A genealogy full of ancient Hebrew names? Ironically this was an amazing manner for Matthew to begin his book. The literary nature is established from the start: historical. Yes the content of what is to come is going to involve the supernatural, however the author is tactfully stating from the start that this is no fantasy story. This is a story about Jesus Christ, who was God incarnate, and His family ancestry is recorded back to Abraham.
Ancient Hebrew genealogies were paternal, meaning they only included males in the lineage. Yet Matthew includes five women in his genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife), and Mary.
What is the point of this radical move which would have offended the majority of Israelites two thousand years ago? Matthew was showing that women served God, including women who were not Hebrew and women who had shady reputations, deserved or undeserved. Women were part of the glorious endeavor to usher in the Messiah. God’s plan, which involved His divine intervention at every juncture, did require His enlistment of people who were willing to do His will, such as Mary. The keen author, Joseph Kelly, in his book The Origins of Christmas, argued that Matthew wanted to show that Mary, who had the reputation of being a mother who became pregnant out of wedlock, was not alone among women who did not fit the perfect Israelite idea of royal family for the Messiah. Radical indeed.
This seemingly boring genealogy record is foreshadowing that something unexpected is going to happen, something huge.
Hunter
Question for pondering:
1.) What is something good which has happened in your life which was utterly unexpected during this difficult year?
