What does the genealogy prove in Matthew?

Answer 1

The author of Matthew's Gospel had several reasons for writing the genealogy of Jesus that he used.

• In the nativity story, he wanted to show a parallel between Jesus and Moses, and therefore between Joseph in the New Testament and the Old Testament. He used the genealogy to show that the father of Joseph was called Jacob, just as the father of the Old Testament Joseph was called Jacob.
• He wanted to show that Jesus was descended from David and was therefore the hoped-for Messiah.
• He also wanted to show that Jesus was descended from the great Zorobabel, another sign of greatness.
• The Jews were superstitious and so the author used numerology to prove that Jesus was destined for greatness. He demonstrated that there were 14 generations: from Abraham to David; from David to Josiah; from Josiah to Jesus. To do this, he had to ignore 3 kings in the Old Testament and have David in the preceding (as 14) and following (as 1) groups, but not so Josiah. Then, we have no possible way of verifying Matthew's list of Jesus' ancestors from the time of the Exile.

Answer:The key to the importance of Matthew's genealogy is at the very beginning: "...Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:" (Matthew 1:1). Matthew then begins at Abraham and works forward through the generations to Jesus.

His purpose is to show that Jesus is the legal inheritorof God's promises to both Abraham (Genesis 22:15-18) and David (2 Samuel 7:16). Thus Jesus is legitimized as Israel's rightful Messiah and spiritual King.

It was necessary to show the Jews (Matthew's primary audience) that Jesus was Joseph's legal heir. However, since Jesus wasn't Joseph's literal fleshly offspring, Matthew's genealogy served no other practical purpose. (Jesus' fleshlydescent is shown by Luke's genealogy through Mary, which is its specific purpose.)

Answer 2

The author of Matthew's Gospel included a genealogy for several reasons:

• To demonstrate that Jesus was descended from King David, and even Zorobabel;
• To assist in drawing a parallel between Jesus and Moses, with the father of Joseph being called Jacob in both the Old Testament and the New Testament;
• To prove through numerology that Jesus was destined for greatness. He demonstrated that there were 14 generations: from Abraham to David; from David to Josiah; from Josiah to Jesus. To do this, he had to ignore 3 kings in the Old Testament and have David in the preceding (as 14) and following (as 1) groups, but not so Josiah.

Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says that there is little likelihood that Matthew's genealogy is strictly historical.

Answer 3

The genealogy is necessary because it lays the foundation for all that follows. Unless it can be shown that Jesus is a legal descendant of David through the royal line, it is impossible to prove that He is the Messiah-King of Israel. Matthew begins his account with the genealogy to show that Jesus inherited the legal right to the throne of David through His stepfather, Joseph.

This genealogy traces the legal descent of Jesus as King of Israel it follows the royal line from David through his son, Solomon and concludes with Joseph, of whom Jesus was the adopted Son.

Answer 4

The author of Matthew's Gospel was trying to prove two things. First that Jesus was descended from King Daid, making him special. Second, using numerology, that he was destined for greatness because there were groups of 14 generations all the way from Abraham to Jesus. Luke was unaware of Matthew's genealogy and so provided a somewhat different version.