I n this middle section of the genealogy of Jesus is the chronological list of the kings of Judah. The list ends with the fall of Judah to Babylon in 586 BC. There are good kings on this list, and there are bad kings. Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah were good kings. Scripture tells us all three “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” Rehoboam, Manasseh and for that matter most of the other kings were bad kings and Scripture tells us each “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.”

The emphasis on kingship in this section of Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus does more than establish that Jesus was of the line of David, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies. It serves as a reminder that Jesus came from a line of mainly unrighteous kings to be the Righteous King.

The birth of Jesus was, however, anything but kingly. He was born in a stable beneath a family residence with the animals. His only worshipers were His parents and some low-class shepherds.

When He arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey a few days before He was crucified, He lacked the traditional trappings of kingly power many were hoping would be used to overthrow the Romans.

But the story does not end with His death. Unlike the earthly kings listed in Matthew’s genealogy who died, Jesus is the King of Kings, the Messiah or Christ, which means “Anointed One,” who rose from the dead. From His eternal throne, He will reign over the entire world, He will make His enemies His footstool and His kingdom will have no end.