Matthew 1. How timely for us to read the Gospel of Matthew as the season of advent is upon us! There are four gospels (we have read three already) and you may be wondering why we needed four? Each of the authors recorded events from their perspective, highlighting different aspects of the life of Jesus, speaking to a specific audience. The fact that there is much overlap between the four accounts lends authenticity to the stories of Jesus.

Matthew writes about King Jesus – His authority, his royalty, and his kingdom and throne that will last forever. He wrote for a Jewish audience, and he quotes from the Old Testament sixty-two times, more than any other gospel author. He presumes a certain knowledge of Jewish traditions and customs, and we shall explore those in our journey.

Matthew (also called Levi) was called to follow Jesus in Matthew 9, but before that he was a tax collector. This was a bit different than being a modern-day accountant. Tax collectors were considered agents of the occupying Roman empire, they were widely disliked and considered corrupt. It was scandalous for Jesus to have chosen Matthew as a disciple! Matthew’s transformation as a Jesus follower was remarkable, and his tendency to be meticulous about details prepared him well to write an account of Jesus’ life. (The Chosen does a great job with Matthew’s meticulous character!)

Matthew begins chapter 1 with a genealogy of Jesus’ family line. While it might seem like boring reading, it was very important to establish Jesus’ bloodline so that Jews might understand that he was the Messiah-King they had been waiting for. The text announces the birth of a king! Jesus was a son of Abraham’s lineage, which made him an heir to the promises of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus was a son of King David, which was important because God made a covenant promise to David that he would establish the throne of his heir in a kingdom that endured forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

Also of note in the genealogy is the inclusion of gentiles and women. The story of each named woman is fascinating in itself – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah), and Mary. It’s interesting to ponder how each came to be a part of the bloodline of Jesus, and why Matthew chose to highlight their names. Finally, the genealogy is perfectly three sets of fourteen generations – which means that some were left out and this was simply a structure to help in the memorization of a royal lineage.

Matthew’s story of the birth of Jesus focuses on Joseph’s point of view. As you read, reflect on what type of man Joseph must have been. What stands out to you? Also note what we learn about Jesus – “He will save his people from their sins… his name Immanuel, which means God with us.” (1:21,23).

Our good story of King Jesus is just getting started!