In the Old Testament times, Israel was awaiting for the coming of the Messiah. They knew that the Messiah will come from the seed of David (Psalms 89:4; Jeremiah 33:25-26). It was a sure promise that is why when Jesus asked the Pharisees that were gathered together, “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?” they answered, “The Son of David” (Matt 22:41-42). Thus, many Jews believed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ. That was the reason why Bartimaeus, the blind man, cried out unto Jesus, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me (Mark 10:47).” He was expecting the Messiah to bless him. They believed that the Messiah (or Christ) will come and save them from the situation they are in (oppressed and diseased).
The Son of David
In the King James Bible, “The Son of David” is mentioned 16 times and pertains to Jesus Christ. Thus, the Jews knew that He belonged to the line of David. But how can we prove that He is truly “The Son of David”.
The Son of David
In the King James Bible, “The Son of David” is mentioned 16 times and pertains to Jesus Christ. Thus, the Jews knew that He belonged to the line of David. But how can we prove that He is truly “The Son of David”.
CHRISTOLOGY
Promise of the Messiah
By Ptr. JC Balao
Promise of the Messiah
By Ptr. JC Balao
The Line of Joseph.
In the book of Matthew, the author sorted the genealogy from Abraham to Joseph (the supposed father of Jesus). Let us tabulate it and sort it in a descending pattern (Table 1).
The question is; can we use the lineage of Jesus to David through His supposed-father Joseph? As stated before, the Jews were waiting for The Son of David to come and save them. They were expecting the Messiah to sit on the throne of David and restore Israel back to her former glory. They were expecting a King. Thus, can we use the line of Joseph to link Jesus Christ with David? The answer is NO.
In the book of Matthew, the author sorted the genealogy from Abraham to Joseph (the supposed father of Jesus). Let us tabulate it and sort it in a descending pattern (Table 1).
The question is; can we use the lineage of Jesus to David through His supposed-father Joseph? As stated before, the Jews were waiting for The Son of David to come and save them. They were expecting the Messiah to sit on the throne of David and restore Israel back to her former glory. They were expecting a King. Thus, can we use the line of Joseph to link Jesus Christ with David? The answer is NO.
| Matt 1:2-16 |
| Joseph, the husband of Mary |
| Jacob |
| Matthan |
| Eleazar |
| Eliud |
| Achim |
| Sadoc |
| Azor |
| Eliakim |
| Abiud |
| Zorobabel |
| Salathiel |
| Jechonias |
| Josias ** |
| Amon |
| Manasses |
| Ezekias |
| Achaz |
| Joatham |
| Ozias |
| Joram |
| Josaphat |
| Asa |
| Abia |
| Roboam |
| Solomon |
| David with the wife of Urias |
| Jesse |
| Obed |
| Booz with Ruth |
| Salmon with Rachab |
| Naasson |
| Aminadab |
| Aram |
| Esrom |
| Phares |
| Judas with Thamar |
| Jacob |
| Isaac |
| Abraham |
** According to some readings Josias begat Jekim and Jekim begat Jechonias
Genealogy from Abraham to Joseph
Table 1
Table 1
The Cursed Line of Jehoiakim.
| 1 Chron 3:10-17 |
| Solomon Rehoboam Abia Asa Joram Ahaziah Joash Amaziah Azariah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh Amon Josiah Jehoiakim Jeconiah Salathiel |
| Luke 3:23-32 (Descending order) |
| Joseph * Heli Matthat Levi Melchi Janna Joseph Mattathias Amos Naum Esli Nagge Maath Mattathias Semei Joseph Juda Joanna Rhesa Zorobabel Salathiel Neri Melchi Addi Cosam Elmodam Er Jose Eliezer Jorim Matthat Levi Simeon Juda Joseph Jonan Eliakim Melea Menan Mattatha ** Nathan David Jesse Obed Booz Salmon Naasson Aminadab Aram Esrom Phares Juda Jacob Isaac Abraham |
Jeremiah 22:30 stated, “Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” Jeremiah 36:30 further supports this verse as it states, “Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.” Thus, starting from Jehoiakim, no one from his line onward will ever sit upon the throne of David. The kingship had stopped there! To point the lineage of Joseph for Jesus Christ would be erroneous; Jesus can not sit on the throne of David if He will represent the line of Joseph. There was no longer an inheritance of kingship.
Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus Christ is not from the lineage of Joseph.
If it is not from the lineage of Joseph then where will we base the connection of Jesus Christ with that of David?
