Blessed Theophylact

I just started going through my copy of Blessed Theophylact’s explanation of The Holy Gospel of Matthew, and I came across a true jewel of information I had to share.

After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zerubbabel; and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; and Azor begat sadok; and Sadok begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ (Matthew 1:12.16).
“Why does he give the genealogy of Joseph and not of Mary, the Theotokos? What participation did Joseph have in that seedless birth giving? Surely Joseph was not the true father of Jesus, so that Matthew could give Christ’s genealogy through Joseph? Listen then: Joseph truly had no share in the birth of Christ; and therefore the genealogy of the Theotokos ought to have been given. But as it was not lawful to reckon ancestry through the mother, he did not give the genealogy of the Virgin. And yet, by giving the genealogy of Joseph, Matthew gave her genealogy as well. For it was the law that a woman was not to be taken as wife by a man who was of a different tribe and who was not of her father’s lineage. This being the law, it is obvious that Joseph’s genealogy includes that of the Theotokos, for she was of the same tribe and the same lineage. If she were not, she could not have been betrothed to him. So the evangelist both kept the law which forbad the reckoning of ancestry through the mother, and at the same time provided the genealogy of the Theotokos by giving the genealogy of Joseph. He calls Joseph ‘the husband of Mary’, according to the common practice. For we are accustomed to call man who is betrothed the ‘husband’ of her who is betrothed, even before the marriage has taken place.”

I’ve read expositions on Matthew, participated in Bible studies, and have heard sermons on genealogy and the relationship between the Theotokos and St. Joseph before, but I had never come across such a wonderful explanation that provided so much.

Such is the knowledge God has passed on to those who wish to look. I am so grateful for the works of the Early Church. There are so many indescribable treasures that await us! I say to God be the glory for this!

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For those who may be asking wondering who the Theotokos is, I’ll simply give you the definition of the accompanying footnote in the book:

“Theotokos” means literally “She who gave birth to God.” It is a name for Mary that the Holy Church has expressly commanded its children to use (by a decree of the Third Ecumenical Council in the year 431 A.D.). For the name expresses the most profound mystery of theology, and the awe and reverence in which Christians hold the Most Holy Virgin.