Today's Gospel Reading

[sgt.pat]

I have a couple of questions about this morning’s reading in Matthew, the genealogy of Christ.
What is the significance of the number 14?

Secondly, I read the"Living Faith, Daily Catholic Devotions" also, and this morning it said “We may already know that the point of Matthew’s genealogy is theological, not historical”…

As a convert who was raised in a fundamental southern baptist home, I have learned (with much amazement) that not all of the bible is historical fact. But this part, the genealogy, why would it not be historical and how could it be meant to be theological?

Any help is greatly appreciated. And to those of you who spend a lot of time here helping guide and direct us, I Thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.

 

[mercygate]

It’s pretty hard, in a Jewish context, NOT to think that theology and history are so interconnected that you can’t untangle them.

I await illumination along with you about the number 14 (and I’ll bet someone will post a link to the Church Fathers on this).

For me, the “theology” here is that Jesus is “true man,” descended from Abraham, through David . . . son of the Promise. Matthew, addressing his Jewish audience, establishes the geneaological bona fides of Jesus, then goes into the story of the virgin birth. This would be formulated later as “true God and true man.”

I add a question to Sgt.Pat’s original post: Does Matthew trace the lineage to Joseph because Mary became a member of Joseph’s family when she married?

 

[Didi]

I believe the significance of 14 is that fact that it is two 7s. Seven is the number of perfection, and also means “oath.” When someone would swear to do something in ancient times, they would “seven” themselves. So this number is used often as a promise and as a reflection of perfection.

God rested on the 7th (perfect) day
There are 7 sacraments
We are to forgive 70 x 7 times
I’m sure there are many more…

This is also why the devil is depicted as 666, he’s not perfect, which would be 777.

Repeating things three times is also the way in, I believe Hebrew, that perfection or a superlative was expressed. This is why we say Holy, Holy, Holy. It is like saying Holy, Holier, Holiest – God is the perfection of Holy.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

In his new footnotes to the RSV Scott Hahn notes that the numerical equivalent of David is 14 - D=4 and V=6, ignore the vowels. He also notes that the three sets of 14 add to 42, the number of encampments by the Israelis on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land; so in this case from the promise to Abraham to the Promised Savior.

 

[mercygate]

Joe Kelley:

In his new footnotes to the RSV Scott Hahn notes that the numerical equivalent of David is 14 - D=4 and V=6, ignore the vowels. He also notes that the three sets of 14 add to 42, the number of encampments by the Israelis on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land; so in this case from the promise to Abraham to the Promised Savior.

Cool! :bounce: