The Genealogy of The Messiah

The Scriptures often employ both allegorical and literal methods of communication. Additionally, it's common for them to have dual fulfillment. Perceived contradictions in the Scriptures typically stem from a person's limited understanding or lack of spiritual insight, rather than from the Scriptures themselves. For instance, if the Messiah is seen as fulfilling 99% of the prophecies, and there appears to be a 1% inconsistency, this is more likely due to an individual's constrained comprehension or spiritual unawareness. TMH will allow those who wish to reject the Messiah to be deceived because of a limited understanding or revelation because only those who are seeking truth will be those to obtain truth. Below is a limited fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies:

Born of a Virgin:

Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14 - A virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-23 and Luke 1:26-35 - Yahshua is born to Mary, a virgin, in Bethlehem.

Born in Bethlehem:

Prophecy: Micah 5:2 - The Messiah will come from Bethlehem.

Fulfillment: Matthew 2:1 and Luke 2:4-6 - Yahshua is born in Bethlehem.

A Descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

Prophecy: Genesis 12:3, Genesis 17:19, Numbers 24:17 - The Messiah will be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-34 - Genealogies of Yahshua trace his lineage back to these patriarchs.

From the Line of David:

Prophecy: 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Jeremiah 23:5 - The Messiah will be a descendant of King David.

Fulfillment: Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:32-33 - Yahshua is described as the son of David.

Ministry in Galilee:

Prophecy: Isaiah 9:1-2 - The Messiah will have a ministry in Galilee.

Fulfillment: Matthew 4:12-16 - Yahshua begins his ministry in Galilee.

A Prophet Like Moses:

Prophecy: Deuteronomy 18:15 - The Messiah will be a prophet like Moses.

Fulfillment: Acts 3:20-22 - Yahshua is identified as this prophet.

Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem:

Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9 - The Messiah will enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Fulfillment: Matthew 21:1-5 - Yahshua enters Jerusalem on a donkey.

Betrayed for Thirty Pieces of Silver:

Prophecy: Zechariah 11:12-13 - The Messiah will be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver.

Fulfillment: Matthew 26:14-16 - Judas Iscariot betrays Yahshua for thirty pieces of silver.

Suffering and Death:

Prophecy: Isaiah 53 - The Messiah will suffer and die for the sins of others.

Fulfillment: Various passages in the Gospels - Yahshua is crucified, suffering for the sins of humanity.

Resurrection:

Prophecy: Psalm 16:10 - The Messiah will not be abandoned to the realm of the dead.

Fulfillment: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 - Yahshua is resurrected from the dead.

Some people struggle with the genealogy of the Messiah, perceiving a conflict in the accounts given in Matthew and Luke. Despite this, the Messiah meets all the previously mentioned prophecies. Those inclined to dismiss the Messiah often overlook the 99% fulfillment and focus on what they consider to be contradictions. Typically, they miss the finer details of the prophecies and, due to a lack of pure-heartedness, they fail to accept the Father's only begotten son.The gospels of Matthew and Luke provide different genealogies for Yahshua. Matthew traces Yahshua' lineage through David's son Solomon, while Luke traces it through another of David's sons, Nathan. This discrepancy has been a subject of theological and scholarly debate. How do we rectify this possible contradiction? Well, one could look at this as TMH showing the lineage in Matthew as the Messiah’s lineage through Israel to the line of David, and Luke shows his lineage all the way to Adam, illustrating that salvation is for both Jew and Gentile. In the Gospel of Matthew, the genealogy of Yahshua is traced through Joseph, Yahshua’ legal father. This lineage goes back to King David through his son Solomon. Matthew's genealogy is structured in a symbolic pattern, divided into three sets of fourteen generations, likely to emphasize the Davidic heritage and to make it more memorable for Israelite audiences. Luke's genealogy, on the other hand, is traced also through Joseph, but it goes back to King David through a different son, Nathan. Luke's account is generally considered less structured and traces the lineage all the way back to Adam, emphasizing the idea of Yahshua as the Son of Man (Human). Matthew provides Joseph's royal lineage (legal lineage) through Solomon, which is important for fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah being a descendant of David. Luke, conversely, might be providing Mary's biological lineage through Nathan, highlighting Yahshua' physical descent from David.

