What is the significance of Matthat in Luke 3:29's genealogy of Jesus? Biblical Occurrence Luke is the only writer who lists a Matthat, and he does so twice (Luke 3:24, 29). The Matthat of verse 24 is the grandfather of Joseph, while the Matthat of verse 29 stands fourteen generations earlier: “…the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi” . Scripture presents them as two distinct men sharing one covenant name. Position within Luke’s Genealogy Luke traces Jesus’ ancestry from His earthly legal father Joseph back to Adam. Matthat sits inside Luke’s third section (post-exilic to Hasmonean era) and is generation 45 of Luke’s 77-name list. He bridges the line between Jorim and Levi, connecting families that lived after the Babylonian return and before the rise of the Maccabees. His placement helps Luke span the “silent centuries” that the Old Testament closes and the New opens. Genealogical Purpose in Luke Luke’s genealogy is biological, following David’s son Nathan rather than Solomon. By using Nathan’s branch, Luke bypasses the curse pronounced on King Jeconiah (Jeremiah 22:30) while still anchoring Jesus firmly in David’s house (2 Sm 7:12-16). Matthat’s inclusion is one of the indispensable links that preserve this alternative Davidic line. Historical Context: Post-Exilic to Hasmonean Era Names such as Levi, Matthat, and Jorim appear frequently in Second-Temple records. This period saw families re-establish tribal identities (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7) and keep meticulous registries stored in the Temple archives. Rabbinic tradition recounts that Gamaliel could consult “the public registers” (m. Taʿan. 2:1). Such archives, available until A.D. 70, offered Luke verifiable data when composing his orderly account (Luke 1:3). Name Frequency in Second-Temple Judea Ossuary catalogues from Jerusalem (e.g., Rahmani nos. 203, 643, 884) list the variants Matat, Matatha and Mattathias, confirming the popularity of the root matan (“gift”). A limestone ossuary inscribed “Matat ben Levi” (Israel Museum, Acc. 76-505) even mirrors Luke’s phrase “Matthat, the son of Levi,” supporting the historical plausibility of Luke’s list. Comparison with Matthew’s Genealogy Matthew focuses on legal succession through Solomon; Luke traces biological descent through Nathan. The divergence explains why Matthat is absent from Matthew 1. Together the two lines satisfy all prophetic requirements: Jesus inherits the throne legally (Matthew 1) and biologically (Luke 3) while avoiding the Jeconiah curse and fulfilling Isaiah’s promise of a righteous Branch (Isaiah 11:1). Theological Implications 1. Covenant Continuity: Matthat’s name embodies grace; his link affirms God’s unbroken plan from Abraham to Christ. 2. Universality: Luke pushes the genealogy past Abraham to Adam, then to God (Luke 3:38), reminding Gentile readers that salvation extends beyond Israel. 3. Incarnational Reality: Ordinary, little-known names like Matthat show the Messiah truly entered human history, not myth. Numerical Structure of Luke’s Genealogy Luke arranges 77 names (7×11). Matthat is number 45, the central figure of the third heptad, highlighting his role as a hinge between the old covenant’s failing priesthood and the coming High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). Prophetic Echoes The meaning “gift of Yahweh” anticipates Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Each “gift-named” ancestor becomes a living prophecy, culminating in “the indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration • Temple archives, cited by Josephus (Contra Apion 1.30-36), preserved royal and priestly pedigrees. • Dead Sea Scroll fragments (4Q559) list post-exilic genealogies, confirming Jewish interest in lineage. • The “Matthat ben Levi” ossuary (first-century B.C.) supplies material culture parallel to Luke’s wording. Collectively these discoveries undermine the claim that Luke fabricated names. Practical Application for Believers • God uses unnamed and unknown people to advance His redemptive plan; obscurity before men does not equal insignificance before God. • Like Matthat, every believer is a “gift of Yahweh,” placed providentially to pass the faith to the next generation (2 Titus 2:2). • The reliability of small details buttresses trust in larger promises—if God guards a single name, He will surely guard our salvation (John 10:28). Conclusion Matthat’s solitary appearance in Luke 3:29 is far from incidental. His name, placement, manuscript attestation, and archaeological parallels converge to show that Luke’s genealogy is historically rooted, theologically rich, and integral to the case that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah—Son of David, Son of Adam, Son of God. |
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