What Does Matthew's Genealogy Tell Us?

The Collect for the First Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


What does Matthew’s genealogy tell us?
Reflection on Matthew 1:1-17
My brother has recently gotten into genealogy, pouring through old census records, old state and county documents, through various resources scanned and available online. When he first told me about his new hobby, I gave him a word of caution – be careful. Looking into one’s ancestors may turn up some things that are scandalous. You may found out things you didn’t know before. You may be surprised by some things that you find.

It’s no different with Matthew’s foray into the genealogy of Jesus. The Hebrew Scriptures have a number of genealogies, most notably in Genesis, but also in the historical books. Two of the gospel writers – Matthew and Luke -- make an effort to trace Jesus’ lineage, and, in yet another blow to biblical literalists, they do not agree.

What does Matthew’s genealogy tell us? Lots of things, really, in these seventeen verses, but there are a couple of elements which seem particularly relevant during this Lenten seasons.

One is that God is doing something unusual. Matthew’s genealogy breaks from convention and on four occasions traces Jesus’ descent through women. And not just any women: Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Tamar. All had a whiff of scandal about them, but all had something in common: each was an instrument of God in the life of the Jewish people. Matthew’s inclusion of them here signals that God is again going to do something significant through the fifth woman mentioned – Mary.

Matthew traces Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham; this is different from Luke, who traces it all the way back to Adam. There are several reasons why Matthew does this, mainly as part of his efforts to place Jesus in his Jewish context. But one which strikes me this Lenten season is to look at the parallels between the first man in this lineage, Abraham, and the last one, Joseph. Both were ordinary men, living ordinary lives, when out of nowhere God asked them to do something. For Abraham, to leave his homeland and go where God was calling him. For Joseph, to trust in the God who told him to marry his betrothed who was already with child. The link is made stronger with Matthew’s description of Joseph as “righteous” (v. 19) the same word frequently used to describe Abraham. Not righteous in the sense of being correct, but rather in its most literal sense: someone who is right with God, and who is right with God because they were willing to listen and to do what God might be asking.

Looking back on Jesus’ genealogy, maybe we don’t always need to have the kind of concern that I expressed to my brother. We can also learn things which are insightful and positive. This Lenten season may we see in Jesus’ genealogy a God who is doing something new in Jesus Christ, and may we, like Joseph, be willing to listen to how God might be calling us.

The Rev. Thomas Ferguson, PhD
Chaplain
St Francis House, Madison