If Luke's genealogy represents Mary's lineage, this further elevates the concept of the virgin birth. In the Old Testament; the term for virgin is either 'alma' or 'bethulah'.

Alma and Bethulah in the Old Testament:

• Alma: This Hebrew word appears in the Old Testament, including in the famous prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 ("Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son..."). "Alma" is a term that generally refers to a young woman of marriageable age. It does not specifically denote virginity, but it often implies it, as young unmarried women in that cultural context were typically virgins.

• Bethulah: This Hebrew word more explicitly means "virgin." It is used in various contexts in the Old Testament to refer to a woman who has not had sexual relations.
  

Septuagint Rendering of Virgin: The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 7:14, "almah," has been a point of contention. In the Hebrew tradition, "almah" is often translated as "young woman." However, in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, the word is translated as "parthenos," which means "virgin."

Joseph’s Lineage and the Messiah:

The inclusion of Joseph's lineage in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, despite the claim of the virgin birth, is significant for a few reasons:

• Legal Descent: In Israelite culture, lineage and inheritance were typically traced through the father. Joseph's lineage would legally confer upon Yahshua the lineage of David, fulfilling the prophecies about the Messiah's descent.

• Messiah's Davidic Lineage: The emphasis on Yahshua’ being a descendant of David was crucial for early believers in establishing Yahshua as the fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecies. Listing Joseph's lineage, which traces back to David, serves this purpose.

Mary’s Lineage:

• The New Testament does not explicitly detail Mary's genealogy, but it is traditionally believed by scholars that she was also of the house of David. This belief is partly based on the understanding that marriages often occurred within the same tribe or clan in ancient Israelite society.

• Luke's genealogy (Luke 3:23-38), which differs from Matthew's, is sometimes interpreted as Mary's lineage, showing her Davidic descent, though this is not explicitly stated in the text.

Direct Seed Prophecy:

One point of contention for some is the belief that the Messiah should be a direct descendant of King David, as per 2 Samuel 7:12-16. Therefore, if Yahshua is born of the Holy Spirit, he would not be King David's direct descendant, and thus, they argue, he could not be the prophesied Messiah. This view is held by those who dismiss the Messiah over this perceived 1% inconsistency that they fail to comprehend.

2 Samuel 7:12-16: This is one of the foundational texts for the belief in a Davidic Messiah. God's covenant with David, as conveyed by the prophet Nathan, promises that David's offspring will establish an eternal kingdom. This passage is often interpreted as a prophecy of a future king from David's lineage, which many have traditionally seen as a reference to Yahshua.

2 Samuel 7:12-16

New International Version

12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

In my view, the prophecy in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 is primarily about King Solomon, not directly about the Messiah. It was Solomon who built a house for God and who, despite his wrongdoings, was corrected by God. This aligns with the idea that God disciplines those He loves. However, we understand that the Messiah was sinless (No Wrongdoings), always acting in accordance with what he saw the Father doing. Despite this, the Messiah's experience of being flogged by human hands represents a prophetic fulfillment. He bore the sins of the world and the associated punishment, not for his own deeds, but for the transgressions of others. Thus, the Messiah also bore the judgments for the sins of King Solomon and King David.

The prophecy also signifies the eternal establishment of King David’s throne. It's not just about the person of King David but about the perpetual reign from his throne, which will always remain with Israel or Judah. This throne, which the Messiah occupies eternally, represents a dual fulfillment: it continues the rule of King David and inaugurates the everlasting rulership of the Messiah. This interpretation aligns with Psalm 45:6, where the eternal nature of this throne is proclaimed.

Psalm 45:6

New International Version

6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;

    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

2 Samuel 7 is fulfilled in a broader, spiritual, or symbolic sense rather than through a direct, unbroken paternal lineage could provide a way to reconcile the differences in the genealogies of Yahshua presented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Emphasis on the Davidic Covenant Over Direct Lineage:

If the focus is on the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (the promise of an everlasting kingdom from David's line) rather than on a strict biological descent, then the specific details of Yahshua' genealogy become less critical. The key point becomes Yahshua' association with the House of David, fulfilling the broader promise of a Davidic Messiah.

