ACC ~ Matthew 1 v17

FORTY GENERATIONS IN THREE CYCLES

AUGUSTINE: This particular number of generations, totaling forty, is a sign of that laborious period in which, under the discipline of Christ the King, we will continue to fight against the devil. The same number was foreshadowed in both the law and the prophets, who had already solemnized a fast of forty days for the humbling of the soul (this pattern was firmly set in the narratives of Moses and Elijah, each of whom fasted for forty days). [1] The Gospel narrative itself then again foreshadowed this same number in the fast of the Lord himself, during his forty days of temptation by the devil. [2] What else does this narrative show than that condition of temptation which pertains to us through all the space of this age? [3] Christ bore this temptation in the flesh when he condescended to take upon himself our own mortality.

Add to this also that after his resurrection, it was his will to remain with his disciples on the earth not longer than forty days. [4] During this time he continued to mingle his resurrected life with theirs in the form of human intercourse. He shared with them food, which mortals need for life, even though he himself would never die. All this was done with the view of signifying to them through these forty days that although his presence would be later hidden from their eyes, he would yet fulfill what he promised when he said, “I am with you, even to the end of the world.” [5]

There may be other and subtler methods of accounting for the length of this age, but the most apparent anticipations within the natural order of this number are the seasons of the years, which revolve in four successive alternations. Note also the fact that the world itself has its bounds determined by four divisions (which Scripture sometimes designates by the names of the winds, east and west, north or south). [6] The number forty then is four times the cycle-completing number ten. The number ten, of course, is itself made up by adding one, two, three and four together. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.4.9. [7]

[1] Ex 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8.

[2] Mt 4:1-2.

[3] Between Christ’s coming and his coming again.

[4] Acts 1:3.

[5] Mt 28:20.

[6] Zech 14:4.

[7] PL 34:1075; NPNF 1 6:105**. Why were there three cycles of fourteen generations, or forty generations from Abraham to David to Christ? This was to point back to the typological significance of the number forty as repeatedly foreshadowed in the law and prophets and then reappearing in the narrative of Jesus’ life. In what follows, a double asterisk (**) indicates that an earlier English translation has been used with significant modifications.

PRIOR SALVATION HISTORY

ANONYMOUS: “So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations.” When the Evangelist could have briefly explained the number of generations by saying, “From Abraham to Christ there are forty-two generations,” for what reason did he three times omit generations and divide them into three parts of fourteen generations each? Because the human situation among the Jews was changed three times, with fourteen generations cycling three times. First, from Abraham to David, they were under the judges. Second, from David to the exile, they were under the kings. Third, from the exile to Christ, they were under the high priests.

So this demonstrates that just as fourteen generations were completed three times, the state of humanity was altered. So with fourteen generations completed from the exile to Christ, the state of humanity from Christ on must be once again changed. This indeed happened. After Christ, the generations were no longer under so many judges, or so many kings or so many high priests. Rather all generations came forth under one Christ who was Judge and King and High Priest. For in those three states, only he finally had dignity.

Therefore, since the judges and kings and high priests prefigured the three offices of Christ, their beginnings were always to be understood as anticipatory figures of Christ. Joshua was the first judge; David, the first king; and Jeshua, the son of Josedech, the first high priest. No one doubts that these men were prefiguring Christ. … The reason why forty-two generations are given according to the flesh of Christ being born into the world is this: forty-two is the product of six times seven. Six, however, is the number that signifies work and toil, for the world was made in six days—it is a world made in work and toil and pain. So, appropriately, there are forty-two generations before Christ being born into the world in toil and pain, and these generations contain the mystery of work and toil. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 1. [1]

[1] PG 56:629-30.