What is the meaning of Matthew 1:1-17?

¹ This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, ³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, ⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, ⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, ⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, ⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, ⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, ¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹² After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, ¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, ¹⁵ Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, ¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. ¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah. (Matthew 1:1-17 NIV)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

The genealogy of Jesus Christ, presented by Matthew is used to confirm that Jesus was a descendant of David and Abraham because they were key recipients of God’s covenantal promises. To Abraham, God promised a seed through whom all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3; 22:18). To David, God promised a king whose throne would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:12; Psalm 89:3). Tracing Jesus’ lineage to these patriarchs is proof that Jesus fulfills the Messianic expectations and he is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ title “Christ,” meaning “Anointed One,” reflects his roles as prophet, priest, and king (Psalm 2:2; Isaiah 61:1). This anointing signifies his mission to save humanity. The genealogy reveals that Jesus came at a time when David’s royal line seemed extinct, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy of a “root out of dry ground” (Isaiah 53:2). This timing illustrates that God often works when circumstances seem most improbable.

Among the ancestors of Christ who had brothers, generally, he descended from a younger brother; such as Abraham himself, Jacob, Judah, David, Nathan, and Rhesa. The passage highlights the sons of Jacob – Judah and his brothers. Ishmael, Abraham’s son, and Esau, Isaac’s son, are not mentioned because they are not part of the covenant. However, all of Jacob’s children are included as they become important figures in the covenant. This inclusion encourages the scattered tribes of Israel by reminding them of their connection to Christ through Judah.

The twin sons of Judah, Perez and Zerah, are both mentioned. Even though only Perez is directly related to Christ, both names are included to illustrate that their story is meaningful. Zerah initially appeared to be the firstborn but was overtaken by Perez. This symbolizes how the Jewish church initially had the promise but did not fully claim it due to disbelief, allowing the Gentile church to take this privilege instead. However, a time will come when all of Israel will be saved.

Remarkably, Matthew includes four women in this family lineage—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles, showing that everyone is welcome in Jesus Christ’s community regardless of their background. Tamar and Bathsheba were involved in scandals which highlights Jesus’s willingness to associate with sinners who repent.

1. Tamar, who had an illicit relationship with her father-in-law, Judah.
2. Rahab, called a prostitute.
3. Ruth, from Moab, a people descended from Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughter.
4. Bathsheba, with whom David committed adultery.

In the genealogy of the kings of Judah, three kings—Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah—are skipped over between Jehoram and Uzziah in Matthew 1:8. This doesn’t mean they were forgotten; it is a common practice in Jewish genealogies to simplify lists. Matthew likely left these names out on purpose to make it easier to remember the genealogy, especially since these three kings weren’t the best role models; they were linked to wicked actions from their ancestor Athaliah.

Jesus’ lineage includes both righteous individuals and wicked ones. For instance, wicked Rehoboam was followed by another bad king, Abijah. But then Abijah’s son Asa was a good king, as was Asa’s son Jehoshaphat. Yet Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram turned out wicked again. This shows that being good or bad doesn’t depend on your family; it’s up to the individual. This mix illustrates that God’s purposes are not hindered by human sinfulness.

The Babylonian captivity is a key event in this family line according to Matthew 1:11-12. Even though it seemed like an end for many nations, for the Jews, it wasn’t the end because it was important for Jesus’ ancestry. They were preserved and brought back from captivity because bringing Christ into the world was a blessing God wanted to fulfill.

The genealogy in the Bible focuses not on Mary, but on Joseph because Jewish families traced their ancestry through men. While the genealogy follows Joseph’s line, Jesus was born of Mary through the Holy Spirit, not Joseph. However, Joseph’s legal fatherhood grants Jesus the legal rights to David’s throne, fulfilling Messianic prophecies (Luke 1:32). It also worth saying that both Mary and Joseph are from the family line of King David.  

The genealogy is divided into three groups of fourteen generations, symbolizing significant phases in Israel’s history: the rise of David’s lineage, its decline during the Babylonian exile, and its renewal in Christ (Matthew 1:17). The genealogy is not a random list of names, but through it we learn of Jesus’ background and many other lessons such as:

1. Faithfulness of God: The genealogy testifies to God’s unwavering commitment to His promises, even across centuries of waiting. Abraham’s promise was fulfilled 42 generations later, demonstrating that God’s delays are not denials.
2. Inclusivity of Salvation: By including Gentiles and sinners, Matthew highlights that Jesus’ mission is universal. He is “the Savior of the world” (1 John 2:2), offering redemption to all who believe.
3. Humility of Christ: The inclusion of flawed individuals in Jesus’ lineage underscores his humility in taking on human nature. He entered a fallen world to bring salvation, showing that no one is beyond the reach of his grace.
4. To comfort those born outside of wedlock or with a sinful family background. God doesn’t condemn us for our parents’ sins—only our own sins separate us from him. It’s not illegitimacy but a lack of repentance that makes us objects of God’s wrath.
5. God, in his wisdom, has ensured that everything necessary to confirm Jesus’ human nature and Messiahship is included in Scripture.

When God promised Abraham a son, who should be the great blessing of the world, perhaps he expected it should be his immediate son; but it proved to be one at the distance of forty-two generations and about 2000 years: so long before can God foretell what shall be done, and so long after, sometimes, does God fulfill what has been promised.