Genealogy of Christ by St Mathew
St. Matthew opens his Gospel account with a formal, stylized listing of Jesus’ ancestors. His purpose is to make it clear that our Lord is truly and fully a member of the Jewish race, a true descendant of Abraham according to the flesh. Consequently, he is a man like all the rest of us in his humanity while being in his person fully divine.
It has been observed that:
a. Matthew wrote for the Jews
b. Mark wrote for the Romans
c. Luke wrote for the Greeks
d. John wrote for the church
Matthew's gospel was designed to convince Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. Whatever else Jesus may have done, if He was not a descendant of Abraham and David, He could not be the Messiah. So a gospel directed especially to the Jews would naturally settle this issue before proceeding.
This genealogy SHOW THAT JESUS FULFILLS TWO MESSIANIC PREREQUISITES...
1. The Messiah had to be a descendant of Abraham - cf. Gen 22:18
2. The Messiah had to be a descendant of David - cf. Isa 11:1-2, 10
-- Mt 1:1 proclaims this to be true of Jesus.
The most striking point is the fact that he lists the genealogy of Joseph rather than that of Mary, while concluding with the observation that it is of Mary that Jesus took flesh. He will then continue his narrative by showing in detail that Joseph was not the father of Jesus according to the flesh for he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a unique and divine manner. Joseph is commissioned, however, by God through the dream, to adopt Jesus as his legal son. This is indicated by the directive he is given to name the child Jesus, for in Jewish practice, the imposing of the child’s name by the father was the public expression of recognition of the child as his own. Accordingly, Jesus is presented by Matthew as the son of David’s descendent, Joseph, by adoption, and the son of Abraham according to the flesh through his mother, Mary.
So Jesus is both "legal" and "fleshly" heir to the throne of David...
a. "Legal" heir by virtue of His adoption by Joseph,
descendant of Solomon
b. "Fleshly" heir by virtue of His birth by Mary, descendant
of Nathan
He introduces the names of four women contrary to Jewish practice, each of whom have in common the fact that they conceived and gave birth by virtue of a special divine intervention. His intent here is to prepare for the still more marvelous divine conception of Jesus by Mary through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus indeed is our Messiah, our savior .Let us prepare our hearts and minds to welcome our King. The season of Advent, of God coming to us, we experience it each day as we bow before our Lord Jesus and submit to his rule in our hearts, minds, and lives. The peaceful rule of Christ is coming. Watch. Pray. Smile and be happy.
St. Matthew opens his Gospel account with a formal, stylized listing of Jesus’ ancestors. His purpose is to make it clear that our Lord is truly and fully a member of the Jewish race, a true descendant of Abraham according to the flesh. Consequently, he is a man like all the rest of us in his humanity while being in his person fully divine.
It has been observed that:
a. Matthew wrote for the Jews
b. Mark wrote for the Romans
c. Luke wrote for the Greeks
d. John wrote for the church
Matthew's gospel was designed to convince Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. Whatever else Jesus may have done, if He was not a descendant of Abraham and David, He could not be the Messiah. So a gospel directed especially to the Jews would naturally settle this issue before proceeding.
This genealogy SHOW THAT JESUS FULFILLS TWO MESSIANIC PREREQUISITES...
1. The Messiah had to be a descendant of Abraham - cf. Gen 22:18
2. The Messiah had to be a descendant of David - cf. Isa 11:1-2, 10
-- Mt 1:1 proclaims this to be true of Jesus.
The most striking point is the fact that he lists the genealogy of Joseph rather than that of Mary, while concluding with the observation that it is of Mary that Jesus took flesh. He will then continue his narrative by showing in detail that Joseph was not the father of Jesus according to the flesh for he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in a unique and divine manner. Joseph is commissioned, however, by God through the dream, to adopt Jesus as his legal son. This is indicated by the directive he is given to name the child Jesus, for in Jewish practice, the imposing of the child’s name by the father was the public expression of recognition of the child as his own. Accordingly, Jesus is presented by Matthew as the son of David’s descendent, Joseph, by adoption, and the son of Abraham according to the flesh through his mother, Mary.
So Jesus is both "legal" and "fleshly" heir to the throne of David...
a. "Legal" heir by virtue of His adoption by Joseph,
descendant of Solomon
b. "Fleshly" heir by virtue of His birth by Mary, descendant
of Nathan
He introduces the names of four women contrary to Jewish practice, each of whom have in common the fact that they conceived and gave birth by virtue of a special divine intervention. His intent here is to prepare for the still more marvelous divine conception of Jesus by Mary through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus indeed is our Messiah, our savior .Let us prepare our hearts and minds to welcome our King. The season of Advent, of God coming to us, we experience it each day as we bow before our Lord Jesus and submit to his rule in our hearts, minds, and lives. The peaceful rule of Christ is coming. Watch. Pray. Smile and be happy.
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