Mathew and Luke
Among the four, two
gospels (Mt and Lk) speaks about the genealogy of Jesus Christ. When one goes
deep in the passages, one discovers that there are interesting similarities and
dissimilarities in their presentation.
By a gifted author: Mathew
If
it was in the hand of a less gifted writer, the passage could have been as dry
as sahara desert. But in the hand of Mathew, it turned into a collection of rich
theology. Mathew seems to be preaching the Gospel even in the genealogy with
the 42 names.
People
of Assam will be able to understand better today’s Gospel in the contest to
recent NRC issue. Jews kept extensive genealogies to establish a person’s heritage,
inheritance, legitimacy and rights. This also speaks about the culture of a
particular group of people. Mathew provides a record of Jesus’ origin to show that
he is qualified to be messiah by his descend from Abraham and David.
The
line from which Jesus came was not totally Jewish. There are 42 names, arranged
in 3 series of 14 names each. Number 14 is the numerical value of the Hebrew
letter forming the Name David D=4 V=6 D=4.=14
First
series of 14 names speaks or teaches divine mercy (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth,
Bathsheba). Second series of 14 names teaches us about the judgment of God
(Amos: the prophet of social justice and others.) Third series of 14 names
teaches us about the faithfulness of God. (Jesus was a promised one of
God. So God is faithful)
As
far as the list is concerned it is not a complete list. It comprises of men,
women, adulterous, prostitutes, heroes, gentiles and Jesus will be savior of
them all.
“All
animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.
In the novel THE ANIMAL FARM by
George Orwell the animals revolt and drive the drunken and irresponsible farmer Mr.
Jones from the farm, renaming it “Animal Farm”. They adopt Seven Commandments of
Animalism, the most important of which is, “All animals are equal.” But
when the pigs start to resemble humans, as they walk upright, carry whips, and
wear clothes, the Seven Commandments are abridged to a single phrase: “All
animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. In
the genealogy list of Christ too all people are important but some are more
important in establishing who Jesus is. Some of them are Abraham, David and
Mary as far as the prophecy of the Old Testament is concerned. In our life too
we have significant people in our spiritual upbringing. Some are important some are more important.
Both
Abraham and David are key Jewish patriarch. Abraham reminds us of the promise of
a seed who would be a blessing for everyone and David reminds us of the promise
of a son who would be a king forever. And the ‘Seed of Abraham’ and the ‘Son of
David’ was in the womb of Mary.
David,
Christ and Messiah came to summarize several strands of the OT expectations
specially the person of an anointed one, the king who would rule God’s people.
Son of David evokes images of a messiah, Son of Abraham covenant with Abraham
and people of Israel. David is the person who had raised the state of Israel to
peaceful state, raised it at the height of prosperity. Jerusalem the state
capital of Israel was the kingdom of David where Messiah was born. Israel was a
theocratic nation where God was the real ruler. The king was only a puppet
Women in the Genealogy of Jesus
It
was not the custom of the Jewish to include names of women in Genealogy. Jews
were a macho society where woman necessary belonged to a man–husband,
father or the son. The son of David before Jesus was born was Solomon and the
Evangelist will draw comparison with Solomon and his wisdom throughout the text by presenting Jesus as both a sage
and the wisdom of God come in the flesh.
If at all the women were to be included they had to fulfill two conditions
1. They should ensure the purity of the
line 2. They should enhance the dignity of the race
Three of the women
mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus do not serve the purpose. But I believe
each of the women is a lesson on the working of divine grace in our salvation
history.
TAMAR:
The name of three women in the Old Testament. The Canaanite wife of Er, Judah’s
first son (Gen 38:6); after Er was slain by God for his wickedness; she was
married to Judah’s second son, Onan, in keeping with the custom of the
levirate marriage (cf. Deut 25:5–6). Onan, however, refused to father children
by her and so he died (Gen 38:7–10). When Judah delayed marrying his last son
to her, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had relations with Judah
(Gen 38:12–19). By this union she bore twin sons, Perez and Zerah (Gen
38:27–30); through Perez she was an ancestress of David (Ruth 4:12,
18–22) and ultimately of Jesus Christ (Matt 1:3).
RAHAB:
A Canaanite woman and harlot from the city of Jericho who hid two of Joshua’s
spies at the time of the conquest of Canaan (Josh 2:1–7; 6:17, 23–25). Rahab
recognized the Lord’s power and demanded from the spies the promise that she
and her family would be spared when the Israelites conquered Jericho (Josh
2:18–14). Joshua was faithful to the pledge, and only Rahab and her family were
spared after the city’s capture (Josh 6:22–23). According to Josh 6:25, Rahab
“dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent
to spy out Jericho.” She is remembered as a heroine of faith (Heb 11:31) and
was justified by her works (Jas 2:25). She is listed in Matthew’s genealogy of
Jesus as the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz, ancestor of David
(Matt1:5).
