Step back in time with me to an era where chariots ruled the roads and togas were the fashion statement of the day. Imagine the grandeur of ancient Rome, with its bustling streets and political drama. Now, right in the middle of this epic saga, picture a twist: a carpenter's son, a disruptor of the ordinary, whose family tree has more plot twists than a binge-worthy drama series on Netflix.
Picture this: a genealogy that reads like a suspense novel, where unexpected characters appear in the most unexpected places. From the gladiatorial arenas to the Senate chambers, the story of Jesus' ancestry unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue, scandalous affairs, and power struggles. It's like watching a historical soap opera where the main character’s lineage becomes the ultimate plot twist that changes the very course of human history.
So what we are going to begin in the first verses of the Gospel according to Matthew is a thrilling exposition through the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matthew 1:1)
The Historical Context of Matthew
Before we jump into the genealogy of Christ, we must first look at the author of this book briefly. The former tax collector whose name is Matthew Levi, or just Levi, was sought out by Christ. Matthew is the first of the four gospels, and the author of this book is Matthew. Even though this book does not specifically state that Matthew is the author, the canonicity and authorship of this gospel have remained unchallenged. We gather that this is the gospel according to Matthew through tradition, as this book was passed throughout the centuries, with Matthew’s name on the front cover; which indicates the authorship.
Matthew was written before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. We find Matthew’s discipleship begins when Christ sees him at a tax collector’s booth, which was considered the scum of the earth during that day (not sure if much as changed for the 21st century). Tax collectors were branded as traitors to Israel’s national interests.
There was much abuse within the tax collecting business, as there is today; tax collectors were open to extortion and malpractice. The reputations of such men were poor; they were a despised and hated class of men. The Pharisees would also group tax collectors together with sinners and harlots.
Yet this would be the man, Matthew, this dirty, rotten thief, who would write this book portraying Christ as the gracious King who will save all of those who come to Him!
“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” Matthew 9:9
The Setting
Throughout this book, Matthew is writing specifically to Jews. In contrast with Luke’s gospel, which portrays Christ as the Redeemer for all humanity, Matthew portrays Christ as the King and Messiah of Israel. Matthew contains more teachings about Christ than any other gospel; if you have a Bible that contains the words of Jesus in red, there is a whole lot of red in Matthew.
Matthew puts forth more than 60 prophetic messages from the Old Testament, which Christ fulfills. In the very first verse of this gospel, Matthew makes it known that Christ is the king of the Jews by calling Him the “son of David,” but also makes it known that He is the Savior of the nations by calling Him, Jesus Christ, the “son of Abraham.”
The purpose of Matthew is clear: Christ is the Jewish nation’s long-awaited Messiah. Matthew takes the Old Testament and ties it to the life of Christ, constantly putting forth that this Jesus Christ is the Jesus Christ found in the Old Testament.
The Gospel according to Mark presents Christ the Servant, Luke presents Christ the Son of Man, and John presents Christ the Son of God, but Matthew’s gospel presents Jesus as Christ the King.
The Purpose of Matthew
The purpose of this book is to prove that Christ has a right to reign. Matthew begins by laying out the facts of Christ’s royal lineage so there would be no question as to where Christ came from.
He would be a king who reigns like no other, ruling with grace—a gracious king. He would preach gracious sermons, such as the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7). He would cleanse lepers, save the lost, heal the sick, call men to follow Him, and release the young and old from the bondage of demon oppression. He would explain that discipleship is all about Him, as He is the reward we seek after.
Jesus Christ would provide the greatest invitation ever given to man: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He would explain who His true heavenly family is—those whom the Father has chosen. He would speak in parables about the kingdom of God. He would bless a few fish and a few loaves of bread and feed thousands of people. He would state that God’s commandments surpass the traditions of men.
Jesus Christ would prophesy His own death on a cross and His resurrection three times, and then go on to fulfill this prophecy by laying down His life for the sheep and rising on the third day.
Only a true King could do such a thing. Only the Christ King could provide the Greatest Commission ever given to men. Jesus Christ is king, and His business is to set up a kingdom and exercise authority as king in that kingdom. This is Matthew’s message and the portrait he paints of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
An Introduction to Christ's Genealogy