The Standard August 30, 2025
Each Gospel was written by a follower of Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit, who had a unique upbringing and perspective. Matthew, also called Levi, had been a tax collector before encountering Christ, and likely had been ostracized by his fellow Jews due to his work for the Roman Empire.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we see an appeal to Jewish readers, starting with the genealogy of the long-awaited, promised Messiah through the line of David and including numerous prophetic quotes from the Old Testament and references to the Law. Matthew portrays Jesus in many ways as a new Moses.
The Jewish audience of that day would have held Abraham, Moses and David in extremely high esteem. Here is part of the first chapter of Matthew, with some gaps in between the names of certain fathers:
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.” “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” “Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.” Matthew 1:1-2, 5-6, 15b-16
Joseph being the adoptive father of Jesus was God’s plan from the beginning. It was not any kind of backup strategy or second choice. God the Father sent God the Son to earth as a fully divine, fully human baby who would be raised by his biological mother and adoptive father. Both parents were righteous and upright.
The fact that the royal line of David is traced to Jesus the Messiah through Joseph is a remarkably beautiful picture of adoption. In a spiritual sense, all Christians are adopted, and we inherit each and every benefit of being God’s progeny. Thanks be to the Lord!
“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs– heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:14-17
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