We may find the genealogy of Jesus boring but it is essential to Matthew because Jesus is portrayed as the king of the Jews and the coming Messiah. This is why 1:1 emphasizes Jesus is “the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Messiah means “the anointed one” who is commissioned by God to establish the kingdom of God on earth. Messiah is from a Hebrew word. The Greek form is “Christ.” More than 400 Old Testament passages were taken by ancient Jewish teachers to speak of the Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 2:2; 22:7, etc.).
The genealogy in Matthew is based on Joseph, Jesus’ official father. But Matthew gives extra attention to show Jesus is the son of Mary (1:16) who is conceived through the Holy Spirit (1:18-25). The point is to proved Jesus is a 100% God and 100% man.
Joseph and Mary had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. So, when the Messiah came, they were ready to obey God’s command. What God commanded they to do were difficult. For Mary, it was a shameful for her to be pregnant out of the wedlock. What if Joseph did not believe her? For Joseph, it was something never heard of. How can he not doubt Mary? But when God revealed His plan to them, they were both willing to obey.
In the same way, we are expecting the coming of the Messiah. Are we also well prepared like Joseph and Mary (Mike)?
To authenticate Jesus, Matthew only needs to say that Jesus is the son of David? Why he starts from Abraham? I think he wants us to see that the kingdom at the time of Jesus' birth is not present just as the time from Ab to David. However, the line of kingship continues from Ab to Christ. God promises Ab a great nation, but no kingdom comes from this family until David.
To give birth to the king, only Mary is needed. Why the angel has to pursue Joseph? God designs the family including both parents. Father is the head of the family. Very important revelation comes to Joseph, i.e. this kingdom is not only a physical one, but also a spiritual one ("...because he will save his people from their sins"). In other words, the Jews has to prepare spiritually before the kingdom of God comes. People usually ignores the spiritual world but only concentrate on our physical. This is a good reminder to me, too. The sign of the virgin birth in the time of Isaiah is to convince the Jews that the words of the Lord will come true. Same principle applies here. The virgin birth of Christ tells the Jews that the kingdom will certainly comes!
(Audrey)
Messiah means “the anointed one” who is commissioned by God to establish the kingdom of God on earth. Messiah is from a Hebrew word. The Greek form is “Christ.” More than 400 Old Testament passages were taken by ancient Jewish teachers to speak of the Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Ps. 2:2; 22:7, etc.).
The genealogy in Matthew is based on Joseph, Jesus’ official father. But Matthew gives extra attention to show Jesus is the son of Mary (1:16) who is conceived through the Holy Spirit (1:18-25). The point is to proved Jesus is a 100% God and 100% man.
Joseph and Mary had been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. So, when the Messiah came, they were ready to obey God’s command. What God commanded they to do were difficult. For Mary, it was a shameful for her to be pregnant out of the wedlock. What if Joseph did not believe her? For Joseph, it was something never heard of. How can he not doubt Mary? But when God revealed His plan to them, they were both willing to obey.
In the same way, we are expecting the coming of the Messiah. Are we also well prepared like Joseph and Mary (Mike)?
To authenticate Jesus, Matthew only needs to say that Jesus is the son of David? Why he starts from Abraham? I think he wants us to see that the kingdom at the time of Jesus' birth is not present just as the time from Ab to David. However, the line of kingship continues from Ab to Christ. God promises Ab a great nation, but no kingdom comes from this family until David.
To give birth to the king, only Mary is needed. Why the angel has to pursue Joseph? God designs the family including both parents. Father is the head of the family. Very important revelation comes to Joseph, i.e. this kingdom is not only a physical one, but also a spiritual one ("...because he will save his people from their sins"). In other words, the Jews has to prepare spiritually before the kingdom of God comes. People usually ignores the spiritual world but only concentrate on our physical. This is a good reminder to me, too. The sign of the virgin birth in the time of Isaiah is to convince the Jews that the words of the Lord will come true. Same principle applies here. The virgin birth of Christ tells the Jews that the kingdom will certainly comes!
(Audrey)
Comments
To give birth to the king, only Mary is needed. Why the angel has to pursue Joseph? God designs the family including both parents. Father is the head of the family. Very important revelation comes to Joseph, i.e. this kingdom is not only a physical one, but also a spiritual one (...because he will save his people from their sins). The sign of the virgin birth in the time of Isaiah is to convince the Jews that the words of the Lord will come true. Same principle applies here. The virgin birth of Christ tells the Jews that the kingdom will certainly comes!
(Audrey)