How does Matthew present Jesus in relation to the promises made to Abraham?
Matthew presents Jesus as the Son of David and Son of Abraham, the fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham. His genealogy stops at Abraham rather than Adam because Israel’s history begins there. Matthew thereby presents Jesus as Israel’s King and Messiah, the one who fulfills those Abrahamic promises.
Les explains from Matthew 1:1 that the book of the generation of Jesus Christ identifies Him as the Son of David, and the Syrophoenician woman’s words add “the Son of Abraham.” The genealogy goes only from Christ’s birth back to Abraham; it does not go back to Adam. Les teaches that the reason is that Matthew is presenting Jesus as the King of the nation of Israel, Israel’s Messiah, and as the fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham. Because everything for Israel begins with Abraham, there is no need to go further back. This substantiates that God could not break His covenant promises with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In chapter 3, John the Baptist then announces the coming King, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” a kingdom that will be on the earth.
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
More Questions
Why does Matthew trace Jesus' genealogy only back to Abraham?
Matthew's genealogy stops at Abraham because Matthew presents Jesus as the King of the nation of Israel, Israel's Messiah.
Why does Matthew's genealogy stop at Abraham instead of going back to Adam?
Matthew's genealogy stops at Abraham rather than going back to Adam because Matthew is presenting Jesus as the King of the nation of Israel, Israel's Messiah, and the fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham, so there is no need to go further back since that is where everything begins as far as Israel is concerned.