Each name in the Genealogy of Jesus Reminds us of a Story. Matthew begins his Gospel with, “This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ…” - and continues with a long list of names. Matthew must have had a reason for beginning his Gospel with this extensive list. What is the Gospel of Matthew telling us?
First, Matthew uses this list to tell us how God works out His plan for our salvation in His own way, not the way humans would expect. God breaks traditions by fulfilling his promises in untraditional ways.
Abraham, who received the promise of many descendants, had a wife who conceived when she was past her child-bearing years. Subsequently, the promise was passed on through sons who were not eldest as tradition required. Isaac was a second son, Jacob was a second son, Judah was a middle son, and David himself the youngest son in his family. God also broke patriarchal Jewish tradition by including four Gentile women in the list: Tamar and Rahab were Canaanites; Ruth, a Moabite; and Bathsheba, who may have been a Hittite.
Second, Matthew uses the list to tell us the extent to which God, through His grace, used a mix of holy and unholy figures to accomplish His purpose. Abraham, because he did not believe God’s promise, sired an illegitimate son. Jacob lied and stole his older brother’s birthright. Tamar played the prostitute. David committed murder indirectly by ordering into battle the husband of a woman he lusted after.
Third, Mathew uses the list to tell us how God has kept his promises: the promise to Abraham that in him would all nations be blessed; to David, that one of his descendants, the Messiah, would sit as king forever; and finally to Joseph that Mary his betrothed, would bear a son conceived by the Holy Spirit.
By naming these ancestors from Abraham to the advent of the Messiah, it tells us how God worked through all kinds of people to keep His promise to redeem his creation. He places Jesus’ lineage in the mainstream of human life, showing that Jesus is human, just like you and me. He is Jewish, but his ancestry isn’t pure, leading us to Paul’s message to the Galatians: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:28-29)
