Why Bible Genealogies Are Interesting

Far from being filler, Matthew’s opening genealogy is rich with meaning. Jeff explains how the genealogy is carefully structured around God’s covenant promises, why the numbers in the list matter, and how it signals a new beginning in Jesus Christ.

Shownotes

Why Matthew Begins with a Genealogy

• The Greek word for genealogy is genesis, signaling a new creation in Christ.
• Jesus inaugurates a new beginning that impacts the entire world.

Jesus as the New Adam

• Just as Adam’s actions affected all humanity, Jesus—the “last Adam”—brings redemption and restoration.

The Importance of Covenant

• The genealogy is structured around God’s covenant promises to Abraham and David.
• These covenants guarantee both blessing to the nations and an eternal kingdom.

The Structure of the Genealogy

• Three sets of fourteen generations:
  • Abraham to David
  • David to the Babylonian Exile
  • Exile to Christ
• This forms six sets of seven, with Jesus beginning the seventh seven, the number of fulfillment and covenant completion.

The Central Role of David

• The numerical value of David’s name equals fourteen.
• Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the promised Son of David and eternal King.

The Missing Restoration

• Matthew omits the return from Babylonian exile to highlight that true restoration begins with Jesus.
• No legitimate Davidic king had reigned since the exile—until Christ.

The Four Women in the Genealogy

• Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and the wife of Uriah.
• Each woman represents scandal, suffering, or outsider status.
• Their inclusion shows that God works through broken and unexpected people.

A Response to Jesus' Birth

• Matthew prepares his Jewish audience for the extraordinary claim of Jesus’ conception.
• Israel’s history already shows God working through morally complex situations to bring salvation.

Scripture References

Matthew 1:1–17 

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,
and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,
and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,
and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah,
and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah,
and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

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

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.”**

Genesis 5:1 

“This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.”

Genesis 12:1–3

“Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves.’”

Genesis 15:1–6 

“After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’
But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, for I continue childless…?’
And the LORD said to him, ‘Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’
And he believed the LORD; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 22:15–18 

“And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By myself I have sworn, says the LORD… I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore… and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.’”

Genesis 38:26 

“Then Judah acknowledged them and said, ‘She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.’ And he did not know her again.”

2 Samuel 7:11–16 

“Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son…
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.”

1 Corinthians 15:45 

“Thus it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”