Matthew 1
Question: Who is the only person in the record who is listed with his title? (1:6)
Answer: The only person in the record listed with his title is David. He is referred to as “King David” in Matthew 1:6
Question: How does Solomon figure into the genealogy? (1:6)
Answer: Solomon figures into the genealogy as the son of King David and Bathsheba. He is an ancestor of Jesus through his lineage in Matthew 1:6.
Question: The genealogical record is divided into what three periods? (1:17)
Answer: The genealogical record in Matthew 1:17 is divided into three periods:
- From Abraham to David (14 generations)
- From David to the Babylonian exile (14 generations)
- From the Babylonian exile to Jesus (14 generations)
Question: How many generations are cited in all? (1:17)
Answer: There are 42 generations cited in total in Matthew 1:17.
Question: Why do you think Matthew traces Christ’s ancestors back only to Abraham and not all the way back to Adam?
Answer: Matthew traces Christ’s ancestors back to Abraham to emphasize Jesus’ Jewish heritage and His role as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, especially as the Messiah and heir to David’s throne.
Question: How might this passage encourage those who suffer from a dubious family history?
Answer: Matthew 1, with its inclusion of imperfect and sometimes scandalous figures in Jesus’ genealogy (like Tamar, Rahab, and Bathsheba), can encourage those with a dubious family history by showing that God can work through brokenness and imperfections. It highlights that Jesus’ lineage includes people with flaws, failures, and unexpected stories, yet they are part of God’s redemptive plan. This can reassure people that their past or family history does not disqualify them from God’s purposes, and that God can bring about greatness and grace through any background.