Text: Matthew 1:2-16 – “Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”
We get an overview of the background of Jesus through the lineage of Joseph – to establish His rightful position as the King on the Throne of David. Matthew uses a technique that helps with memorization (in that day they learned orally, books were not available). He divides the section into three parts.
Section 1 takes us from Abraham to David (1:2 – 6).
In this section, it is thrilling to read. Why? It has four names that jump out – because they are women. First of all, women were never included in the genealogies of that day. Also – they were Gentiles. Two Canaanites, one Moabite, and one Hittite.
First, we see Tamar. (vs.3). Her story in Genesis 38 – it includes prostitution with Father-in-law Jacob. She is there because she is a sinner.
Next look at Rahab (vs.5). Her story is in Joshua chapter 2 – she was a prostitute. She is there because she believed. We must remember that one comes as a sinner, then they reach out in faith.
Then comes Ruth (vs.5). She was a good person but in Deut. 23:3 we find a law that shuts out Moabites and Ammonites. She is there because a man named Boaz who loved her. Continuing our progression – come as a sinner, reach out your hand in faith, and Jesus by His marvelous grace will save us.
Finally, we have Bathsheba (not mentioned by name) but described in verse 6. She got into the genealogy of Jesus because God does not throw overboard one of His children who sins.
The second section is from Solomon to Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) (1:7 – 11).
As we go through these names, we find that as we compare them with 1 Chronicles 3 – some of the names are left out. An example is in verse 8. Uzziah was not the son, but the great-great-grandson of Joram. Genealogies are given to show a particular line, not necessarily all who are in that line. In verse 11, Matthew skips Jehoiakim and includes Jeconiah. Take time to look at Jeremiah 22: 24, 30. Notice he is called Coniah (removed “Je” as this refers to God). He was to be considered childless – no one of his line would sit on David’s throne. Thus, from Joseph’s line, Jesus could not be the Messiah. But by Luke giving us Mary’s genealogy tracing from Nathan, thus allows for Jesus to be the promised one.
The third and final section is from Shealtiel to Jesus (1:12 – 16).
Notice carefully the wording of verse 16 – “And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Not that Joseph begot Jesus. Here Matthew is making it clear that Joseph was not the father of Jesus, he is the husband of Mary, but not Jesus’ father.
Why? Because he will make it
clear in the following verses that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies
through the Virgin Birth. So, tomorrow we will finish this section with verse
17 – the Review.
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