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What’s Matthew 1 got to do with Christmas?

In this second commentary (click below if interested in yesterdays post) leading up to Christmas, I want to hopefully shed some light on what in the world Matthew (probably not the one you’ve been told) had in mind with all those names in the first sixteen verses? Have you seen the list? And why does it differ from Luke’s list (I’ll save that answer to later)? Remember that Matthew’s primary audience is to the Jews, and thus his “Kingdom of heaven” phrase was exclusively Matthew.

There are 42 generations listed in those first sixteen verses, divided into three groups of generations of fourteen. Matthew is using the listing of names to confirm that Jesus was a natural evolutionary person to come out of Jewish-Hebraic history, and bring to light something too many of the religious crowd miss today.

Why did Matthew choose the names that he did? Ever give that any thought? Are you kidding me, who cares who begat whom? Why Isaac over Ishmael? Why Jacob over Esau? And why Judah over Joseph? Who cares you say, what’s the point here? I believe Raymond Brown hits it on the head when he says, “Matthew is faithful to an insight about a God who is not controlled by human merit, but manifests His own unpredictable graciousness.” If you know you are still a sinner being saved by grace, and always in need of mercy, you just have to love Brown’s comment. If you’re aware of your righteousness, the statement means nothing.

We know about the two great reformers: Luther and Calvin. But we’re not all that acquainted with the third and most radical one- Ulrich Zwingli. He had the rhema word on this area. In January of 1519, he beagn a series of sermons on the Matthean genealogy. How boring could that be, one would have to ask unless you saw what the Spirit of God was bringing to light. Many of the men Matthew mentions (instead of others he left out) are Romans 5:8 people.

In the first fourteen grouping we have the patriarchs of which many were liars, betrayers, and outright immoral. In the second grouping of fourteen we have the Judean kings and we know all too well of their less than glorious histories. The final list of fourteen; and talk about a list of no-names! Who is acquainted with the likes of Azor, Sadoc, Abiud, or Matthan? Exactly the point the Holy Spirit wanted us to see!

Who are you? Who knows you or your exploits? Who am I and does anyone outside of my extended family have a clue about me? And if anyone knows anything about any of us, it’s probably only our dastardly deeds that they are aware. Now we have Matthew’s reason for listing the names (I doubt he even knew why he was writing mentioning them). We’re all no-bodys! We’re all sinners! But, we’ve all been created for His glory and for some wonderful purpose we’re somehow just not recognizing (or else we wouldn’t be where we are today).

Take nothing in the Bible for granted! But, neither take everything literally or you’ll really get messed up. The only two infant stories of Jesus are not reconcilable (logically). Luke has Joseph and Mary living in Nazareth as home owners, while Matthew has them living in Bethlehem. Luke has Jesus in a manger, while Matthew has him in a home! Whatever! Remember, both works were written from oral traditions, and or copying works of works 70-80 years after Jesus was born. And we have NONE of the original manuscripts.

But, what I am HEARING and hope you do to, is that there’s something of God to be found in every book of the Bible: probably not in every word or sentence. But to those that hunger and thirst for knowledge and a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ, you can find it most anywhere you want to look. But doubtful you’ll find Him in most of our made-up, modern-day, consumer-driven, fantasy stories. I pray that some of my daily writing will PROVOKE you into SEEKING HIM!