The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
1. A record of birth of Jesus ― The purpose of this lineage is to establish a proper and legal heir to kingship through David, beginning with Abraham and culminating in Jesus (Greek form of Joshua). The Davidic claim to the throne is traced exclusively through the paternal line, as stated, “they declared their births, according to their family by the tribe of their fathers… (Numbers 1:18)”. Therefore, the tribe of Judah, from which David hails, must be represented by a biological paternal descendant.
The kingship is promised to the natural seed of David (not adoptive), as it states, “I will raise up a seed which comes from your מעה [natural organs[1]],” and also “A branch will come out of the stem of Jesse and branch forth from the root[2]”. An adopted branch is not one that branches from the root but instead is grafted; it does not grow out of the existing stem but only grows on the stem.
Additionally, the inheritance cannot be transferred to another tribe, as it states, “and the inheritance of the sons of Israel will not transfer from tribe to tribe; for each to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers, do the sons of Israel cleave” (Numbers 36:7).
the Christ ― Christ is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew term ‘Messiah’. Both Christ and Messiah mean ‘anointed one’. There are many individuals considered and called ‘messiah’ (e.g., Cyrus the Great[3]). This instance of “the Christ” with the definitive article (the) refers to a unique messiah who is the promised messiah, the “son of David,” also known as “Moshiach ben David.”
son of David ― Jesus had a similar spirit as David, sharing in his attributes and challenges as well. This emphasizes that the spiritual essence of each individual is passed down through their descendants. We also derive this from the prophets: “You [King of Tyre] say, ‘I am a god’...you were in the garden of Hashem, covered with every precious stone[4]…” The King of Tyre was not in Eden, rather, this speaks of Adam, the first man, who said, “I wish to be like Hashem[5]”. From this, we can derive that the descendants of a man share in the same spirit, for the King of Tyre was a descendant of Adam, faced with the same challenges and acting upon the negative desire. Jesus, who is referred to as a second Adam[6], also faces similar desires that he must overcome[7].
❑ "Son of David" emphasizes his lineage and kingship within the Jewish tradition, affirming the Messiah as the fulfillment of the eternal kingdom promised to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). Together, these titles illustrate the Messiah's dual role in realizing Hashem's promises: bringing redemption and blessings to both Jews and Gentiles alike, uniting them under the scope of Hashem's overarching plan.
son of Abraham ― Neither David nor Jesus are first-degree sons of Abraham. They are seen as sons of Abraham for two reasons: they are distant descendants of Abraham and thus sons physically, and they also do the works of Abraham and are sons by acting in the manner of his spirit. It would be sufficient to prove ancestral lineage to David only if the purpose were to establish kingship alone. However, by tracing Jesus' lineage to Abraham, the verse emphasizes that Jesus embodies Abraham's divine qualities—kindness, compassion, and unwavering faith in Hashem. Jesus is an extension of the Jewish spiritual legacy that Abraham started, continuing the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise.
❑ Abraham's legacy is intrinsically tied to chesed (loving-kindness), epitomized by his unconditional hospitality towards strangers (Genesis 18) and his compassionate intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:22-33). The rabbinic association of Abraham with chesed not only praises Abraham's acts of kindness but also uses them as a model for emulation, illustrating the profound impact of his legacy on proper moral and ethical conduct[8]
Furthermore, the specification of “Abraham” and “David” highlights the continuity of Hashem's covenant with the Jewish people. Throughout history, Hashem made a series of covenants with the Jewish people, promising them blessings and protection. By including Jesus in this genealogy, the verse implies that he is an integral part of Hashem's ongoing covenant with the Jewish people.
❑ The Messiah being termed "Son of Abraham" underlines his pivotal role in extending the blessings promised to Abraham, not just to the Jewish people but to all nations, in alignment with the promise that through Abraham "all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). This title highlights the Messiah's universal mission and his connection to Abraham's covenant, which is foundational for humanity.
[1] 2 Samuel 7:12-16
[2] Isaiah 11:1
[3] Isaiah 45:1
[4] Ezekiel 28:1,13
[5] Genesis 3:4-6
[6] 1 Corinthians 15:45
[7] Matthew 4:1-11
[8] Sotah 10b; Bava Metzia 86b
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