Deeper Reflection
MATTHEW BEGINS HIS GOSPEL with “the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah” (vv.1-17), introducing Jesus as “the son of David, and the son of Abraham” (v.1). Clearly, Matthew is pointing to Jesus as the ultimate fulfilment of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:1-3; Gal 3:7-9, 14) and the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:12-16). By putting “David” before “Abraham” (v.1), Matthew lays emphasis on the Davidic covenant. Matthew’s conclusion of the genealogy as “fourteen generations” from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian exile, from the Babylonian exile to Jesus the Messiah (v.17), bears theological significance. The number “fourteen” is the numerical value of “David” in Hebrew. “David” consists of three consonants, dwd, with d = 4, w = 6; and so, dwd = 4 + 6 + 4 = 14.²² So, “fourteen” symbolically shows that the promised “Son of David” is Jesus Christ, who would be given “the throne of His father David”(Lk 1:31-33). Matthew highlights the Babylonian exile as one of the pivotal points, because from the exile until the birth of Jesus, there was never a Davidic king. A question had been asked for more than 500 years after Israel’s return from exile (Ezr 1:1-5): What happened to God’s promise to David, “Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam 7:16)? (See Psa 89.) Observe the way God fulfilled His promise. There could be long dark times when God’s Word seems to have failed. Do we still steadfastly trust in God that He is faithful?

---

²² D. A. Carson, Matthew, Matthew & Mark, Volume 9, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Revised Edition (Zondervan, 2010),94-95