Matthew "Jesus' lineage From Abraham"
The greetings/introductions to each of the New Testament books reveal who Jesus is, His leaders are, and who the church is individually-collective, and this blog series is to help us understand how that allows God’s people to receive revelation into a deeper relational existence than they had prior to knowing this amazing map of our journey that He has given to us.
Matthew proves who Jesus is to the people who understand the meanings and importance of names and lineage, and he also shows how their character is at least questionable upon further investigation. Jesus’ lineage includes marriages based on adultery (David and Bathsheba), a person born from incest (Asa), a man born of a Moabitess (Obed from Ruth) and Moabites are all of incestuous descent, and many more challenging things to understand how this lineage is honorable, but God is actually allowing His people to know that these things are common in almost everyone’s heritage and it neither disqualifies Jesus from being who He or His people from being who they are.
The following is the introductory section of the Gospel According to Matthew and the meaning of the names follow.
1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Matthew recalls Jesus’ genealogy from Abraham; which reveals His Jewish heritage and starts proving that He is the Messiah. The Jews understood the importance of names and today we will look at what the forty-two generations’ names reveal about Jesus the Christ.
1 Abraham
Father of many
2 Isaac
He (God) laughs
3 Jacob
One who takes the place or replaces
4 Judas
Praised
5 Phares
Breaking out
6 Esrom
Enclosure
7 Aram
High; exalted
8 Aminadab
My people are generous
9 Naasson
Small viper
10 Salmon
Little spark
11 Booz
In him is strength
12 Obed
Servant or worshipper
13 Jesse
Gift
14 David
Beloved one
15 Solomon
Peace, well being
16 Roboam
My people will enlarge, expand
17 Abia
My father is Yahweh
18 Asa
Healer
19 Josaphat
Yahweh has judged
20 Joram
Yahweh exalts
21 Ozias
Yahweh is my strength
22 Joatham
Yahweh will complete
23 Achaz
He has grasped
24 Ezekias
God strengthens
25 Manasses
One that makes to forget
26 Amon
Trustworthy
27 Josias
Let or may Yahweh give
28 Jechonias
Yahweh supports
29 Salathiel
I have asked of God
30 Zorobabel
Offspring of Babylon
31 Abiud
My father has majesty
32 Eliakim
God establishes
33 Azor
A helper, a court
34 Sadoc
Righteous one
35 Achim
Yahweh is my brother
36 Eliud
God is my grandeur
37 Eleazar
God is help
38 Matthan
To tear or torn
39 Jacob
One who takes the place or replaces
40 Joseph
He will add
41 Jesus
Yahweh saves
