Today we have Matthews’ genealogy of Jesus. Mark and John do not have anything about Jesus’ birth and early years. Matthew’s infancy narrative was added and is not meant to be taken as historical fact. It is meant to convey biblical truth about Jesus who was the Son of David and therefore the long-awaited one.

I am surprised that the chief priests and their cronies never questioned Jesus’ lineage. There are some real culprits in Matthew’s account. Jacob, with his mother’s help, deceived his blind, elderly father and stole Esau’s birthright. Tamar was married many times and then went to work as a prostitute and disguised herself to deceive a grief stricken Judah. Rahab was a prostitute who aided and abetted enemy spies in her own country, something Homeland security would not appreciate. Finally, we have David, an adulterer and a murderer. Quite a lineage. Continue reading →