Therefore, we can conclude that Jesus Christ is not from the lineage of Joseph.
If it is not from the lineage of Joseph then where will we base the connection of Jesus Christ with that of David?
The Genealogy from Solomon to Salathiel (Ascending Order)
Table 2
Table 2
Genealogy from Joseph to Abraham in Descending Order
Table 3
Table 3
The Line of Mary
Let’s compare the genealogy of Matthew with Luke (Table 3); the father of Joseph in Matthew is Jacob while Heli is his father in Luke. Does it mean that Joseph had two fathers? Some Bible readers disagree that Joseph had two fathers; they explained that Jacob and Heli is one man, just as Simon and Peter is one man. If that is the case, how can we explain the names of the sons of David in Matthew and Luke? Solomon is written in Matthew but Nathan is written in Luke. Is Matthew and Nathan the same man? Let us search our Bible, our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. 2 Sam 5:14 states that David had four sons that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon; this verse proves that we are looking at two different genealogies! Therefore, can Joseph have two fathers? Well, in a sense, yes. Consider the following:
· Jacob is Joseph’s biological father. Note that the author of Matthew clearly states that the sons enumerated in chapter one of Matthew were begotten. Thus, making Jacob as the true biological father and not Heli.
· Heli is Joseph’s father-in-law; he was Mary’s father. According to tradition and from the Gospel of James the lesser, Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anna. Joachim’s Hebrew name is Eliakim; Heli is the short name for Eliakim. Note that Luke 3:23 illustrates that Jesus was supposed-to-be the son of Joseph. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus but was His supposed-father (or step-father). Heli was not described to have begotten Joseph. Joseph was described as the son of Heli, not the begotten son of Heli.
Let’s compare the genealogy of Matthew with Luke (Table 3); the father of Joseph in Matthew is Jacob while Heli is his father in Luke. Does it mean that Joseph had two fathers? Some Bible readers disagree that Joseph had two fathers; they explained that Jacob and Heli is one man, just as Simon and Peter is one man. If that is the case, how can we explain the names of the sons of David in Matthew and Luke? Solomon is written in Matthew but Nathan is written in Luke. Is Matthew and Nathan the same man? Let us search our Bible, our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. 2 Sam 5:14 states that David had four sons that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon; this verse proves that we are looking at two different genealogies! Therefore, can Joseph have two fathers? Well, in a sense, yes. Consider the following:
· Jacob is Joseph’s biological father. Note that the author of Matthew clearly states that the sons enumerated in chapter one of Matthew were begotten. Thus, making Jacob as the true biological father and not Heli.
· Heli is Joseph’s father-in-law; he was Mary’s father. According to tradition and from the Gospel of James the lesser, Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anna. Joachim’s Hebrew name is Eliakim; Heli is the short name for Eliakim. Note that Luke 3:23 illustrates that Jesus was supposed-to-be the son of Joseph. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus but was His supposed-father (or step-father). Heli was not described to have begotten Joseph. Joseph was described as the son of Heli, not the begotten son of Heli.
| The Three-fold Prophecy The Three Messiahs |
According to the Dead Sea Scrolls, a devout religious community (the Essenes) expected the coming of three Messiahs. In the Hebrew language, Messiah means “anointed one”. In the New Testament times, the Messiah is also called the Christ, which means “anointed” or “Messiah” in the Greek language. As was said, the Essenes were expecting the coming of three Messiahs. How will that be possible? Does it mean that there will be other Messiahs AFTER Jesus Christ? Or were there other Messiahs BEFORE Jesus Christ? Let us first study the meaning of the three-fold prophecy; it means that any prophecy will come to pass on its third fulfillment. If Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Messianic Prophecy then there were two other Messiahs BEFORE Him. The first Messiah was Aaron, the brother of Moses. He was the Priestly Messiah appointed by God and anointed by Moses. He belonged to the family of Levi. Thus, it was through the family of Levi did the priestly clan come into existence. The second Messiah was David, the son of Jesse. He was the Kingly Messiah appointed by God and anointed by Samuel. He belonged to the family of Judah. Thus, it was through the line of David did the prophesied coming of the third Messiah will be fulfilled. The third and last Messiah is Jesus Christ, the son of God. He is the Godly Messiah appointed by God (His Father) and anointed by the Holy Ghost. He belonged to the Trinity. It is through Him that the prophecy was foretold and is fulfilled. |
| The Three Lines of Jesus Christ The Three Lines of Jesus Christ Chart 1 |
The Priestly Line
All anointed priest of Israel had to be a descendant of Aaron. They have to belong to the family of Levi. Jesus Christ has inherited the priestly line. Heb 2:17 states, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” How could Jesus be our High Priest? There should be a direct link of Levi to Him for Jesus to be our High Priest. Is there a lineage of Aaron in the life of Jesus?
