Matthew Calling

by Hope, A. M. | Category: General | Jun 1993

Many have enjoyed spending a long time in the company of Matthew. The spoken word of Jesus is clearly his concern. He has written a teaching gospeL How does he begin? What are the first two words of the New Testament? They are: "The book" (RV) or "A record" (NW).

Matthew's introduction is "the book of the birth (RVM) of Jesus Christ". Nowadays many people are interested in tracing their family trees. Genealogy has become popular. I once had a Bible in which the parts considered to be not of the first importance were printed in. smaller type. All geneal~ gies were printed in small type. What a mistake! Here, right at the beginning of the New Testament, God is giving us the most important genealogy of all.

Mter a silence of some 400 years God commissioned Matthew to prove, from the family tree. of Jesus, that the gospel has its roots in the Old TestameuL The title, the Son of David, is used at least seven times by Matthew. Jesus Christ is identified for Jews as the Son of David.

Next, Christ is identified for the nations as Son of Abraham. Matthew's Gospel opens up gospel preaching to all nations. The blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus has indeed come to the Gentiles.

There are 42 generations between

Abraham and ChrisL Matthew, in chapter 1:17, has divided them into three sections.

ABRAHAM TO DAVID

14 generations

DAVID TO ThE CAITIVITY

14 generations

THE CAPTIVITY TO THE

CHRIST

14 generations

The genealogy includes some outstanding names - Isaac, Jacob, Uzziab, He zekiab and Zerubbabel. There are omissions. Between Jeh~ ram and Uzzian; Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah do not appear. Can we explain these omissions? Perhaps not. Someone has suggested that these three men were omitted because they were the second, third and fourth generations from the wicked Ahab.

Between Josiah and Jeconiab, Jehoiakn is missing. Jehoiakim was the king who dared to challenge God by burning the scroll (see Jeremiah 36) and this may account for his exclusion.

In some ways this genealogy is like a roll of honour. The Holy Spirit has selected the names. You may find it of interest to contrast it with the book of the generations of Adam in Genesis 5, remembering that Christ is the last Adam.

Notice the five women who are mentioned. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth,

Bathsheba (the wife of Uriab) and Mary. Is God commencing to break down the barrier between Jew and Gentile in the coming of Christ? Ruth was a Moabitess and Rahab a Canaanite. Also in Old Testament genealogies women are not given a prominent place. Here at the very beginning of the New Testament their role in divine purpose is recognized.

Fourteen generations span the period from David to the Captivity, and fourteen from the Captivity to ClriisL The Captivity is seen as a landmark - an end and a beginning. Here is

a suiking reminder of the price to be paid for disobedience and unbelief.

Zerubbabel has honourable mention in

the genealogy, and was a leader of the remnant which returned from the Captivity. This event is important to us since we believe that the present movement among churches of God relates to iL We see ourselves as a remnant people who rebuilt the house of God some one hundred years ago.

Perhaps you will agree that a genealogy is not just a list of names. Matthew calls. Go on from here and enjoy this teaching gospel.

Hope, A. M. | Jun 1993
General