Matthew 1 is a common list read around Christmastime as it significantly marks the end of one covenant and the beginning of the other. It’s like a pause of breath takes place, the blackened silence in a scene change, before reaching the climax of the show.
Before the next scene transpires, the narrator reads a list of names that greatly marked the movement leading to the moment that’s about to change everything. He doesn’t want the audience to miss the importance of what they just witnessed in the first half of the show.
“Abraham fathered Isaac,
Isaac fathered Jacob,
Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,
Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,
Perez fathered Hezron,
Hezron fathered Aram,
Aram fathered Amminadab,
Amminadab fathered Nahshon,
Nahshon fathered Salmon,
Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,
Obed fathered Jesse,
and Jesse fathered King David.
David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,
Solomon fathered Rehoboam,
Rehoboam fathered Abijah,
Abijah fathered Asa,
Asafathered Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,
Joram fathered Uzziah,
Uzziah fathered Jotham,
Jotham fathered Ahaz,
Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,
Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,
Manasseh fathered Amon,
Amon fathered Josiah,
and Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers
at the time of the exile to Babylon.
After the exile to Babylon
Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel,
Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,
Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,
Abiud fathered Eliakim,
Eliakim fathered Azor,
Azor fathered Zadok,
Zadok fathered Achim,
Achim fathered Eliud,
Eliud fathered Eleazar,
Eleazar fathered Matthan,
Matthan fathered Jacob,
and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,
who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, fourteen generations.”
Matthew 1:2-17
The narrator knows you’ve just tuned out half the list, so he adds emphasis to make sure you got its importance, in order to prepare you for what’s about to come! Clues are shared to what is about to unfold.
“Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah all predecessors to the Messiah, from lowly positions as younger siblings in their family lines.
Perez and Zerah delivered from an adulteress affair by way of their mother protecting her rights for Judah’s care.
Rahab and Ruth signified that the Lord had no favouritism to Gentile or Jew, but by faith, all are invited into His family.
David, the youngest of the brothers, defied the fear of man to fulfill God’s sovereign plans.
David and Uriah’s wife, cursed by the sin of adultery symbolize the grace of our great Lord to be boldly marked in the lineage of our humble King.
Jehoshaphat symbolized our design for worship to Adonai even when faced with adversity on all sides
Manasseh, proved that even the wickedest of man may be redeemed
Josiah, a hidden gem within the temple of the Lord God, proving there is still beauty in rubble.
Zerubbabel, rebuilds the hope of Jerusalem and foreshadows the unity of king and priest with Joshua for the coming One.
Abraham and David were both given the covenantal privileges of being called the fathers of the Messiah.
Within each written name, 42 generations long, lies a profound and messy example of the battle that rages between God, man, and the Devil. But within each name also shows the significance of God’s faithfulness to see His promises fulfilled, no matter the cost. Because it is His story which matters above all.”
The blackened scene change comes to an end. The curtains draw back, the lights come on, the stage is set, and the audience holds their breath with anticipation as the next scene begins. . .