What is in the Name?
In Table 3 of page 2, there are six names that are similar to each other; the name of Matthew. The Hebrew Mathat, Mattathias, Mattatha, Maath means Matthew. Note that in the old times, the name of a person denotes one’s tribe, environment, situation and character. Matthew is a name given to the house of Levi. Thus, the name Matthew is associated with the priestly lineage of Aaron. There are three points that I have drawn out to prove this:
a. One of the disciples of Jesus was named Matthew and was also called LEVI.
b. Two of the six Matthew (Mathat) were sons of fathers named LEVI.
c. Josephus records that his brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather were named Matthias (still Matthew) and they were all priests of the tribe of Levi.
Note that after the kingly line of David through his son Nathan, the priestly line came into being through Nathan’s son, Mattatha. Thus, Jesus has inherited the priestly line through Mattatha.
John the Baptist
When the angel Gabriel told Mary about the conception of Jesus, she informed her that her cousin Elisabeth had also conceived in her old age (Luke 1:36). Elisabeth’s husband, Zacharias, was a priest. Note that in Luke 1:5 describes Elisabeth as one of the daughters of Aaron. Thus, both Elisabeth and Zacharias came from the priestly line. Another point is that the people were in expectation in Luke 3:15 and mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not. It was inevitable that the line of Mary will have a priestly line.
The Kingly Line
As stated before, it was in the blessed line of Nathan did Jesus have His kingly lineage. This was what the Jews were waiting for; the Kingly Messiah to deliver them and to restore Israel back to her former glory.
The Godly Line
Matthew 3:16 and 17 illustrates how Jesus got His Godly line. In verse 16, after He was baptized by John the Baptist, the Spirit of God descended upon Him; lighting Him. This was His anointing, directly done by the Holy Spirit. In verse 17, God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was the confirmation of God’s appointment of the Godly Messiah in Jesus Christ.
All anointed priest of Israel had to be a descendant of Aaron. They have to belong to the family of Levi. Jesus Christ has inherited the priestly line. Heb 2:17 states, “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” How could Jesus be our High Priest? There should be a direct link of Levi to Him for Jesus to be our High Priest. Is there a lineage of Aaron in the life of Jesus?
What is in the Name?
In Table 3 of page 2, there are six names that are similar to each other; the name of Matthew. The Hebrew Mathat, Mattathias, Mattatha, Maath means Matthew. Note that in the old times, the name of a person denotes one’s tribe, environment, situation and character. Matthew is a name given to the house of Levi. Thus, the name Matthew is associated with the priestly lineage of Aaron. There are three points that I have drawn out to prove this:
a. One of the disciples of Jesus was named Matthew and was also called LEVI.
b. Two of the six Matthew (Mathat) were sons of fathers named LEVI.
c. Josephus records that his brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather were named Matthias (still Matthew) and they were all priests of the tribe of Levi.
Note that after the kingly line of David through his son Nathan, the priestly line came into being through Nathan’s son, Mattatha. Thus, Jesus has inherited the priestly line through Mattatha.
John the Baptist
When the angel Gabriel told Mary about the conception of Jesus, she informed her that her cousin Elisabeth had also conceived in her old age (Luke 1:36). Elisabeth’s husband, Zacharias, was a priest. Note that in Luke 1:5 describes Elisabeth as one of the daughters of Aaron. Thus, both Elisabeth and Zacharias came from the priestly line. Another point is that the people were in expectation in Luke 3:15 and mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not. It was inevitable that the line of Mary will have a priestly line.
The Kingly Line
As stated before, it was in the blessed line of Nathan did Jesus have His kingly lineage. This was what the Jews were waiting for; the Kingly Messiah to deliver them and to restore Israel back to her former glory.
The Godly Line
Matthew 3:16 and 17 illustrates how Jesus got His Godly line. In verse 16, after He was baptized by John the Baptist, the Spirit of God descended upon Him; lighting Him. This was His anointing, directly done by the Holy Spirit. In verse 17, God spoke, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was the confirmation of God’s appointment of the Godly Messiah in Jesus Christ.