Matthew is a riveting book, though it may not appear so at first! In fact, when you open your Bible to Matthew 1, you’ll be greeted by a lengthy list of names. Don’t let that put you off, though! This line-up of monikers is truly meaningful.

What’s the passage about?

This is the epic genealogy of Jesus, from Abraham onwards, highlighting Jesus’ royal lineage.

The genealogy contains some interesting quirks. Firstly, it’s split into three parts: Abraham to King David (Matt 1:2-6a), David to King Jeconiah (otherwise known as Jehoiachin; Matt 1:2b-11), and Jeconiah to King Jesus (Matt 1:12-16).

According to Matthew, each part contains fourteen generations (v. 17). Why fourteen? Likely because the number fourteen references King David. Traditionally, Hebrew letters were assigned a numerical value. David’s name in Hebrew is three letters (Dalet, Vav, Dalet), with a combined value of fourteen. David is also the fourteenth generation in Jesus’ genealogy! David is the key figure of the whole family tree, because the Messiah needed to come from his line (2 Sam 7:16).

You may notice a second quirk in the genealogy, especially if you’re familiar with the Old Testament. Namely, it’s missing some names. These include three kings: Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah. Of course, a selective genealogy was perfectly acceptable in Jewish records. In fact, the Hebrew phrase for “father of” can mean “ancestor of”. Matthew was making a point by sticking to fourteen generations: Jesus was of royal Davidic heritage.

What can we learn?

This is a fascinating genealogy, containing some surprising names and some downright scoundrels. Jesus’ ancestors even include child-sacrificers (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6)! God, it seems, loves to redeem family lines. He took a bunch of imperfect men and women, some with very troubling life stories (e.g., Gen 38:6-30; 2 Sam 11), and wove them into the Messianic line. Jesus’ family tree is saturated in God’s redemption.

This genealogy also demonstrates how faithful God is to his promises. He promised David an eternal kingly line in 2 Sam 7:16, and this was fulfilled in Jesus! So if you’re waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises to you, take heart that he is serious about bringing them to pass.

What can we apply to our lives?

Thank God that he desires to redeem even the most broken of people and families! He can use the worst of situations for his glory. This should motivate us to keep praying for our families. No situation is too hopeless for God.

Feel free to share your thoughts below!