A Few Minutes in Matthew
Matthew 1:6b–11
“And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.”

Explanation of the Text
This second portion of the genealogy moves from David to the exile in Babylon. It covers Israel’s rise, decline, and collapse. Matthew intentionally names Solomon as the son of “the wife of Uriah,” a quiet but powerful way of reminding us of David’s sin and God’s mercy. Matthew isn’t trying to sanitize the lineage of Jesus. Instead, it is honest about human sin.

From Solomon onward, the kings are a mixed group, some faithful, many unfaithful. Their failures eventually lead to judgment and exile. Yet even in judgment, God is still at work. The line is preserved. His promise to David is not destroyed by human rebellion.

This section of the genealogy forces us to confront a hard truth: God’s plan does not depend on human rulers. Even when kings fail, God remains King. Even when His people are carried away, His promise cannot be carried away from Him. And even when all seems lost, the line of the Messiah remains unbroken.

What This Teaches Me About God
God is sovereign over history, even over its darkest chapters. Human sin cannot stop His saving work. His mercy is larger than our failures.

What This Teaches Me About Myself
My sin has consequences, but it does not have the last word. I cannot save myself or maintain God’s promises by my strength. Yet God remains faithful even when I am faithless.

Prayer
Lord, thank You for staying faithful even in the face of human failure. Keep my heart turned toward You and teach me to trust Your mercy. Amen.