A couple of things fascinate me about the genealogy listed here in the first 17 verses. First, numbers fascinate me and I love that there are 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to the exile in Babylon, and 14 generations from the exile to Christ. Second, I love that the genealogy includes a variety of people from heroes like Abraham, Isaac, Ruth, and David; to those with shady reputations like Rahab; to the ordinary like Hezron and Ram; to the down right evil like Manasseh and Abijah. God’s plan is always perfect and can be fulfilled no matter who he choses to use.
I love Matthew 1:21 where it says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”” I love it because it gives significance to the name Jesus. One of the notes in my Bible say that Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua which means “The Lord Saves”. I learn something new everyday… I always thought Jesus was a Hebrew name.
Daily Devotion 
“…Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua…” Yep. Many people around the world–and especially our Jewish-Christian brothers–call him Yeshua.
There’s also an interesting and often overlooked bit in verses 19 and 20:
“Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this…”
Joseph was not a rash and impulsive man. I often wonder how I would have responded if I had been in his shoes. Clearly he took some time to think and pray–and it was only *after* that the angel appeared.
I wonder how many times I’ve missed out on God’s intervention in my life because I acted rashly (and usually out of anger or frustration). Thank God Joseph didn’t!
== Ross-a-roni ==
Ross!!! So glad you are joining us!!!
wow, I never caught that – the angel appeared AFTER… thanks for pointing that out.
so I rediscovered hope in reading through the genealogies again – hope that maybe just because my family tree is jacked that the whole “generational sin” thing doesn’t have to last forever… that in Christ there is hope, generational sin can be broken and that anyone can be used of God. Of course I have to appreciate that women are named in the genealogy too – especially in a culture where that wasn’t customary.
okay, and maybe I’m reaching here, but I’m thinking this had to be Gabriel that appeared to Joseph too right? I mean, he isn’t named here, but since he was the one that appeared to Elizabeth and Mary both, is it too far off to assume that he’d announce Christ’s coming to Joseph as well?
Heather, I have to assume you are right in assuming that Gabriel is the one who appeared to Joseph even if he is not named outright.
Hey Heather…glad to see you are joining in.
I love Matthew’s perspective on Jesus’ family tree. Matthew was a tax collector which was a less than desirable profession in Jesus’ time. In fact throughout the Bible, we see sinners and tax collectors differentiated as if being a tax collector was even worse than being a sinner! I love that he specifies certain people, like Tamar, who was the daughter in law of Judah, who pretended to be a prostitute and became pregnant with Perez. Or Rahab, who was a prostitute, but changed her ways after helping the spies inside the promise land. Or the fact that he specifically calls out David by saying, “David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife” clearly referring to the adulteress relationship with Bathsheba.
Matthew’s perspective helps us see just like Luke did, that with God, nothing is impossible.
It always catches my attention the level of love, respect, and devotion that Joseph had toward Mary. That in vs. 19 he did not want to expose her to public disgrace, but then AFTER the angel appeared and assured him of what was to come…that in vs.24 through obedience he does what the angel of the Lord commanded him and took her as his wife but had NO UNION with her until AFTER the baby was born. Maintaining her purity and leaving no room for doubt that this was the son of God.
I didn’t even think about the fact that Joseph maintained Mary’s purity throughout her pregnancy. That is really significant. Great catch!
Yeah I definitely think there’s something significant about the geneologies being in groups of 14.
From abraham to david, 14
From david to the babylonian exile, 14
From the babylonian exile to Jesus, 14
In hebrew culture, every minor detail in Scripture carries significant meaning, and nthing is included by accident. That said, I think God is trying to establish a pattern here. When I researched “14,” it seems there are several interesting meanings: salvation, deliverance, and perfect incarnation.
This might be way out there, but I wonder if the pattern might apply to the future, not just the past. For example, what if Jesus’s return occurs in a multiple of 14 generations from when He left???
Glad to read this blog! Keep it going!