Matthew 1:10

Berean Standard Bible

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

King James Bible

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;

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Matthew 1:10, situated within the genealogy of Jesus Christ, reads in the New International Version: “Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah.” This verse forms part of the carefully constructed lineage that opens the Gospel of Matthew, tracing Jesus’ ancestry from Abraham through David to the exile and ultimately to Christ. While at first glance this verse appears as a straightforward genealogical record, its significance lies in its theological and historical implications, revealing Matthew’s intent to present Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel, the Davidic Messiah who emerges from a complex and often flawed lineage. The inclusion of Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah in this genealogy invites a deeper exploration of their roles in Judah’s history, their moral and spiritual legacies, and the way Matthew uses their stories to underscore God’s redemptive work through imperfect human vessels.

The genealogy in Matthew 1:1–17 serves as the introduction to the Gospel, establishing Jesus’ credentials as the Messiah by linking Him to Abraham, the father of Israel, and David, the ideal king whose dynasty was promised to endure forever (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Matthew organizes the genealogy into three sets of fourteen generations (Matthew 1:17), a structure that highlights the pivotal moments in Israel’s history: from Abraham to David, from David to the exile, and from the exile to Christ. Matthew 1:10 falls within the second section, covering the monarchs of Judah from the establishment of the Davidic dynasty to the Babylonian exile. The names listed—Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah—are all kings of Judah, each with distinct reigns that reflect the turbulent history of God’s people, marked by moments of faithfulness, apostasy, and reform. By including these figures, Matthew not only establishes Jesus’ royal lineage but also underscores the messy reality of God’s covenant people, through whom the Messiah would come.

Hezekiah, the first king mentioned in this verse, is celebrated in the Hebrew Bible as one of Judah’s most righteous rulers (2 Kings 18:3–6). His reign, around 715–686 BCE, was marked by significant religious reforms, including the destruction of pagan altars and the restoration of temple worship (2 Chronicles 29–31). Hezekiah’s trust in God during the Assyrian invasion led to a miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35–36), making him a model of faithfulness. His inclusion in Jesus’ genealogy highlights the ideal of a godly king, foreshadowing Jesus as the ultimate Davidic ruler who fulfills God’s covenant. However, Hezekiah’s later pride and failure to secure a lasting legacy (2 Kings 20:16–19) hint at the imperfections even in Judah’s best kings, pointing to the need for a greater king in Christ.

Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, presents a stark contrast. His fifty-five-year reign (circa 697–642 BCE) is infamous for its idolatry and wickedness, described as surpassing even the sins of the Canaanites (2 Kings 21:1–11). Manasseh’s actions, including rebuilding pagan altars, practicing child sacrifice, and consulting mediums, led Judah into deep apostasy, and the biblical narrative attributes the eventual exile to his sins (2 Kings 21:12–15). Yet, 2 Chronicles 33:12–16 records a late repentance, where Manasseh humbles himself before God and enacts reforms. Whether Matthew’s audience would have emphasized Manasseh’s repentance or his earlier wickedness is unclear, but his inclusion in the genealogy is striking. It demonstrates God’s grace in working through even the most flawed individuals to fulfill His redemptive plan, a theme central to Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus as the Savior who redeems a sinful people.

Amon, Manasseh’s son, ruled briefly from around 642–640 BCE and continued his father’s early idolatrous practices, doing “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Kings 21:19–22). His short reign ended in assassination, and the biblical record offers little positive commentary on his legacy (2 Chronicles 33:21–25). Amon’s inclusion in the genealogy serves as a reminder of the persistent sinfulness within the Davidic line, yet it also underscores God’s faithfulness to His covenant despite human failure. The brevity of Amon’s reign and his lack of reform contrast with the kings before and after him, making his role in the genealogy a sobering link in the chain leading to Christ.

