Matthew 1

Matthew 1:1-17 – Genealogies

Importance, use of genealogies
- Ezra 2:59-63 – There were serious consequences if you could not be found in the genealogies.
- Nehemiah 7:63-65
Matthew’s genealogy
- Began his gospel with
- Began with Jesus the Messiah, the son of David (II Samuel 7) the son of Abraham (Genesis 12)
- Matthew arranged his genealogy into three clearly defined groups of 14 each (Matthew 1:17)
  - Why?
    - Abraham to David – Patriarchs
      - Rise of nation (14 including David)
    - David to Jeconiah – Kings
      - Downfall of nation (14 beginning with Solomon and counting Jeconiah)
    - Jeconiah to Christ – Citizens
Luke’s genealogy
- Not until chapter 3
- Began with, “the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi”
- Not arranged in any particular order
The Messiah
- Messiah means “anointed”
  - Greek form “Messias”: used only twice – John 1:41; 4:25
  - Hebrew form: used only twice – Daniel 9:25, 26
- Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Christ) in Mark 14:61-64
- What evidence was there that these Messianic claims were valid?
  - The character of Matthew and Jesus
    - “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” - Matthew 1:1
  - Where did Matthew (and other Jews) get this genealogy?
    - Eusebius (“father of church history”) says the writing of Matthew occurred about twelve years after the death of Christ. Some scholars believe that this would place the writing of Matthew as early as AD 40-45 and as late as AD 55. (See When Were the Gospels Written)
- Matthew gives Christ’s legal succession through Joseph.
- Luke traces his biological succession through Mary.
- Either way, you want to examine His genealogy. It ties Jesus legally and biologically to the Old Testament Messianic promises.
- If Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogy are faulty, Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah are bogus.

Note on abortion

According to Dr. Luke, the Bible makes no distinction between …

Pre-natal life	Post-natal life
John: she conceived a son (Luke 1:36)	Jesus: She gave birth to her firstborn son (Luke 2:7)
John: the babe leaped in my womb (Luke 1:44)	Jesus: The babe lying in the manger (Luke 2:16)