This view allows for a more symbolic or theological interpretation of Yahshua' lineage, focusing on his role as the Messiah who fulfills the Davidic covenant, rather than on the exact genealogical details.

Matthew's genealogy, which traces Yahshua' lineage through Solomon, might be emphasizing Yahshua' legal and royal right to the throne of David, appealing to an Israelite audience familiar with the significance of the Davidic line.

Luke's genealogy, which goes through Nathan, another son of David, might be highlighting Yahshua' prophetic and priestly roles, presenting him as a universal savior (savior of the world). This could be more appealing to the Gentiles.

Theological Rather Than Literal Interpretation:

By focusing on the theological significance of Yahshua as the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the differences in the genealogies can be seen as different theological emphases rather than contradictory historical accounts.

This approach is consistent with the view that the Gospel writers were more concerned with conveying theological truths about Yahshua' identity and mission than with providing a precise historical record of genealogical descent.

Resolution of the Virgin Birth Issue:

The emphasis on the Davidic covenant and the theological interpretation of the genealogies also helps address the issue of the virgin birth. Yahshua' divine origin (born of the Holy Spirit, as stated in the Gospels) and his association with the House of David (through either Mary or Joseph) fulfill the messianic expectations in a way that transcends a purely biological lineage.

Virgin Birth:

According to the biblical text, as prophesied in Isaiah 7:14 and narrated in the Gospels of Matthew (1:18-23) and Luke (1:26-35), Yahshua was born of a virgin. This virgin birth is seen as necessary to ensure that Yahshua was not subject to the original sin that, according to New Testament doctrine, all humans inherit as a consequence of the fall of Adam and Eve.

Lamb Without Blemish:

In the Old Testament, particularly in the context of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) and the sacrificial system (Leviticus), lambs offered as sacrifices had to be without blemish or defect. This symbolized purity and the offering of the best to God.

In biblical interpretation, these Old Testament sacrifices foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of the Messiah. As the "Lamb of God" (a title used in John 1:29), Yahshua had to be without sin (the spiritual equivalent of a blemish) to be an effective sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

Sinless Nature of Messiah:

The New Testament teaches that Yahshua lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). His sinlessness is critical to soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), as only a sinless sacrifice could atone for the sins of others.

The virgin birth is seen as instrumental in this sinlessness, as it separates Yahshua from the lineage of Adam and the inheritance of original sin.

Messiah as God and Man:

Biblical doctrine holds that Yahshua is both fully God and fully human. This dual nature is vital for the role of Messiah as a mediator between God and humanity.

As God, Yahshua is inherently sinless and has the power to conquer sin and death. As a human, he could live among us, experience human suffering and temptation, yet remain without sin, thereby fulfilling the requirement of a perfect sacrifice.

Born in Sin, Shaped in Iniquity:

The phrase "born in sin and shaped in iniquity" comes from Psalm 51:5 and reflects the biblical understanding of the human condition as inherently sinful due to the fall.

Messiah, by virtue of the virgin birth and his divine nature, is viewed as exempt from this condition, enabling him to be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice.

In biblical theology, the virgin birth of Yahshua is crucial for ensuring his sinless nature, fulfilling the Old Testament typology of a lamb without blemish. This sinlessness, combined with his divine and human natures, enables Messiah to be the effective sacrifice for the sins of the world, an act that ordinary humans, born in sin, could not accomplish.

Conclusion:

Within the Israelite community, there are individuals who challenge both the divine and human nature of the Messiah. They often liken Him to the Angel Michael, disputing His fulfillment of all prophetic expectations. The reason for this stance may be rooted in their own aspirations to assume a messianic role, aiming to draw others to follow them. This perspective carries a concerning implication: it potentially sets the stage for acceptance of an antichrist figure. Their anticipation seems to align with a false messiah, possibly one associated with Ashkenazi interpretations, as evidenced by their adherence to related doctrines.

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