A GENEALOGIA DO MESSIAS, SEGUNDO MATEUS: A LEGITIMIDADE DE JESUS EM DEBATE

Abstract

The research analyzes the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as described in the Gospel from Saint Matthew. For this analysis, several books and academic articles were explored, but there is a real emphasis in Jane Schaberg’s and Raymond Brown’s research. The reason why is because, both, in the twentieth century, held a wide academic debate around the theme researched: the illegitimacy of Jesus. Schaberg argued that analyzing the infancy narratives and genealogies is possible to prove that Matthew and Lucas knew that Jesus is a bastard. Raymond Brown acknowledges the accusations of illegitimacy and, at times, acknowledges that this topic has been the subject of concern for evangelists. Disregarding if the historical Jesus is, as Schaberg says, a biological son from an unknown man, the result of adultery or rape, or, as Brown argues, generated by the Holy Spirit, this research focuses on the agreement in the debate: Jewish accusations against Jesus and Mary Where she is called adulterous, he I called son of an unknown father. The Judaism Formative was the opponent of the community from Mathew and, the accusation against Jesus and Mary had the demoralizing goal. This research analysis several authors who studied the genealogy according Matthew and the four women mentioned in the genealogy: Tamar, Raab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Their stories, registered in the Hebrew Bible and in rabbinic traditions, become symbols of defense to the dignity of the fifth listed woman, Mary, and to the legitimacy of Jesus. Matthew's defense did not hide or deny accusations. The author faced the matter openly and for the dignity of the four women. In this way, Maria, as violated or adulterous, assumed by Matthew in this way, becomes a greater symbol of welcoming those who live under the weight of sexual violence, or the moralistic accusation of adultery. The called sacred family reveals itself as a family that legitimizes by affection and acceptance and by facing the pressures of a society of predominantly patriarchal values.