What is the significance of the name "Matthat" in Luke 3:26? Name and Meaning Matthat (Greek: Ματθάτ, transliterated “Mat-thát”) stems from the Hebrew root ntn (“to give”) with the divine element “Yah.” Thus it means “Gift of Yahweh.” Cognates include Matthew, Mattathias, and Matthan, each testifying to Israel’s habit of embedding the covenant name of God in personal names (cf. 2 Samuel 12:25; “Jedidiah,”). Theologically, every such name proclaims that life, lineage, and redemption are gifts from the covenant-keeping LORD. Occurrences in Scripture Luke alone records Matthat, twice in the genealogy of Jesus (Luke 3:24, 26). The first Matthat is the son of Levi; the second (v. 26, some manuscripts read “Maath”) is five generations earlier than Zerubbabel. No Old Testament character bears this exact spelling, underscoring Luke’s use of extrabiblical genealogical archives, a practice attested by Josephus (Against Apion 1.28–56) and rabbinic tradition (m. Taʿanit 4:8). Genealogical Role Luke structures Jesus’ lineage in 77 names (cf. Bock, Luke 1:1–9:50, p. 183). Matthat occupies slot 6 and, by most counts, slot 21, anchoring two of Luke’s eleven seven-name triads. The carefully crafted pattern highlights divine orchestration from Adam to Christ: creation, covenant, and consummation (seven being the biblical number of completeness). Historically, Matthat lived ca. 400 BC—post-exile but pre-Maccabean—bridging the silent centuries between Malachi and the events recorded by Luke. His placement between Levi and Melchi on one side (v. 24) and between Maath and Mattathias on the other (v. 26) stitches together the otherwise undocumented generations that carried both the Davidic and priestly promises forward. Connection to Old Testament Themes 1. Gift-Imagery: Other “gift” names (Jonathan, Nathanael) appear at key covenant junctures. Matthat’s inclusion quietly echoes God’s ongoing gracious “giving” toward the coming Messiah (Romans 8:32). 2. Remnant Preservation: Chronicles ends on the note of return (2 Chronicles 36:23). Luke picks up where Ezra–Nehemiah left off; Matthat’s generation embodies the remnant through whom “the commandments of the LORD [were] practiced” (Ezra 9:10–15). Theological Significance 1. Messianic Qualification. Genealogies mattered because Messiah must be physically descended from David (2 Samuel 7:13; Psalm 89:3–4). Matthat’s presence confirms an unbroken chain. 2. Virgin Conception Balance. Luke traces through Heli—understood as Mary’s father—showing that even apart from Joseph’s paternity Jesus owns legitimate Davidic blood. The double appearance of Matthat underscores Luke’s deliberate documentation rather than careless duplication. 3. “Gift” Fulfilled. Jesus, the ultimate “Gift of God” (2 Corinthians 9:15), springs from a line marked repeatedly by “gift” names. Providence engraves theology into history. Christological Implications The resurrection vindicates every prior link. Paul argues, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Luke’s genealogy culminates in the risen Jesus (Acts 2:24,32). Therefore Matthat’s tiny, almost forgotten name participates in the cosmic reversal of death by guaranteeing a real, historical body for the Redeemer to rise from. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration Ossuaries from the Kedron Valley (e.g., “Johanan son of Levi,” first-century BC) reflect similar theophoric constructions and genealogy-conscious inscriptions. The Bar-Kokhba papyri (AD 132–135) likewise list pre-exilic ancestors, demonstrating the cultural centrality of pedigree. Practical Application for Believers 1. God esteems the unknown. Though Matthat left no recorded deed, his faithful link in the chain mattered eternally. 2. Your obedience today may bless generations hence. 3. Scripture’s minutiae invite trust in its grand promises—if God guards the syllables of a forgotten post-exilic farmer, He will surely keep every word regarding your salvation. Summary Matthat means “Gift of Yahweh,” appears twice in Luke 3, anchors the seventh structure of Jesus’ lineage, and functions as living proof that God’s covenant promises progressed unbroken from exile to Incarnation. His quiet testimony strengthens the Messiah’s legal credentials, reinforces the reliability of Luke’s record, and enlarges the believer’s confidence that every name—and every person—in God’s redemptive story counts. |
    |