A: The 42 generations come from the
genealogy of Christ as recorded in Matthew chapter one.
It goes from Abraham to Jesus Christ and has 42
generations by the record of scripture itself.
Matthew 1:17 - "So all the generations from Abraham to
David are fourteen generations; and from David until the
carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and
from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are
fourteen generations."
However, notice that the verse does not specifically
state that there are 42 generations. It says rather that
there are three groups of 14 generations. This is
important because when someone counts through the
generations, only 41 can be found in a straight count.
But notice the wording of Matthew 1:17. David is
included in both the first list of 14 names and the
second list of 14 names. He is the fourteenth generation
from Abraham, but he is the beginning of another set of
14. That is why the straight count only gives 41 names.
This genealogy is distinct in other ways as well. It
mentions five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba ("her
that had been the wife of Urias"), and Mary. Not only is
this unusual in a Jewish genealogy, but all of them had
a tarnished reputation in some way or another. Tamar had
her children by acting as a prostitute. Rahab was a
prostitute before she joined the Israelites. Ruth was of
Moab, a hated people in scripture. Bathsheba had an
adulterous affair with David. Mary, though pure, was
with child out of wedlock. Rahab and Ruth were also
Gentiles; something a Jew would not expect in the line
of the Messiah. Certainly, the grace of God is displayed
in this record.
Several generations of kings are omitted in the
genealogy of Matthew. The kings Ahaziah, Joash, and
Amaziah are omitted from between Jehoram and
Uzziah. Jehoiakim is left out between Josiah and
Jehoiachin. This is not unusual in Jewish genealogies
because a grandson is considered a son. Jesus Himself is
called the son of David even though there are more than
30 generations between them. We do not know why these
particular kings were omitted.
We must understand, that though this genealogy is a true
record, it is written to be instructive. Therefore, the
facts are presented in such a way as to teach what God
desires to teach. This is true in any presentation of
truth. Why, then, the 42 generations? I believe it has
to do with numerology. Quite often in scripture, numbers
are teaching us something and their study can bring much
profit. 42 is six times seven. Six is the number of man
and seven is the number of completion or perfection.
Matthew begins his genealogy with Abraham who received
the promise and a covenant from God, counts 42
generations (7 x 6), and comes to the perfect (7) man
(6) Jesus Christ.
Till He comes,
David F. Reagan