Josiah, Amon’s son, is one of Judah’s most celebrated kings, reigning from approximately 640–609 BCE. His reign was marked by sweeping reforms, including the rediscovery of the Book of the Law and the renewal of the covenant (2 Kings 22–23; 2 Chronicles 34–35). Josiah’s zeal for God’s law and his efforts to purge idolatry echo the righteousness of Hezekiah, positioning him as a high point in Judah’s history before the exile. His inclusion in the genealogy reinforces the theme of God’s covenant faithfulness, as Josiah’s reforms reflect the kind of heart God seeks in His people. Yet, Josiah’s untimely death and the subsequent fall of Judah to Babylon (2 Kings 23:29–37) highlight the limitations of even the best human kings, pointing to the need for the ultimate Davidic king, Jesus, who would bring lasting restoration.

Matthew’s inclusion of these four kings—Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah—serves multiple theological purposes. First, it establishes Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David, fulfilling the promise of an eternal dynasty (2 Samuel 7:16). By tracing the lineage through these monarchs, Matthew affirms that Jesus is the legitimate heir, despite the exile and the apparent end of the Davidic monarchy. Second, the genealogy reflects the messy reality of God’s people, encompassing both faithful and unfaithful kings. This mixture of righteousness and sin underscores the need for a Savior who can redeem and restore. Matthew’s Gospel repeatedly emphasizes Jesus as the one who saves His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and the inclusion of flawed figures like Manasseh and Amon highlights the depth of that redemption.

The placement of Matthew 1:10 within the second section of the genealogy, leading to the exile, also carries symbolic weight. The exile was a defining trauma for Israel, seen as divine judgment for covenant unfaithfulness (2 Kings 24:3–4). By including kings whose reigns contributed to or delayed this judgment, Matthew frames Jesus as the one who brings restoration after exile. The genealogy’s structure, with its deliberate progression toward Christ, suggests that the entire history of Israel—from Abraham’s call to David’s kingdom to the exile—finds its culmination in Jesus, the Messiah who ushers in the kingdom of God.

The cultural and historical context of Matthew’s Gospel further enriches the significance of this verse. Written likely in the late first century CE for a primarily Jewish-Christian audience, the genealogy addresses Jewish expectations of a Davidic Messiah while also speaking to those familiar with the failures of Judah’s kings. The inclusion of figures like Manasseh, whose sins precipitated exile, would resonate with an audience aware of Israel’s history of rebellion and God’s enduring faithfulness. For early Christians, this genealogy also served as a bridge between the Old Testament promises and their fulfillment in Jesus, affirming that God’s plan unfolded through generations, despite human sinfulness.

Theologically, Matthew 1:10 underscores the paradox of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The kings listed represent a spectrum of faithfulness and failure, yet God’s covenant promise to David remains unbroken. This reflects a broader biblical theme: God’s ability to work through imperfect human agents to accomplish His purposes. The genealogy prepares the reader for Jesus, who is both the son of David and the Son of God (Matthew 1:1, 18–25), fully human yet divine, capable of fulfilling what no earthly king could achieve. The inclusion of these kings also foreshadows Jesus’ role as the one who takes on the sins of His people, as seen in His identification with sinners at His baptism (Matthew 3:13–15) and His death on the cross (Matthew 27:46).

In later Christian tradition, the genealogy, including Matthew 1:10, has been interpreted as a testament to God’s grace. Early church fathers like Augustine emphasized the inclusion of sinful figures like Manasseh to highlight the universality of sin and the necessity of Christ’s redemptive work. In Jewish tradition, the Davidic lineage remained a focal point of messianic hope, and Matthew’s genealogy aligns with this expectation while expanding it to include the Gentile mission (Matthew 28:19). For modern readers, this verse challenges assumptions about worthiness, reminding us that God’s purposes are accomplished not through human perfection but through divine faithfulness.

