Matthew 1:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,

NIV: Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

NASB: Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa.

CSB: Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa,

NLT: Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa.

KJV: And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;

NKJV: Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa.

Matthew is establishing Jesus' line from Abraham all the way through to Mary and Joseph. He has come to David and his son Solomon, both kings of Israel and in the direct line of Judah. From this verse through to verse 10, Matthew's listing lines up very closely with an established genealogy of Israel's kings in 1 Chronicles 3:10–14.

For Jewish readers familiar with their history, this listing of Israel's kings in the line of Jesus would be significant. They would also likely remember how these kings alternated between those who feared and obeyed the Lord and those who were wicked. Solomon's son Rehoboam was a wicked king, as was his son Abijah. Asa—also spelled Asaph—was a good king, however.

Matthew provides yet another reminder that Israel's history was full of both sinful and obedient people. There were those of high status and low status, good reputation and poor reputation. They were in need of saving not just from foreign enemies, but from their own sinful humanity. Jesus came to save all types of people—the outcast and the well respected, the Jew and the Gentile, men and women, the obviously sinful and the seemingly righteous (Galatians 3:27–29).

Matthew 1:1–17 begins the apostle Matthew's long Gospel with a short genealogy of Jesus Christ, beginning with Abraham. Matthew does not include every generation, but instead creates three groups of fourteen names: Abraham to King David; David to Josiah; and Jechoniah to Jesus. Matthew shows that Jesus is the direct descendant of both Abraham and David, qualifying His legal right to sit on Israel's throne. Matthew would not need to have listed the women, blatant sinners, or evil kings that he does, but the point of his Gospel is that Jesus has come to save His people from their sins. As a former tax-collector, hated by fellow Jews, this idea would have resonated strongly with Matthew.

The apostle Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy. This is meant to show that Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, making Him a legal heir to the throne of Israel. He then tells the story of Jesus' birth from the perspective of Joseph, Mary's husband. Joseph had planned to divorce the woman he was betrothed to marry, once he found out she was carrying a child that wasn't his. God interrupts this plan. An angel tells Joseph in a dream that the child is from the Holy Spirit and commands Joseph to name Him Jesus, since He will save His people from their sins. Joseph obeys.

One of the original twelve disciples, Matthew begins his telling of Jesus' life with a genealogy and Jesus' birth. The listing of Jesus' ancestors shows how Jesus is directly descended from both Abraham and King David, but it also includes then-unlikely inclusions, such as women, blatant sinners, and evil kings. Instead of divorcing Mary, Joseph obeys God and takes her home. Isaiah's prophecy of the virgin birth of Immanuel, a term meaning ''God with us,'' is fulfilled. This sets the stage for pivotal events in Jesus' infancy, such as the arrival of wise men and the family's escape into Egypt.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.