why would Joseph go forward with the marriage knowing that the child is not his? What good could come from such a scandalous union?
Matthew answers these questions in the following verses. Joseph thought about not proceeding with the marriage, sending Mary away to live a life of shame, and being done with it. But an angel interrupted his plans. He is to marry her, even though the baby is not his, but is from God. And the boy born will bring salvation to Israel. There are more questions raised in these verses, but Joseph obeys the message from God sent through the angel. Theologians are still trying to understand the divine-human conception.
The reason it had to be this way is because prophecy from 600 years earlier had foretold these events. God had directed Isaiah to write about the future as a way to encourage his readers in a very difficult time. Isaiah brought hope to his readers, and in doing so, gave a glimpse into the distant future, the virgin birth of Jesus. Matthew mentions this prophecy to connect Jesus’ life and death to Jewish history and expectations. Jesus is the One they have been waiting for. He is God with us.
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