The language of Matthew 1:10, with its repetitive “the father of” formula, reflects the formal genealogical style of the Old Testament (e.g., 1 Chronicles 1–9), grounding Jesus in Israel’s history. The Greek term used for “father” (egenēsen, “begat”) emphasizes biological descent, reinforcing Jesus’ humanity and legal claim to the throne. The names themselves—Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah—would evoke specific memories for a Jewish audience familiar with the books of Kings and Chronicles, prompting reflection on the highs and lows of Judah’s monarchy. Matthew’s choice to include these kings, rather than omitting less favorable figures like Manasseh or Amon, underscores the authenticity of the lineage and the reality of God’s work through flawed humanity.

In conclusion, Matthew 1:10 is far more than a list of names; it is a theological statement about God’s faithfulness, the complexity of human history, and the identity of Jesus as the Davidic Messiah. The inclusion of Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, and Josiah reflects the spectrum of Judah’s history—righteousness, rebellion, and reform—while pointing to the greater reality of Christ’s redemptive mission. For Matthew’s audience and for readers today, this verse affirms that God’s promises endure through generations, working through both the faithful and the fallen to bring about salvation in Jesus, the true King who fulfills the hopes of Israel and the world.

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My beloved brothers and sisters, grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, whose coming was foretold through the ages and fulfilled in the fullness of time. I write to you with a heart stirred by the wonder of God’s eternal purpose, revealed in the lineage of His chosen, through which He wove a tapestry of redemption that spans generations. Let us reflect together on the marvelous truth that the Almighty, in His infinite wisdom, has worked through the frail and faltering steps of humanity to bring forth His salvation, a salvation that is for all people, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, near and far.

Consider the mystery of God’s providence, how He moves through the ages, guiding the course of history with a hand unseen yet sovereign. From the earliest days, when the promise was first spoken to Abraham, the father of many nations, God set in motion a plan that would culminate in the birth of the Messiah. Through the line of kings and commoners, through moments of triumph and seasons of exile, through faithfulness and failure, He remained steadfast, weaving together a story that would lead to the One who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This is no mere genealogy of human descent, but a testament to the faithfulness of God, who keeps His covenant and fulfills His word, even when hope seems dim and the path obscure.

Let us marvel at the grace that includes the unlikely and the unworthy in the lineage of the Savior. In this divine record, we see not only the names of the great and the noble but also those who stumbled, those who were overlooked, those whose lives bore the marks of human frailty. Yet God, in His boundless mercy, chose to work through them, showing that His strength is made perfect in weakness. The harlot found a place in His plan, as did the foreigner, the outcast, and the sinner. What comfort this brings to us, dear friends, for we too are frail, prone to wander, and yet invited to participate in the unfolding of His kingdom. No one is beyond the reach of His grace, and no story is too broken for Him to redeem.

As we ponder this truth, let us be reminded that God’s purposes are not bound by the limitations of human understanding. The generations listed in this sacred lineage were not merely names on a scroll but lives lived in the shadow of a promise they could not fully grasp. They walked by faith, not by sight, trusting in the One who called them, even when the fulfillment of His word lay far beyond their days. So too are we called to walk, trusting that the same God who was faithful to them is faithful to us. He is not slow in keeping His promises, as some count slowness, but is patient, desiring that all should come to repentance and know the joy of His salvation.

Therefore, let us live as those who belong to this great story of redemption. Let us not grow weary in doing good, nor lose heart when the world seems dark and its burdens heavy. The same God who guided the steps of those who came before us is guiding us still, and He will bring to completion the good work He has begun. Let us hold fast to the hope that is set before us, an anchor for our souls, grounded in the unchangeable nature of His purpose. For just as He brought forth the Savior through a lineage marked by both glory and brokenness, so too will He bring forth His kingdom through us, His people, who are called by His name.

I urge you, beloved, to live worthy of this calling. Be fervent in love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be steadfast in prayer, lifting up the needs of the saints and the cries of the lost. Be bold in proclaiming the good news of the Savior, who came not to condemn the world but to save it. Let your lives be a living testimony to the grace that has been revealed, a grace that flows from the heart of God and reaches to the ends of the earth. Do not be swayed by the fleeting pleasures of this world or discouraged by its trials, for our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we await the return of our King.

