Son of Abraham: Jesus was, just like David, a descendant of Abraham (Matthew 1:2–16). Abraham was the first to receive a messianic promise-one which spoke of the salvation of the nations (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18).¹

The phrases son of David and son of Abraham provide us with a more specific definition of the name Jesus Christ. Through them, Matthew indicates that even the history of the beginning has a past history. At the same time, he indicates that Jesus is the fulfillment of this past history. The reference to David indicates not only that he is not only one of the descendants of the house of David, but especially that he is indeed the promised Son (2 Samuel 7:12–16). With the words son of Abraham, Matthew wants to indicate that Jesus is the fulfillment not only of the promises to David, but also of those to Abraham. The Jewish people expected the Messiah principally as the fulfillment of the promises to David, while the promises to Abraham find their fulfillment in the Jewish people as a whole. The Messiah is then the crown on the head of Abraham’s descendants. However, already in the heading of his book Matthew indicates that Jesus is not just the Messiah in Israel, but also that he forms the point of departure for the promised people. Herein the hope for all peoples is contained (Genesis 12:3; Matthew 3:9; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 28:19). But herein also lies the stumbling block for the unbelieving Jews (Matthew 3:9; Matthew 8:11–12).²