Verse for reflection: St Mathew 1:7-17
St Mathew divides the generations from Abraham to the coming of Christ into three phases; each of these includes 14 generations- we note spiritual messages from these 3 phases.
- from Abraham to David- a journey of glory of kingship/royalty.
Kingship signifies greatness. In the book of Genesis, the Triune God said- “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26; NKJV). God’s vision for man was a dream of greatness; a man designed for fellowship with God.
- from David to the captivity in Babylon- a journey to slavery.
Using his free will man chose to disobey God and therein began a journey of slavery- becomes slaves of sin rather than to have a fellowship with Him.
- from the Babylonian bondage to our Lord Jesus Christ- a journey of redemption.
The Lord did not leave His creation to perish forever. The end of the story is not the tragedy in slavery but freedom in Christ as “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (St John 3:16; NKJV).
St John Chrysostom states about these phases that though people went through different forms of leadership- aristocracy, kingship, oligarchy, popular leaders etc but it was no advantage to them in the way of virtue. (Homily 4, Gospel of Mathew).
So, 14 generations in 3 phases- the sum (as noted in the above genealogy) comes at 42. It is interesting to note that St Jerome mentions about Israelites having halted 42 times while on their way to the Promised Land from the Egyptian slavery- (Jerome- Letter 78 to Fabiola). The genealogy symbolizes the crossing of the entire humanity in the wilderness of this world to be liberated from the bondage of sin and death with the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Ref: Fr Tadros Malaty, commentary on Gospel of Matthew).
Your sister in Christ,
Rincy John
