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A Reflection on Matthew’s Account of Jesus’s Genealogy

By Dr. Temi Michael-O

The genealogy of Jesus reveals God's faithfulness, extravagant mercy, and willingness to work through imperfect vessels.

Jesus's genealogy begins with Abraham, a man born into idolatry. Abraham was worshipping idols when God uprooted him from his family and gave him a new beginning. God called Abraham out to start a new family and faith adventure because God is not ashamed of our story.

Tamar, the first woman mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, was traumatized, abused, and rejected. To avenge herself, she committed incest and conceived twins through her father-in-law. Despite that, God saw it fit to mention her in Jesus’ genealogy because God is not ashamed of our imperfect past or story. Also, Tamar’s illegitimate children are welcome in God’s family because the circumstances surrounding our birth cannot prevent God from using us for his glory.

Rahab and Ruth were foreigners who God welcomed into his family. Regardless of our place of birth or nationality, we can become citizens of heaven. Jesus came to make us people adopted into God's family. While Ruth’s life exemplifies what it takes to be wife material, Rahab was a harlot—she was not wife material before God welcomed her into his family and transformed her life. Rahab became the mother of Boaz, a godly husband material. It is reasonable to say Boaz’s life gives evidence to Rahab’s transformation. Rahab is included in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ genealogy because Jesus came to take away our shame and make us people of honor (Isaiah 61:7).

David was a man after God's heart. However, the primary mistake he made in his lifetime, destroying Uriah’s marriage (1 Kings 15:5), is referenced in Jesus' genealogy. I believe David’s sin is included in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ genealogy because God loves to display the power of repentance, and Jesus came to make sure we can always return to God each time we make a mistake (Proverbs 28:13).

Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wives turned away his heart (1 Kings 11:1-3). Solomon's sins did not stop God from keeping His covenant with Abraham and David. Jesus is called the son of David, and He came through David’s lineage as proof God keeps His covenant (Psalm 89:34).

Some individuals in Jesus’s genealogy loved God until they died, while others turned away from God at the end of their lives. Yet, everyone is listed in Jesus's genealogy because God is not ashamed of our story. To display the power of grace, God is not ashamed to be associated with those who have sinned (Romans 5:20).

Despite Joseph’s lack of involvement in the conception of Jesus, God includes him in the story because God's ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Our earthly minds cannot comprehend the mystery of the conception of Jesus yet our spirit in union with Jesus's Spirit experiences the mystery of eternal life.