Posted on 10/16/2017 5:01:18 AM PDT by Gamecock
At first glance, the beginning of Matthew is a less-than-exciting literary starting point of the New Testament. It is a list of “begats” tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham.
What this beginning lacks in literary punch it makes up for in theological significance. Among other things, the genealogical tables of the New Testament place the gospel squarely on the plane of history. Jesus was born “in the fullness of time”—His ministry is defined and interpreted against the background of Old Testament history.
The New Testament provides two genealogical tables for Jesus, one by Matthew and one by Luke. These tables differ at significant points. Matthew was writing for a Jewish audience and Luke for a Gentile audience. Matthew was concerned to show that Jesus legally descended from David and was therefore a descendant of Judah to whom the messianic kingship was promised. Matthew treats the legal descent of Jesus and limits the lists to three groupings of fourteen generations, allowing himself to make omissions.
Luke follows the natural descent with greater detail. He takes the list back to Adam, as it was a central theme in his Gospel to set forth the universality of the gospel. Jesus is indeed the Son of Abraham and the Son of David, but He is also the new Adam who comes to redeem not only Israel but men and women from every tribe and nation.
Coram Deo
Who is Jesus to you?
Passages for Further Study
Matthew 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.
Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
Ephesians 1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ping
I thought one interpretation was that Luke’s was the genealogy of Mary and Matthew was that of Joseph.
When you become a student of Gods word ...as always God seems to reveal his son 'personally' in the most unexpected places in ways you just don't anticipate until he does so....and not just in the lineage but in the person of Jesus Christ in those verses...... "When the student is ready God provides his teacher!"......
As is written........ "when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you."…John 16
I thought one interpretation was that Luke’s was the genealogy of Mary and Matthew was that of Joseph.
I think someone may be thinking too hard about apologetics and ignoring the obvious reason they are different. One is mom and one is “dad”.
A lot of people never notice this, but I believe God has a sense of humor and channeled it through Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s guide...”.
The answer to “life, the universe and everything” is 42. This points directly to Jesus as the number of generations in Matthew is 42. :)
One is legal (Joseph) and one is biological (Mary).
WOOO-HOOO!
Praise God form who all blessings flow!
Matthew, is writing to the Jewish side and starts at the birth of the Jewish people - Abraham. He is writing of the divinity of Jesus.
Luke, a doctor, starts where a doctor would, the beginning of mankind. His Gospel is focused on Jesus as a man. Also, Luke is referencing an oft-forgotten passage in the old testament that allows for inheritance through the female line.
Dr. Chuck Missler has a great article that describes the significance of each.
This post has been kept open on my computer for days because I meant to post the “Design of the Gospels” you refer to by Dr. Chuck Missler and kept getting into something else. Promised myself that I would not close the window until I got it done. Took a while, but here it is for any who want to copy it. It’s been a real blessing for a dummy like me when studying the Gospels to keep in the back of my mind. May God bless Brother Chuck for all his wonderful work shared with so many.
The Design of the Gospels
Credit: Dr. Chuck Missler
MATTHEW:
Presents as: Messiah
Genealogy: Abraham (Legal line)
What He: Said
To the: Jew
1st Miracle: Leper cleansed (to Jew = sin)
Ends with: Resurrection
Camp side: East
Ensign: Judah
Face: Lion
Style: Groupings
MARK:
Presents as: Servant
Genealogy: (Servant’s genealogy not mentioned)
What He: Did
To the: Roman
1st Miracle: Demon expelled
Ends with: Ascension
Camp side: West
Ensign: Ephraim
Face: Ox
Style: Snapshots
LUKE:
Presents as: Son of Man
Genealogy: Adam (Blood line)
What He: Felt
To the: Greek
1st Miracle: Demon expelled
Ends with: Promise of the Spirit (Book of Acts)
Camp side: South
Ensign: Reuben
Face: Man
Style: Narrative
JOHN:
Presents as: Son of God
Genealogy: Eternal (Pre-existent One)
What He: Was
To the: Church
1st Miracle: Water to Wine
Ends with: Promise of Return (Book of Revelation)
Camp side: North
Ensign: Dan
Face: Eagle
Style: Mystical
Two other essentials regarding the genealogy of Jesus necessary to understand, again thank you Chuck Missler, are: 1) The daughters of Zelophehad; and 2) the Levirite marriage. (“Levirite” is Latin and nothing to do with Levi or Levitical.) I realize I am probably preaching to the choir on this to some, but there may be some who are interested that haven’t covered the territory before. And it is a real blessing to discover.
The 7s in the genealogy that Missler blows out of the water is nothing short of amazing.
God is indeed great!
Kind Regards to All,
SC
(Metmom & MHG, I realize y’all didn’t post here, but pinged in case you’re interested.)
bkmk
Bookmark
Thanl you for the ping. What you have shared lines up with J. Vernon McGee’s teaching, also. Do you have a Youtube link to Chuck teaching on this? It regales my soul to watch Chuck teach.
Dr. Missler goes through it with every series on the individual Gospels as it pertains to whichever Gospel he’s preaching on at the time. Here’s a short bit from the series on Mark in which he goes through parts of the Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZxwy4wDkTs For the full bit, I’m afraid you’ll have to watch every sermon (and there are many, many, many) on each Gospel. Well worth every minute spent, as I’m sure you already know.
(Just heard Mr. McGee for the first time in my life a couple of weekends ago. I’d often heard of him, but he was preaching before I was born. Finally dawned on me to search youtube. I spent from Friday evening to Sunday evening listening to that dear man. What a blessing!)
Thanks for the ping.
Figured I better say “you’re welcome” now because I might not get the chance later.
Going to eat some chili I found in a dark corner of the freezer.
“Pray without ceasing!”
Excellent! Please send my congratulations!
Thanks bro.
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