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“The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Matthew 1:1
How fitting to open up the New Covenant (New Testament) with these comforting and powerful words! Matthew, a Jew by birth, ostracized by his own people, opens his Gospel with a unique, yet profound, introduction of the long-awaited Messiah, Savior of mankind. It was unmistakable that a Jew writing to Jews would send a resounding shot across the bow of Judaism that the long-awaited Messiah had not just come to Jerusalem, but had been the fulfillment of the two most important covenants of ancient biblical times, the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants.
Matthew’s audience were fellow Jews and his one distinctive purpose was to convince them that Jesus was the Messiah, the long-awaited one that they had put so much stock in. He starts by declaring the one they had found guilty of blasphemy and nailed to the cross was truly a descendant of David and Abraham. His successive genealogy proves that.
2 Samuel 7 and Psalms 89 are compliments illustrating the covenant that God made with King David. God swore covenant love to David and promised that one of his immediate descendants would establish an eternal kingdom of justice and righteousness to come. This long-awaited King would reign forever.
Genesis 12-22 declare God’s promises to Abraham. One of those promises is that through Abraham’s offspring “all nations” would be blessed, even those of Gentile descent. Matthew is therefore preparing his readers for the final words of this offspring from Abraham – the commission to make disciples of “all nations” (Matthew 28:19). It’s fascinating to consider Matthew 1:1 and 28:19 as bookends to Matthew’s Gospel message.
Jesus the Messiah, son of David, son of Abraham, came in fulfillment of the kingdom promises to David and of the Gentile-blessing promises to Abraham. How fitting to open up the New Testament? God’s Word is truly a wonder!
In Christ,
Dave
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