And so, my dear friends, as you go forth, carry with you the assurance that you are part of a story far greater than yourselves. You are heirs of a promise that cannot be shaken, children of a God who does not fail. May your hearts be filled with the joy of His salvation, your minds stayed on His peace, and your lives devoted to His glory. Until we meet in the presence of our Lord, may His grace sustain you, His love uphold you, and His Spirit guide you into all truth.

With all affection and prayers for your steadfastness,

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Almighty and everlasting God, Creator of heaven and earth, whose mercy endures through all generations, we come before You with hearts full of awe and gratitude, lifting our voices in humble adoration. You are the God who weaves the tapestry of time, guiding the course of history with Your sovereign hand, fulfilling Your promises through the lineage of Your chosen people, and bringing forth salvation for all who call upon Your name. We stand in wonder at Your faithfulness, which spans the ages, and we seek Your presence now, that we may be drawn closer to Your heart and aligned with Your eternal purpose.

We praise You, O Lord, for Your unsearchable wisdom, which has worked through the frail and faltering steps of humanity to accomplish Your divine will. From the days of old, You spoke promises to Your servants, and through their lives—marked by both triumph and trial—You prepared the way for the Savior, the Light of the world. We thank You that no one is beyond the reach of Your grace, that You have called the lowly, the broken, and the unworthy to be vessels of Your redemption. Your mercy has included the outcast, the sinner, and the stranger, and in this we find hope, for we too are frail, yet cherished by Your boundless love.

Father of all mercies, we pray for Your people scattered across the earth, that they may walk in the light of Your truth. Strengthen those who falter, comfort those who mourn, and guide those who wander. May Your Spirit fill their hearts with courage to live as heirs of Your promise, trusting in Your faithfulness even when the path is unclear. Grant them wisdom to discern Your will, humility to seek Your face, and boldness to proclaim Your love to a world in need. Let them be a beacon of Your grace, reflecting the hope that comes from knowing You, the God who never fails.

We lift up those who have not yet known Your salvation, those who dwell in darkness or are burdened by the cares of this world. Open their eyes, O Lord, to see the beauty of Your Son, the One who came to seek and save the lost. Soften their hearts to receive Your grace, and send Your laborers into the harvest to share the good news of Your kingdom. May the story of Your redemption, woven through generations, reach every corner of the earth, drawing all people to the cross where mercy and truth have met.

Pour out Your Spirit upon Your church, that it may be united in love and purpose. Heal divisions, restore what is broken, and kindle anew a passion for Your glory. Equip Your people to serve one another with humility, to bear one another’s burdens, and to walk in the unity that reflects Your heart. May they be steadfast in prayer, unwavering in faith, and tireless in doing good, knowing that their labor in You is never in vain. Let their lives testify to the power of Your grace, which transforms the weak into vessels of Your strength.

O God, whose promises are sure, we pray for those who face trials and uncertainties. Be their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Surround them with Your peace that surpasses understanding, and anchor their souls in the hope of Your unchanging word. Remind them that You are the God who sees, who knows, and who works all things for good. Just as You guided the generations before us, guide us now, that we may walk by faith and not by sight, trusting in the fulfillment of Your eternal plan.

We ask, Lord, that You would shape us into a people who reflect Your glory. Teach us to love as You love, to forgive as You forgive, and to serve as You serve. May our words be seasoned with grace, our actions marked by compassion, and our lives devoted to Your praise. Keep us from the snares of this world, from the fleeting temptations that draw us away from You. Fix our eyes on the hope of Your kingdom, where we will one day stand in Your presence, joined with all the saints who have gone before us.

Now to You, the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be all honor and glory, forever and ever. May Your name be exalted in all the earth, and may Your will be done as it is in heaven. We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, our Savior, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.