The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew opens his Gospel by tracing Jesus' family tree all the way back to Abraham.

Birth of JesusNew Testament

What Happened

The genealogy isn't just a list of names — it's a theological argument. Matthew structures it into three sets of fourteen generations, connecting Jesus to David the king and Abraham the patriarch. He also includes several unexpected women in the lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba — signaling that God's plan has always included outsiders and surprising turns.

Read It

Matthew

The Family Tree Nobody Expected

Matthew opens his Gospel with a family tree that's anything but boring — full of outsiders, scandals, and unlikely heroes. Then he tells the story of how Jesus actually arrived: through a confused carpenter, a teenage girl, and an angel who showed up in a dream.

Key People

JesusAbrahamDavidMaryJoseph

Key Places

Israel

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