The last verse in our passage outlines the passage for us. It explains that there are exactly 14 generations from Abraham to David. That marks out the first section. The second section contains 14 generations from David to the fall of the southern Kingdom of Judah to Babylon and the deportation of the Jews from their homeland. The third section is identified from the return to Jerusalem under Nehemiah through 14 generations the lead to the birth of Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. Thus we have 14, 14 and 14. Thus there are three sections of 14 generations that led to the birth of Jesus, the son of David.
Being the son of King David is very important, because it identified the rightful heir to the throne of Israel. “Son of David” was a technical term, not just an identification of lineage. It identified the promised ruler of 2 Samuel 7:12-13 which says, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. “ It’s clear from the genealogy that Jesus came from David’s body (Lineage), and that he’s the rightful heir to David’s throne.
The importance of this connection with King David can’t be missed for another reason as well. Hebrew, as a language, does not have a set of separate figures for their numbering system. The use the letters of their alphabet to do that. Aleph equals one. Bet equals two. Gimel equals three, Daleth equals 4. Hey equals 5, and Waw (Vav) equals 6. David’s name consists of a Daleth followed by a Vav, concluding with another Daleth. Thus we see 4 + 6 + 4. (No vowels in Hebrew). That equals 14!
The major theme in the gospel according to Matthew is the King and His Kingdom. The word “kingdom” occurs not less than 50 times, and the expression “Kingdom of heaven” occurs 31 times. The King of that kingdom is the Lord Jesus Christ; therefore. He is often called “The King of Kings.” All this detail in one verse of scripture, Matthew 1:17, is to help us understand that Jesus is not only our Savior, He is our King. He has the right to rule in our lives. The question for each of us is who’s on the throne?
Chuck
“So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations. “ (Matthew 1:17)