RUTH: Ruth, a Moabitess
who embraced the faith of Israel. She married Mahlon, son of Elimelech and
Naomi. After the death of Naomi’s husband and sons, she decided to return to
the land of Israel, and Ruth chose to remain at her side. They settled in Bethlehem,
and one day, as the women gleaned the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi’s dead
husband, Ruth encountered Boaz himself, who treated her with great kindness.
His demeanor prompted Naomi to devise a plan to secure the marriage of her
daughter-in-law. She urged Ruth to go to the threshing floor and ask Boaz to
marry her by the law of affinity. Though willing, he first informed the nearest
relative of the situation. When that relative declined the right of redemption,
Boaz married Ruth. By her marriage, Ruth became an ancestor of David.
BATHSHEBA:
(Hebrew, “daughter of seven” or
“daughter of an oath”) The daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite
(2 Sam 11:3); one of David’s wives (2 Sam 11:27); and the mother of Solomon (2
Sam 12:24). (The name appears as “Bathshua” in 1 Chr 3:5.) David fell in love
with Bathsheba when he saw her taking a bath on a rooftop; he then seduced her
and fathered a child by her in adultery. After he tried and failed to have the
paternity attributed to Uriah (2 Sam 11:6–13), David ordered Joab to place
Uriah in the front line of battle and so ensure his death. When Uriah fell as
planned, David wed Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:14–27). As Nathan predicted,
the child born of the adultery died, but Bathsheba later bore a second son,
Solomon, who became David’s successor, as well as three other sons (1 Chr 3:5).
The intervention of Bathsheba and Nathan was crucial to Solomon’s victory in
the struggle with Adonijah (1 Kgs 1:11–21). Bathsheba later requested that
Solomon secure the marriage of Adonijah with Abishag, but her mediation did not
succeed, and Solomon had Adonijah killed (1 Kgs 2:13–25). In the New Testament,
Bathsheba is one of four women mentioned (though not by name) in Matthew’s
genealogy of Christ (Matt 1:6). Bathsheba is the first queen mother of the Davidic kingdom, and her prominent role in history
sets the pattern for the other women who held that powerful position. She is
also a type of Mary, the Queen Mother in the Kingdom of Christ.
Virginity was not esteemed for its own
sake in Old Testament times: it suddenly burst on the scene as a desired state
in life and a path to spiritual fulfillment with the coming of the New
Covenant. Virginity was not in keeping with the Jewish mentality which face
first place to fecundity. Isaiah calls Mary virgin and not girl or woman – “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold,
a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is
7:14)
Messages of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Messages of the Genealogy of Jesus Christ
Genealogy of Christ gives the following
messages:
1. It affirms the Holiness of the
child: because it is done through the Holy Spirit.2. It brings to our notice the Creative way in which God shaped history for the coming of his son.
3. It tells about the uniqueness of the child for such a means of conception was unprecedented.
4. It emphasizes the divinity of the child: because by the means it was made clear that he was also son of God.
5. It proves that God can use even gentiles and sinners for his great purpose in history.
6. It says that Jesus is born from the power of God’s promise and not from human possibilities.
7. It underlines God’s intention that the messiah extended the blessing of salvation forgiveness and grace to all people not just to the Jews.
8. It proves the fact that God is always keeping his promise and his word.
9. It reveals sinfulness and corruption of human nature
10. It shows how great the mercy and compassion of God is. Our nature is defiled and unclean.
11. It shows that Jesus is not ashamed to be born of a woman whose ancestry contained sinners and gentiles and adulterous and how will he be ashamed to call us brothers.
12. The type of people mentioned in this genealogy reveals the broad scope of those who make up the people of God.
13. In it we see Continuity of God’s providential plan from Abraham on
14. It tells that nothing is useless in creation. Every human life counts. Every life has a purpose;
15. How you came into the world is not important how you go out of the world is more important
Joseph, Mary and Spiritual direction
As far as Joseph and
Mary are concerned, they are persons open to spiritual direction even when it
comes in the form of dreams. They were willing to go with the will and plan of
God than to save their own reputation.
Matthews’s
introduction echoes the language of Genesis where we see God as the creator, giver
of life. Today when we celebrate the birthday of our Blessed mother we need to
accept the fact that today some people don’t seem to respect life. They abort
their girl child. Bible never promotes abortion. In the special year of mercy
Pope Francis gives a special privilege to all the priests to absolve the sin of
abortion. Some may ask: Is he going too much? Will this declaration encourage
others to take more life? This is the task of the theologians to discern and
respond. But our duty would be to pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis because
whatever decision he makes affect our life.
As
we celebrate the nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, let us ask her assistance
that we may respect life specially the life of a girl child.
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