The son of David, the son of Abraham
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Matthew begins his infancy narratives with “the book of the genealogy” of Jesus Christ. Biblical genealogies serve to identify the tribe to which an Israelite belongs at a time when being a member of a tribe or clan is important to survival. Genealogies are also used to undergird status, especially for the office of priest or king where lineage is important. Another function of genealogies has to do with the biblical thought of collective personality. Something of the ancestor is passed on to the descendant, and so one’s genealogy may reflect a person’s character. Matthew’s purpose lies in his emphasis on the titles of Jesus: “Christ” (Messiah), “son of David,” and “son of Abraham.” “Christ,” the translation of the Aramaic meshiha (“the anointed one”), makes Jesus the heir to the divine promise to David and to the messianic hopes of Israel (2 Sm 7:16). The designation “son of Abraham” not only underlines Jesus’ being a member of the chosen people but also indicates that he is the seed of Abraham by whom “all the nations of the earth shall find blessing” (Gn 22:18). The original oracle speaks of “descendants,” but the first Christians speak of “the descendant,” that is, Jesus Christ (see Acts 3:25; Gal 3:8). The blessing of the pagan nations is dramatized by Matthew in the story of the Magi who come to pay homage to Jesus, the King of the Jews.
GOSPEL • MATTHEW 1:1-17
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar... Boaz became the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse, Jesse the father of David the king.
David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon became the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asaph... Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amos, Amos the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the Babylonian exile.
... Zadok became the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.
Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.