Matthew 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Jewish people diligently recorded the names of their priests and rulers, as noted by Josephus Flavius. This is further supported by the book of Ezra, which states that upon their return from Babylon, some priests who could not be found in the records were removed from their priestly duties: “these sought,” Ezra recounts, “the scripture to their generation, and found it not, and were cast out of the priesthood” (1 Ezra 2:62). The holy Matthew drew from the Holy Scriptures the names prior to Abiud. Following Abiud, he compiled the names either from existing texts, from oral tradition, or through revelation from the Holy Spirit, establishing a complete lineage from Abraham to Christ.

From where did the holy evangelist obtain the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ? Among the Jews, it was customary to maintain a record of ancestors, including fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. Such genealogies were transmitted from parents to children and were preserved through generations within each family. New families would inherit these records from their predecessors when they established their own households. This genealogical record was likewise maintained in the household of Joseph. The Evangelist Matthew likely acquired it from the Blessed Virgin Mary, from James, the son of Joseph, or from another family member, and included it in his Gospel.

In examining the lineage of Zerubbabel, both Matthew and Luke provide a genealogy of Jesus Christ that incorporates the lineages of Abiud and Rishai—details that the author of 1 Chronicles seems to have overlooked. Nevertheless, these names were likely preserved in the collective memory and familial records of David’s descendants, from which the Gospel writers drew. The variations in the genealogies occur from David to Salathiel, with Matthew detailing 16 generations (Matthew 1:6-12) and Luke accounting for 20 (Luke 3:27-36). The paths of the two Evangelists align again at Salathiel and Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27), but subsequently diverge once more as they lead to Joseph, who is regarded as the earthly father of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:18; Luke 3:23).

The Gospel writers likely referenced certain historical documents or family registries to create the genealogical records of the Savior. Scriptural references confirm the existence of family records across various names (Luke 1:61; Luke 2:36; Acts 4:36; Philippians 3:5). The lineage of Judah, particularly in the line of David, who was anticipated as the ancestor of the Messiah, would have been meticulously documented. It is plausible that some omissions occurred in Matthew's genealogy due to specific calculations made during other eras. Notably, Luke accounts for 40 or 42 generations in the final two periods—those between David and Christ—contrasting with the 28 generations mentioned by Matthew.

Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, and Matthan was the father of Jacob. The individuals listed here are largely unfamiliar to historical records. It is likely that these names were preserved through family histories or passed down through tradition. Regardless, the genealogy at this segment is undoubtedly genuine.