Fourteen, Fourteen and Fourteen Generations Matthew 1:17

Matthew was a Jew, writing specifically to the Jews about a Jew whose name was Jesus. Matthew employs many Old Testament references throughout his book as to prove that Jesus is indeed the Messiah for whom the Jewish people awaited. Matthew began his book with the words, “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham”, and he included, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judas and his brethren, Phares and Zara of Thamar, Esrom, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson, Salmon, Booz of Rachab, Obed of Ruth and Jesse, David the king, and Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias, Roboam, Abia, Asa, Josaphat, Joram, Ozias, Joatham, Achaz, Ezekias, Manasses, Amon and Josias, Jechonias and his brethren, Salthiel, Zorobabel, Abiud, Eliakim, Azor, Sadoc, Achim, Eliud, Eleazar, Matthan, Jacob who fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ”. In chapter one and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew shares the lineage of Jesus through three sets of “fourteen generations” where we read:

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

The verse reads, “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;” Matthew began with the words, “so all” which means “then, therefore, accordingly and consequently each, every, the whole and everyone of” “the generations” or “the successive members of a genealogy” “from Abraham” or “from the time and origin of Abraham whose name means father of a multitude and was the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation” “to David” which refers to “until the time and origin of King David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel” “are fourteen generations” or “fourteen successive members of a genealogy”. Matthew shared how there were “fourteen” “successive” genealogies from the time of Abraham until King David.

The verse goes on to say, “and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations;” Matthew continued with the words, “and from David” which means “and from the time and origin of King David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel” “until the carrying away” or “till the removal of Judah from their homeland” “into Babylon” which means “to the very large and famous city which was the residence of the Babylonian kings and situated on both banks of the Euphrates which means confusion” “are fourteen generations” which refers to “fourteen successive members of a genealogy”. Matthew shared how there were “fourteen” “successive” genealogies from the time of King “David” until Judah was removed in captivity to the land of “Babylon”.

Finally the verse says, “and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” The verse ends with the words, “and from” or “from the time of” “the carrying away” which means “till the removal of Judah from their homeland” “into Babylon” or “to the very large and famous city which was the residence of the Babylonian kings and situated on both banks of the Euphrates which means confusion” “unto Christ” which refers to “till the time of the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “are fourteen generations” or “are fourteen successive members of a genealogy”. “Fourteen generations” passed from the time the people of Judah were removed from their homeland to “Babylon”, and “fourteen” more passed until the time Jesus Christ was born.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how three sets of passed before Jesus the Messiah was born. In other words, “forty-two generations” passed from the time of Abraham until Jesus, and God's perfect design and timing were in full effect. God purposed to bring His Son Jesus as a “Savior” to all mankind, and though it took some time, His goal never changed. Jesus Christ came into the world to “save sinners”, and God's “forty-two” generations are only further proof of His willful intent to bring Him into the world as the Messiah.

Next time Matthew shares, “now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.