Matthew 1:12-16

Jechoniah to Joseph to Jesus

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

Comments

This final group of fourteen generations connects the Jews who returned from exile to Jesus. While Matthew traces Jesus back to Abraham, the first Jew, Luke traces him back to Adam, the first human being, before there ever was a distinction between Jews and Gentiles. Matthew and Luke’s genealogy are practically the same from Abraham to David, and they then diverge from that point on. What is most striking to me, however, is that Luke lists Eli as Joseph’s father, while Matthew lists Jacob. Perhaps Jacob was Joseph’s adoptive father.

Here are three theories that explain the Matthew/Luke differences:

1. Matthew gives us the genealogy of Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, while Luke gives that of Mary, the biological line of Jesus.

2. Matthew gives us Joseph’s genealogy through Jacob, his actual father, while Luke gives it through Heli, his legal father. In this theory, when Heli died childless, Jacob, who had the same mother as Heli but a different father, married Heli’s widow and Joseph is their child.

3. In this third theory, Matthew gives us the legal descendants of David, the men who would have been legally the heir to the Davidic throne if that throne had been continued, while Luke gives us the descendants of David in that particular line to which, finally, Joseph, the husband of Mary, belonged.

We cannot adequately account for these differences. However, what both gospel writers tell us is that Jesus is fully human.

Application/Reflection

Matthew has now set the stage to tell us the story of Jesus’ life. From this point forward, it is our joy to accept the new life Jesus offers us when we confess him as Lord and Savior. Take some time today to thank God for his amazing grace and to prepare your heart for Jesus’ Advent.

Prayer

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 213)